Year: 1875




Soon after it became known thar William NJ. Tweed
had escaped reporter to the residence Of Mr.
Wheeler H Peckham, associate counsel with the At
torney General for information concerning the manner
of Tweeds escape and its effect the proceedings
In progress in tho courts. When Mr. Peckham's home
in Fifty.hn street was reached the announce
ment was received that he not in Mrs.
Peckham, however, when the statement
sent her that 1t necessary 70 the reporter
find him, came down and informed him that her hus-
band at the Law Library building, In Twenty ninth
street. ndustrously examining the legal tones for
ter pertinent the Tweed case stands present
In the courts


The reporter then made his way to the Law Library
On gaining admittance there, he informed by the
attendants that Mr. Peckham engaged in the
upper rooms and that his presence would be made
known TO him Almost Immediately Mr. Peckham ap-
peared and asked what was required Of him.


The reporter informed him OF the escape OF Tweed
and also of the fact that hts wife did not think he
aware of 1t After looking somewhat surprised for a
moment he proceeded TO say that his wife right
for the reporters OF the fact the
first information he had OF it He then asked the
particulars concerning Tweed's departure
He said he knew nothing OF the particulars OF the
escape, OF course, and, giving the fact
thought he found that he not greatly surprised
as he might have been had he not been informed
days ago that Tweed had been allowed 10 60 out TO
dine with his sons and he had feared that what he
considered gross careessness the part the Shers
officers at first would grow until


AMOUNTED TO CRIME
In case SO important that against Tweed,
where the temptation 70 escape strong In the
progress OF the 1t must have become him. there
should not have been any eniency shown to him The





well there and there good reason why be should
have been permitted 20 go outside It's wsIiS Certainly
not in the company in which he usually len the jail
and for the purpose mentioned


The probabilities that the to get him
out with his relatives and friends simply dino was
commenced order to allay suspicion gradually by the
regularity OF his until his absence would cease
to excite as much when he was nrst per.
mitted to go.


Even in that regard il clear that BY some means
his influence his keepers vastly than Il
should have BEEN and that he had permitted
to escape 1t was clear that his influence in whatever
manner he may have chosen to bring 1t TO bear, was
superior to the virtue Of some


Further consideration furnished the remark that u
was likely that he had been relieved from Official
charge early enough havo been enabled to take any
Of the European steamers that left during the day
Mr. Peckham was cerIAin tneTeiore, bnab ne nad
not secured place board steamer that he would
be hunted down. H. as was believed TO have been the
case with Harry Genet, he tried to
CONCEAL HIMSELF NEAR BoMB


until search should In this locality ~ shall -
said Mr. Peckham, "follow him wherever he may have
gone or CO. anywhere this side Of the Internal regions
for / do not care to follow him there. He must be
found however and found he will be- either sooner
later 60 where he may Every effort will be mado TO
secure his to the Court and II necessary the
effort will be a lasting one"


Mr.. Peckham asked what effect the escape
would have on the proceedings In court


His answer that the proceedings would be con
tnued far as they could be. very serious feature
OF the az II now stands however, that the
criminal proceedings could not be progressed unless
could be found and returned to prison.
"How," said the reporter "w the effort TO regain
the stolen money be affected by his abscncc3"


"very seriously" asked Mr.. Peckham. s'That he had
a vast amount OF property is well known But the
trouble how to got at IL He had covered up mis-
ownership OF Il that there great difficulty in the
way Of reaching IL; In fact almost the only hope was
that by retaining him In prison could force him 4
disgorge In his absence, OF course, that will b,
exceedingly dinicult n not impossible. Thero
fore, he must be iound, and found
I think he win be- In the meantime
however will go with the as fully as We can
hoping for his capture be able to complete success
fully what has been done thus and what can stil b
done What reflection this is upon oflcersi wha
disgrace it is to our government" said Mr. Peckham
and hen having heard all ornterest that he had say
on the subject at present the reporter retired.