William M. Tweed

William M. Tweed was 55 ycars old on the 3d of April. He was born in 1823, at 9 Cherry street. His fatlier was a chairmaker, a partner with Hesekiah W. Bonnel. He was in good circumstances, and gave his ehildren a fair edueation. Young Tweed was sent to school to Gould Brown, the well-known ".uthor of " Brown's Grammar. " Mr. Brown kept his Bchool in Pearl street, near Franklin square. Tweed's old school-mates give him a good reputatioi). Ho was an apt scholar, and had a most retentive memory. He was not quarrelsome, but had an indomitable spint, and would fight before suffering imposition. One of his boyieh conppnnions says that he was witty, and as "fullof the devil asan egg is of meat." At times he is said to have been stubborn and mnlish, but was always generous anl ready to take the part of the smaller boys w'hen suffeiing from the arroganoe of their larger playniates. When about 12 years old William was sent to a bonrJing school kept by the Kev. Mr. Halsey in Elizabethtown, N. J. Here he finished his education. He studitd nothing but the English branches. The Blue Book says that he is a gradúate of the New York Law School, but his relatives pronounco his incorrect. On his return from boarding school, young Tweed entered his father's shop and becnme a chairmaker. He is said to have been a good workman. Afterward he raí) the business on his own account. His evenings were spent either in the theaters or in engine houses. Like most New York boys of that day, he fancied the life of a fireman. He became a runner with Twelve Engine, in the Fourth ward, before he was of age. In 1847 he joined that company. After two years' hard service the organization was disbanded, and afterward reoreanized in the Twelfth ward. Meantime Tweec was married and moved into the Soventh ward. He joined Engine Company No 6 on Jan. 1, 1849. Within six months he was elected foreman. Big Six, as she was called, became the most famous engine company in tho eity. She dashec through the streets, aiming to bo the flrst at all firos. Tweed led the ropes with a silver-mounted trumpet in his hand, a white fixe-coat over his arm, and one of the old-fashioned stiff hats on his head. He was well known to all bunkers and volunteer firemen. His personal popularity was so great, and the friends of Big Six so numorous, that the company became a powerful lever in municipal politics. The Americus Club was the offspring of its popularity, anc its influenee was feit in political matters years after its disbandment. With the foremanship of Big Six, Tweed began his political career. In 1850 he ran for Assistant AMerman oi the Seventh ward, but was defeated.by the Whig candidate, Mr. John B. Webb. The following year he again contested the district with Mr. Webb, and was elected by a large majority. His business tact and vigor were recognized in the board, and the leaders of the party predicted his rise to power. Congressmen were eiected in the fall of 1852. There was a bitter contest for the Democratie nomination in the Fifth district. This comprised the Seventh and Thirteenth wards of this city and Williamsburgh. Mr. Tweed was man oí tne uonvention. The two wards presented one candidate and Williams burgh another. Severa! ballots were taken, the vote standing 44 to ii. As a last resort, the Williamsburgh delegates dropped their man and nominated Mr. Tweed. This shrewd politician cast his vote for himself, saying : "Tweedy never goes back on Tweedy- Tweedy goes for Tweed !" Old Joe Hoxie was the Whig candidate. He went through the district, working like a beaver, telling funny stories and filling the air with eloquence. Tweed confined himself to the quiet work that proved so effective in subsequent campaigns, and beat Hoxie by 1,000 plnrality. He served two years in Congress. In this time the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed. Mr. Tweed doubted the expediency of the measure. He predicted that its passage would ruin the Democratie party ; but he obeyed caucus behosts and stood by Pierco's administration to tho last. In 1854 the Know-Nothings swept Tweed's GoDgressional district, and eleoted Thomas E. Whitney by 556 plurality. The following year Mr. Tweed ran for Aldeiman on the Democratie ticket. He had fought the native American element the previous year and excited their bitter enmity. They ran their strongest man against him, and won, after a hot oontest. Tweed became the recognized ohampion of the foreign element. He owed much of his bucccss in his subseij uent jjoliticiil careor to that fight. I )e[aicti iji J85E), lio wft elcytod Sohool Commissioner in the Seventh ward in 1856. In 1857 ho ran for Supervisor, and, though opposed by the KuowNothing and Republioan parties, was suocessíul. Before this, he had been made a Sachem of Tammany Hall. His politieal ability was generally recognized, and his advice sovight by such politicians as Isaac V. Fowler, Lorenzo Shepherd and Fernando Wood. In the contest between Fowler ana Wood, Tweed was a fina supporter of the former. Wood called him a "political flat," and Tweed never forgot nor forgave it. With all his power, however, lie was unable to trip his warv enemy. Tweed became the ward leader", ousting the veteran Capt. Isaiah Rynders, then United States Marshal, who had controlled the ward for years. During all these years he had carried on his chairmaking business. Soon after his election as Supervisor he sold out and devoted all his time to politics. He served as Supervisor until the board -was abolishedin 1870. While a member of this board, measures were passed that laid the foundaiion of the vast debt under the weight of which the city is now staggering. Mr. Tweed was an active member of what was known as the old Supervisors' ring. Se and his partners kept a political tolljate, and collected heavy tolls on every jill that passed the board. All the memw.ïb oi the board, with possibly one ception, beoame ncli during their term of office. His success as a manipulator of his nssociates undoubtedly emboldened him and lod liim to plan and carry ont the gigantic schemes that aiterward astounded the community. In 1861, Tweed was the Tammany nominee for Sheriff. Mozart Hall placed James Lynch in the field. Tweed's antiKnow-Nothing record proved of noavail, for Lynch was a popular Irishman, who had twice been unfairly beaten while running for office, and his canvass was conducted by a wily and shrewd politician. In 1861 Tweed was tlected Chairmac of the Tammany General Committee. He held this position until his downfall. The key to his future power was the Grand Sachemship of the Tammany Society, and the lock the General Committee. In 1863 Street Commissioner Charles G. Cornell appointed Tweed a Doputy ommissioner. He was reappointed bv Commissioner McLean, and held the office until the department was abolished. In 1867 he was elected State Senator. About this time he succeeded John T. Hoffman as Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall. All these offices seemed to have been seized by Tweed with a distinct object in view. As Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society and Chairman of the Tammany General Committee. he had complete control of the political wires in the city, and could díctate nominations at bis will. Virtually Street Conimissioner, he could employ thousands ol laborera who might tie used in upsetting ward primaries where lesser cliieftains showed a spirit of antaeronism. Laborera were given work at the request of the Aldermen. This and bis position in the Lrgi slature gave him control of that board. At Albany he was a political autocrat. The Legislature, Democratie or Bepublican, cariied out his schemes. If not paid directly, they were paid by appropriations in the Supply bill. Legislation on municipal matters was shaped to cover Tweed's plans and to carry out his ends. The County Court House was a mine. Millions were drawn from it and used in forwarding similar jobs. Every Democratie politician of any note held office. There were street inspectora, pump inspectors, water inspectors, inspectors of meters, of weights and measures, of street incumbrauces, all drawing salaries and all useless. With this vast power, Tweed became very rich. He invested in real estáte and iron mines; was interested in every street opening and widening; had a hand in all contracts, and was a Director in railroad and gas companies, banks and insurance companies, and similar organizations, almost without number. Comparatively a poor man in 1864, within flve years he was reputed to be worth $12,000,000. He cemented his power by social organizations like the Americus and Blossom Olubs. His ward leaders followed suit, and Tweed associations and similar sooieties were organized in every City Assembly district. Judges were controlled at the dictation of Mr. Tweed. The dangerous classes were protected if they would secure the least political influence. The murder of Kogers, on Twelfth street, on New Year's day, and the scènes at the trial of John Beal startled the public. Judge Barnard, who sentenced Keal at midnigut, camo very near being mobbed upon the bench, and narrowly escaped assassination. Tweed saw his mistake, and for a time ref used to protect bullies and ruffians. He was at the height of his power, but this course in a measare alienated from him a portion of his followers. They were ripe to join a revolt. The revolution came. Harry Genet, Jobn Fox, John Morrissey, Jas. O'Brien, Michael Norton, Thomas J. Creamer, and others headed it. Somo were animated by hopes of plunder; others oined because defeated in their political aspirations; a third olass were aflame with personal feeling against Sweeny. The revolting elementa were consolidated, and the flght of the Young Democracf followed. The leaders had been ïsed in building up the power of Tweed. 5e had doled out to them supplies from the public crib. They believed themselves strong enough to oust him. They nade a combination with leaders in the Manhattan Club and succeeded in capuring the Board of Aldermen and a maority of the city Assemblymen and Senators. They then went to the Legplature with what is known as the ETuckleberry charter. lts object was to free the city from the State commissions saddled upon it by the Bepublican pary, and to secure a relegation of their lowers to the Board of Aldermen. With his board in their hands they could ïelp themselves. Sweeny, terrifled at the magnitude of the revolt, fled from Albany. Tweed was pnrajyzed. He elt the trembling of the ground undcr lis feet, and did not really know where ie stood. At ono time he seems to have been half inclmed to throw Sweeny ovorboard and himself join the revolt. Te went so far as to take the oath of allegiance to the conspirators, but never attended any of their meetings. The ïuckleberry charter was defeated brough the cupidity of the country members. The Young Democracy had oasted that they would put it th'rough f it took $200,000 to do it. As the money was not forthcoming the country members revenged themselves by voting lown the measure. This inspirited Tweed. Sweeny roappeared, and the old Boss assumod the oifeDBive, A mülioa dollars was taken to Albany. It was used in passing what was known as the Tweed charter. That instrument virtually placed the municipal power in tho hands of the Board of Andit, consisting of Tweed, Uonnolly, and Hall. No mouey could be drawn i'rom the city without tbe sanction of this board. The power of the Board of of Aldermen was fairly usurped by this commission. The Tweed charter was paased by the aid of the Republicana; $100,000 was paid for a single voto. Though the revolutionists had captured tiio new Tammany General Committce, they had overlooked the power of the Tammany Society. The committeo claimed the right to meet in Tammany Hall, and marched in solemn procession. They thought they cwned the building. By order of the Sachems of the Tammany Society, however, the hall was closed against them. They were rcfused entrance by the pólice, and met in Irving Hall. Their meeting was a farce. Each was suspicious of the other, and probably one-third of them had already taken the back track and were in sympathy with Tweed. Solitary chieftains continued the warfare, but the great mass of their folio wers feil into line and again tramped to the niusic of Tammany. Tweed was now master of the city. He could throttle his enemies throngh the Board of Audit. His firat measure was to reimburse himself for his expenses in fighting the Young Democracy. Within two months, with the aid of Garvey, Woodward, and Ingersoll, over $6,000,000 of city money was drawn from the Broadway Bank and divided. Woodward drew the money and paid Tweed'8 and Ingersoll's shares with cheoks in the same bank. His success seems to have made Tweed reckless. The Tweed charter had made hun Commissioner of Public Works and ex-officio inember of the Board of Audit. To punish O'Brien for his revolt the board ref used to pay his bilis as Sheriff against the city. O'Brien took his revenge. He succeeded in getting a man appointed clerk in the Comptroller's office. Figures were taken from the books that conclusively showed the operations of the ring. These figures were given to the newspapers. Some of them had been printed in the ,un years before, but the source of information had been discovered by the riag, and dammed by a nomination to Congress. The New York Times boldly called Tweed, Connolly and Hall thieves, and challenged them to bring libel suits. The figures were so convincing that the people rose en masse. A great meeting was held and seventy prominent citizens appointed to investigate. The Board of Audic becaine alarmed. Dissensions sprang up. The Oomplroller's office was broken open and many ors destroyed. Connolly believed that he was to bo mado a scapcgoat. He went to his old friend, ex-Mayor Havemeyer, made a partial confession, and gave up the key to the situation. Green was made Comptroller, Samuel J. Tilden and Charles O'Conor got upon the track of the robbers. The chccki in the Broadway Bank were discovered. ïhere was no room for doubt. The money had been shamelessly stolen from the eity. Tweed was forced to rcsign his Oommissionership. With the weight of these diselosures on his shoulders, he ran for State Senator, and was elected by 9,000 majority, his Irish opponent, O'Donovan Rossa, not having the strength of a corporal's guard. Before this. Tweed had appoared at the Democratie State Convention and showed a bold front, but it was his last appearance in such a body, The first proceoding against Tweed was a civil suit brought by the Board of Supervisors for the money taken from the Broadway Bank. At the request of Corporation Counsel O'Gorman, George Ticknor Curtis and John K. Porter wrote an opinión declaring that the county had a right to bring such a suit. O'Gorman began proceedings for the recovery of the money. Within a few days another civil suit was brought in the name of The People of the State of New York against Tweed, Garvey, Ingersoll and Woodward. Itwasinstignted by Charles O'Conor, Samuel J. Tilden and Wheeler H. Peckham. The complaint was signed by Attorney General Marshall B. Ohamplain, but the leading counsel were Peckham, Tilden and O'Conor. Judgo Larned, of Albany, issued warronts and held Tweed to bail in $1,000,000. In this suit it was held that the Supervisors' suit was collusive. After an effort to have his bail reduced, Twoed produced bondsmen and was released from arrest. Tweed's counsel maintained that the people liad no right to sue, niid the Court of Appeals afterward so dctermined. Meantime, tho Grand Jnry liad indicted Tweed for various offenses. Tlie indictment contained 120 counts, and covered 1,050 printed pages. It substantially charged him with criminal negleot of olScial duty while a member of the Board of Audit. Tweed was tried on Jan. 30, 1873. The jury disagreed. That nummer he made a trip to California. Tñe panic carne on and he returned to New York, disregarding the advice of friends in San Francisco, who assured him that he would never again be allowed to leave the city. He was tried a second time on a criminal indictment on Nov. 10, and was found gnilty on three-fourths of the counts. Üpon the first trial Judge Noah Davis had espressly declared that, in the event of a conviction, the maximum punishment could only be one year's imprisonment and a fine of $250. He intimated no change of opinión until after the verdict of guilfy on the seoond trial, when he sentenced the prisoner to twelve years' imprisonment and a fine of $12,000. At the expiration of one year's imprisoninent a writ of habeas coi'pus was sued out in Tweed's behalf. After repeated adverse decisions in tho inferior courts, the Court of Appeals, on June 15, 1875, ordered bis discharge. The case wás argueil on behalf of Mr. Tweed by David Dudley Field, William O. Bartl'ett and George H. Comstock. B. K. Phelps and Wheelor H. Teckham were opposed. When the mandate of the court reached this city, Judge Noah Davis was himself obliged to signtheorderreleasing Tweed trom the eleven years' illegal imprisonment which he had imposod. Twentysix other indictments werc hanging over Mr. Tweed's head, but no attempt to try them has been made. While the civil caso was before the Oourt of Appeals, Mr. Tilden and others, foreseciDg the decisión, got an act through the Legislatura exprcssly nutborizing thepeople of the State to maintain a civil suit such as they oould not tnnintam without an expresa statute. New civil suits were then brought. Mr. Tweed was arrested in the Warden's office ns soon as discliargcd, and helcL in 83,000,000 bail bythe sameJudge, Noah Davis, He coulcl not procure tho bail, mul lay in prison. He reaiaed thore uutil Deo, i, 1875. While visiting his residence, in custody of two keepers, he made his escape. For some days ho was hielden in New Jersey, not far from the Wechawken ferry. He was afterward conveyed to a farmhouse beyond the Palisades. His whiskers were shaved ofl', his hair clipped, nnd he put on a wig and gold spectacles. He assumed tbo name of John Seoor. He afterward spent somo time in a íisherman's hut within sight f the Narrows and visited Brooklyn. He Ieft in sohooner, and landed on thé coast of Florida. From there he reached Cuba in a íishiDg smaok, and was landed on a rook near Santiago de Cuba by the skipper. Ho and a companion, ílunt, were at once arrested. He was recognized, but got on board the Spanish bark Carmen and took passago for Vigo, Spain. Hamilton Fish, then Secretary of State, requested the Spanish authorities to arrest him on his arrival. ïhcy did so, and, though there was no extradition treaty between the two Governments, and the suit against Tweed was a civil and not a criminal one, he was turned over to the commandcr of the United States war Franklin, and delivered to the Sheriff of this county on Nov. 23, 1876.