Year: 1877

/


Harpers Weekly publishes an articl


describing the fight and exile of Wi


liam NJ. Tweed. The following are tn


chief points OF the story:


The approaching trial of the great si


million suit against Tweed threatened


demand on his last resources for fee


which he plainly saw he should fail +


answer. His remaining possessions wer


not available to raise ready money ant
credit, especially with lawyers. Hi
money gone, his courage broke dow
also, and he resolved on flight as a rem
edy for his bankruptcy and his hopeless
imprisonment. Having lost great judge
and lawyers OF courts he had created ant
controlled, he found himself forced {,
fall back upon their clients, his fellow
prisoners in Jail. Tweed's mess-mate il
Ludlow street Jail was Charley Law
renee, the silk smuggler. whose extradi
tion led to the abrogatiOn of the treat
with England. From him Tweed
learned all the necessary details of ex
isting treaties and laws on the subject
and having decided upon fight he re
solved to reach Spain as the most expe
dent shelter in view of the absence ot
any extradition treaty with that coun-
try. Another of the inmates of Ludlow
street prisor' was a person of many pro-
tessional aliases who has since been safely
lodged IN penitentisry in Vermont.
He is best known by the name of Bliss,
and was engineer of the extraordinary
Northampton bank robbery. He was
also professionally engaged in the famous
Washington safe-burglary. This person
lodged in the upper floor and had ap-
preached Tweed with proposal to avail
himself of the removal of iron gratings
of his window which was on the ground
floor and 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 exeXcise
the subject was more definitely discussed,
and outside friends of the professional
being called on, Tweed was persuaded of
the practicability of a plan which they
presented, and for the execution of which
they agreed to pay stipulated sum.
No member of the bar nor his counsel,
nor any friend nor person, whatever his
previous connections, knew of his pro.
posed fight or had any part in its execu.
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
short key for telegraphic communica-
ton and one for postal facility. The
latter included system of Enclosures
through five different envelopes, with
addresses at removed points. He 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 sgreement included his landing in
Spain or under the Spanish flag and on
Spanish territcry 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 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 fight 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 certain mark upon the stoop which
he could see as he ascended 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 prepa-
ration of perso nal matters and putting
his business affairs in as good order as
\ossible finally reached the fourth OF De-
amber, 1875, which proved the occasion
ol his departure. On the evening of
thu day he was driven in the customary
had, attended by two keepers, to his
hout. Ascending the stoop he saw the
signA II was about half-past seven
oclot, and dreary December evening.
The SINAI at once aroused him with
startin shock, and, as he describes the
occurre1ce, "his blood and his nerves
were filM with an electrical excitement
which thtlled every fibre of his frame"
Controlllh himself with some effort he
led his afndants to their wanted and
welcome fNst, which on this occasion
was amply kovided in the dining-room.
The keepers &e and Tweed took care also
that they drAk. At Just the right mo-
ment, one OF " keepers arose and went
to the wash-baH in the room 10 wash
his hands and\get ready for the usual
cigar after dinnt Tweed took the op-
portunity, rose aA, and saying he would
wash in the adjoSing room, he passed
into the hall, cloApg the door as be left
the room. He gully took first hat and
coat, and clipped ON the front door. He
was frAStive. He Saw the hack before
advants the occaion in the kitchen.
Not or souh appeared to re-
spd ppointhent. 1t was not
quit Ee past eight. He had
stolel hls home to place him
sell and guidance of a
picked Fadoes As he shrunk


back dow of the stoop it


SCENE period of doub'
and sc ptil his attention


was at e of wheels, and


he val eman's wagon


such a and expre&