Year: 1877




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An Amusing Experience Of VIM. VI
Tweed, Esq.


Harper's Weekly publishes an article
describing the flight and exile of Will
liam M. Tweed. The following are the
chief points of the story:


The approaching trial of the great six
million suit against Tweed threatened Il
demand on his last resources for fees
which he plainly saw he should fail to
answer. His remaining possessions were
not available to raise ready money and
credit, especially with lawyers His
money gone, his courage broke down
also, and he resolved on flight as REM
.edy for his bankruptcy and his hopeless
Imprisonment. Having lost great judges
and lawyers of courts he had created and
controlled, he found himself forced to
fall back upon their clients, his fellow
prisoners in jail Tweed's mess-mate in
Ludlow street jail was Charley Law
renee, the silk smuggler, whose eXtradi.
tion led to the abrogation of the treaty
with England From him Tweed
learned all the necessary details of ex-
isting treaties and laws on the subject,
and having decided upon flight he re-
solved to reach Spain as the most expe'
dent shelter in view of the absence OF
any eXtraditiOn treaty with that coun-
try. Another of the inmates of Ludlow
street prison was person of many pro.
fessional aliases who has since been safely
lodged IN penitentiary in Vermont.
He is best known by the name of Bliss,
and was engineer of the extraordinary
Northampton bank robbery. He was
also professionally Y engaged in the famous
Washington safe burglary. This person
lodged in the upper floor and had APP
preached Tweed with proposal to avail
himself of the removal of iron gratings
Of his window which was on the ground
floor aud which would enable them both
to escape, the whole matter to be man
aged from the outside by associates of
Bliss.


The proposition had at first been
laughed at by Tweed, but meeting his
professional neighbor daily in the court
yard of the Jail where they took exercise
the subject was more definitely discussed,
and outside friends of the professional
being called on Tweed was persuaded of
the practicabiIity of plan which they
presented, and for the execution Of which
they agreed to pay a stipulated sum.
, No member of the bar nor his counsel,
nor any friend nor person, whatever his
previous connections, knew of his pro-
posed flight or had any part in its exccu.
ton. Neither did they know of his
whereabouts at any time until it had
become necessary for him to cOmmuni-
cate with them after his arrest in Cuba
by the Spanish officials. Tweed under
stood that he was to be taken in charge
by well organized body of men dis
tributed throughout the country, having
every facility, their connections and
method being thoroughly tested and well
established. He was furnished with a
short key for telcgraphic communica-
ton and one for postal facility. The
latter included a system of Enclosures
through five different envelopes, with
addresses at removed points. lie was to
find occasion to visit his house and de.
liver himself over secretly and unat-
tended at his own door. The execution
of the agreement included his landing in
Spain or under the Spanish flag and on
Spanish territory safely and secretly.
lie was given the name of John Secor,
by which he was to be known to his new
connections, and his personal identity
and his own name was to be kept from
persons without exception from the mo-
ment he passed out of his own stoop.


The exact minute of departure was
fixed at eight o'clock in the evening.
The exact time of his flight was left un.
determined, but he was to visit his house
on certain days, and when the whole
train was ready sign was to be given
by a certain mark up II the st0op which
he could see as he assembled the steps.


Accordingly, Tweed took occasion to
obtain from the sheriff and his keepers
the usual privileges of the Jail yard to
visit his family and transact some bust
ness Several such visits having been
made to his house at the usual hour
after dark, he secretly made some prcpa-
ration of personal matters and putting
his business affairs in as good order as
possible finally reached the fourth of De-
cember, 1875, which proved the occasion
of his departure. On the evening OF
that day he was driven in the customary
hack, attended by two keepers, to his
house. Ascending the stoop he saw the
sign. 1t was about half-past seven
o'clock, and dreary December evening
The signal at once aroused him with q
starting shock, and, as he describes the
occurrence, "his blood and his nerve.
were filled with an electrical excitement
which thrilled every fibre of his frame
Controlling himself with some effort h,
led his attendants to their wanted anG
welcome feast, which on this occasion
was amply provided in the dining.room
The keepers ate and Tweed took care alsc
that they drank. At just the right mo
ment, one of the keepers arose and wen
to the wash basin in the room to wast
his hands and get ready for the usua
cigar after dinner. Tweed took the op
portunity, rose also, and saying he wouic
wash in the adjoining room, he passed
into the hall, closing the door as he lef
the room. He quickly took first hat anc
coat, and slipped out the front door. HI
was a fugitive. He saw the hack befor


the door without driver, who also tool
advantage of the occasion in the kitchen
Not person or sound appeared TO re
, spond to his appointment. 1t was no


quite one minute past eight. He hao
stolen forth from his home to place him
self in the hands and guidance OF Z
picked gangof dcspcradoes As he shrunk
back under the shadow of the stoop 1t
seemed to him long period OF doubt
and se!fexamlnatiou, until his attention
, was attracted by the noise of wheels, and
, he saw a common tradesman's wagon
such as is used by grocers and express
drivers. lie saw also q mans arm reacl