Year: 1877

How he dehed justice--How he eluded


Justice and how justice overlook him


at last.


Thoro has boon no more con-
spicuous illustration of the possi-
bilities of American politics than the
career of William Nj. Tweed. This
man, springing from the lowest
walks of life and rising through the
different gradations, from the fore
'nanship of tho old "Big Six" fire
engine, and the craftsmanship of q
ward club, at last usurpcd control
Of Tammany Hall, and was for years
autocrat of Now York and we'll
nigh of the United States. How lie
organized ring, swintlled tho city,
amassed untold wealth, and deGed
The law, and how he at last sue
cumbed to the force of public
opinion, became q fugitive, and
was finally incarcerated in Jail, are
matters of history. But certain
points of the secret history of his
trial have been recently made public,
whichf being of general interest,
arc reproduced here.


Tweed had been convicted on the
criminal trial against him, and was
in Jail. The OWL suit against him
for six million dollars was Just COM
mencing. He had hoped to effect
compromise by which on surrender
ing all his property he would be set
at liberty. But this appeared to be
on the point of failure. 'Tweed's
property was attached. He had no
money to pay lawyers fees and his
counsel were deserting him. AS a
last resort, he determined to flee
the country, and to effect this he
had recourse to his fellow prisoners.
Charley Lawrence was there, q
quondam secretary of Tweeds
Americus Club, and an acquaintance
OF the Boss, but now, n convicted
silk smuggler. Lawrence impaired
to him thorough knowledge of the
extradition laws, and showed that
Spain was tho best place of exile, as
no cxtradition treaty exists between
that country and the United States.
Another companion was Bliss, after
wards the Northampton bank rob-
Der, who undertook to manage the
details of escape through his con-
fetlerates. Tweed was to be taken
in charge by well organized body
Of men distributed throughout the
country, having every facility, their
connections and methods being
thoroughly tested and we'll estab-
lishcd. He was furnished with n
short key for telegraphic communi-
cation and one for postal facilities.
The latter included q system of
Enclosures through five different en-
velopes, with addresses. at removed
points. He was to find occasion to
visit his house and deliver himself over
secretly and unattended ut his own
door. The execution of tho agree
ment included his landing in Spain
or under the Spanish flag and in
Spanish territory safely and secretly.
He 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 were to
be concealed from all persons with
out exception from tho moment he
passed out of his own stoop. No
member of tho bar, nor his counsel,
nor any friend or person whatever
of his previous connections, knew of
hisproposed fight or had any part
in it's execution. Neither did they
know of his whereabouts at any
time until it had become necessary
for him to communicate with thom
after his arrest in Cuba by tho
Spanish officials.


The exact minute of departure
was fixed at eight o'clock in the
evening, not more than one minute
before to ono minute after that
hour. The timo of his flight was left
undetermined, but he was to visit
his house on cortain days and when
the whole train was ready q sign
was to be given by a certain mark
upon tho stoop which he could SEQ
as he descended the stops Accord
ingly Tweed took occasion to obtain
from the sheriff and his keepers tho