Year: 1878




ETC.-sOME EXPRESSIONS OF PITY


The news of Tweed's death soon spread
through the city, and before ?. m. it had become
the chief tonic of conversation in tho hotels,
restaurants, and downtown offices. The hrst an
nouncenens caused much surprise and were received
with doubt by many persons, who intmated that Tue
rumOrs might have been started means OF fastening
weeds release All doubts soon set at rest by the
bulletins which appeared in front Of newspaper offices
and telegraph stations These bulletins surrounded
by crowds of people who eagerly read the news, and
were free IN their comments. The many hastY
remarks thus uttered gave some idea OF the
popular feeling toward Tweed. Frequent comments
Wen, Tweed is free at last" and, referring to
Tweeds last words, given on TIE TRIBUNE bulletin.
That sounds as If Tweed died Of broken heart and
believe the old did try to do some good at the
last" One old Irlshman thought it would be right now
that Tweed dead to put the flags at half on the
City Hall.


The newsbOys were soon out with extras, and their
shrill cries Of Death OF William NJ Tweed - resounded
all over the city. The published In the morning
papers had prepared people only 10 slight extent Tor
the sudden termination OF Tweed's illness In the
Custom House rotunda the brokers were about Of a
mind and such expressions were heard as, "Wen, it's
the best thing he could do Pm glad he's dead
In the seiZure-rOOm gentlemen were calling on
business and one remarked It's too bad he ought to
have been let off easier" In the Cotton EX-
change the brokers gave moments no
tice TO the "oxtras," and when any did drop an
expression of regret, otherwise, IL met by a
counter expression, more in spirit Of badnGGe than
otherwise. Among the idlers the street the sent
ment was: There were men than!Old Tweed Ia
that business who got of easier, and he ought not to
have suffered for all the rest" Occasionally some one
familiar with the days of Big Six" and the Volunteer
Fire Department, would allude to Tweed's activity and
strong constitution in the early days, and praise The
manuerin which lie administered affairs.


AT the FlfCh Avenue and other uptown hotels men
stood in groups 10 talk about the sudden death Of Tweed
In Of the conversations Tweeds past history was
less a matter Of comment than the circumstances
OF his recent sickness and the probable influence of his
hopeless imprisonment upon his health


The news did not come the courts until O'Clock,
when OF the prominent lawyers had gone away. As
is usual i'll such cases, the first feeling OF pity
KindheaIted Judge Van Worst, meeting "a TRIBUNE rc
porter inquired to the truth OF the report and rcce
ing confirmation, expressed the general feeling Poor
man, poor man, but perhaps it was the best for him.
Judge DOnohue used almost exactly the same words
ndamOng the lawyers the feeling repeated with such
variations as Poor old fellow: he neyereOud have Oeon
discharged so perhaps 1t is as well lie is released
this way :" or Well he has ended his accountability,
or, He did great wrong, but his account Is ended now
Dcputy-Sherif McGOnigal expressed very frankly his
regret that Tweed should have died III jail Two lawyers
cOnversng on the political aspect of his DEATH had this
conversation Poor old fellow, how mduy OF bis for
Iner associates Will regret his death 2! Very few"


And bow many OF his political friends rejoice at it r.
" Almost all"


The announcement caused little excitement in police
circles. The general feeling seemed to De that il
well that the end Of Tweeds troubles had come. The
usual differences ofOpnion Occasoned some arguments
TO The justice injustice OF Twceds long Imprisonment
The Police Commissioners held their usual meeting early
in the day had left Police Headquarters before the
Of the death The officials who could be
found III the afternoon either to saying any
thing or had nothing 10 say 1t had been believed for
several days that Tweeds illness probably his last
and little or no surprise manifested when the fact
was known On account Of the excitement III the neigh
bornOod Of Ludlow Street Jail, several extra officers
were assigned to duty there.