Year: 1877

take the liberty of addressing you
this letter in view Of the fact that
your position as counsel designated


by the State authorities in my matters,
has professed solely the public good,
regardless of any factions or personal
interest. Heretofore have met my
troubles with every resource at my
disposal. Possibly, in q mistake n
sense of duty, have stood up too
long to shield others as well as my
self, bearing such losses and punish
ment as were meted out 10 my trans-
grcssions and misfortunes. It was
truly more in the interest of others
than In my own, that litigation and
resistance were prolonged. Viewing
the manner of my return toward this
prison, realizing that events in the
city, in the State and in the nation.


which l am brought here to confront,
it will not, l hope, seem to be q pre-
sumption or insincerity in me to say
that 1 am indeed overwhelmed, that
all further resistance being hopeless,
l have none now to make and only
seek the shortest and most efficient
manner in which may make an un-
qualified surrender. It is not my
purpose to dispute or appeal, or fur
ther resist the suits which you have
against me in the name Of
the State and people. l propose
forthwith to place at your disposal q
full surrender of everything 1 have
left of property or effects, and respond
at once to such examination in this
connection as may assure yon and the
public of the good faith of this assign
ment, as well as to show the entire
amount and disposition of all have
possessed so far as you may wish it |
to be detailed. 1 am an old man,
greatly broken in health, cast down
In spirit, and can no longer bear my
burden to mitigate the prospect of |
hopeless imprisonment, which must |
speedily terminate my life. 1 should, |
1t seems to me, make any sacrifice or |
effort during the early stages of the |
suits and proceedings against me, |
was ready to make restitution and |
reparation SO far as was in my pow
er, but the ENHANCEMENT with tho in
terest and councils of others delayed |
and defeated this. / regret that my
means have become so utterly inade-
quate. I would not make the futile
offer If had not some assurance |
through your published statements
that the vindication of principle and |
prospect of permanently purifying
public offices are objects you have in
view, as being more desirable than
the recovery ofmoney. If,in any man.
ner, you may see fit to use me in such |
connection shall be only too glad to |
respond. Trusting implicitly in your
high reputation and character, l ask |
to make only q single observation, not |
as regards myself, but wherever
others may be concerned, leaving
my personal and property interests |
to be put to the fullest test Of exami-
nation and publicity. l would hope
to have any matters affecting others
restricted to your private knowledge |
and discretion. Knowing, as you do,
every material fact already, it would |
be nnavailing for me to further re-
sist or withhold any details you may
demand. I only ask in qualification
of the utmost frankness that your
more reliable judgment shall take the
responsibility of publication and tho
use of sucn matters only as may be
necessary for the ends you wish to
advance. For the present have no
legal counsel, and shall not employ
any except to act in the spirit of this
communication and conform to the
usages of the courts. I send this by
Foster Dewey, whom have hereto
fore employed as Secretary. He is
directed to receive from you any in
structions or suggestions and answer
in detail as to my circumstances.
remain, very truly yours;


WILLIAM NJ. TWEED.


1t is understood that O'Conor
sent this letter to Attorney General |
Fairchild with his favorable recon-
mendation, and that O'Conor also
signified his intention to terminate
his more active connection
with the ring prosecutions now prac-
tically ended. Acting upon this view
the Attorney General has himself
made several visits to Tweed and has |
carried out an examination of his \
effects aud especially of the informa-
ton which Tweed had to turn over.
A largo pile Of checks, vouchers and
evidence is accordingly in the con-
troll of Attorney General Fairchild at
this time. His release has been pro-
visionally agreed to already, and will
as soon as due forms are complied
with, be carried into effect. AS to
what may become of Tweed when he
has surrendered all his property and
turned over his papers, it can only be
said that his fight was not altogether |
that of an aimIess fugitive. He in
tended to enter upon important rail-
road work in Spain, which may still
engage HIM, if he sees his way to it
upon his release. He was 81 years
old on Tuesday, April Sd. It is we'll
known that O'Conor is in possession
of many facts and indubitable proofs
derived from Tweed, seriously COM
promising various parties who have
been associated with him or shared
more or less directly in his plumber.
Some of these are intended to be
made public, but are temporarily
withheld for prudential reasons.
Some of the disclosures certainly
compromise Oakley Hall, and may
account for his disappearance.