BOSS TWEED: The Corrupt Pol who Conceived the Soul of Modern New York (71 page)

Chapter 21. Lawyers
(pages 315–332)

1. “For Tweed there was some sympathy …”: New York Tribune
   , June 8, 1877.
   

2. “The abuse you get only shows …”:
   Barlow to Fairchild, June 25, 1877; Fairchild papers, NYHS.
   

3. “These men are dead socially …”: New York Tribune
   , June 8, 1877.
   

4. “If Mr. Tweed had known …”:
   New York Herald
   , October 26, 1877.
   

5. “lost their brightness,” … “remarkable possession…”:
   New York Sun
   , November 28, 1876.
   

6. “I can’t get the motion …”:
   New York Sun
   , November 25, 1876.
   

7. “try to cheer him up”:
   New York Tribune
   , November 27, 1876. Weeds claims that he also visited Tweed three times during his imprisonment on Blackwell’s Island and suggested shortly after Tweed’s escape from Ludlow Street that Tweed only wanted “to make a clean breast of it… provided he can secure freedom from himself and for some of his particular friends.” See Weed interview in
   New York Herald
   , December, 14, 1875.
   

8. FN: Release… under … “60-Days Act”: See
   New York Tribune
   , July 30, 1877; New-York Times, February 21, 1878.
   

9. “I have recklessly parted …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 307 and 310.
   

10. “Sir; Physically and financially …”: Tweed to Ingersoll, January 10, 1877. Tweed papers, NYHS.
    

11. “the name of T—d rendered it difficult:” Letter from Margaret Tweed to Tweed, in Hershkowitz, p. 308.
    

12. “Personally, Tweed was the pluckiest man …”:
    New York Tribune
    , April 13, 1878.
    

13. “At first it was not an easy matter …”: Townsend, p. 118.
    

14. “The drunken Democrat [from] the Galena gutter”: Letter from O’Conor to Samuel Reid, November 24, 1876, in
    New-York Times
    , December 6, 1876.
    

15. no effort … extradite Sweeny or Connolly: Tilden tried to cool this issue by asking Hamilton Fish in September to hand over “this great criminal” Tweed to local authorities immediately upon his return to the country.
    

16. “[T]he spectacle of Tweed upon his knees …”: Townsend, p. 118-119.
    

17. “I take the liberty of addressing you…”: Letter from Tweed to O’Conor, December 5, 1876, in Townsend, p. 119,
    Harper’s Weekly
    , April 14, 1877, and newspapers.
    

18. “I’ve got secrets enough of his…”:
    New York Tribune
    , November 16, 1878. See also
    New-York Times
    , December 15, 1875: (“If Governor Tilden knew that
    a full and true story of the Tammany Ring, by Tweed, was to appear in The Times next Saturday, we do not believe he would get much sleep on Friday night.”)
    

19. “about nine out of ten men …”: Flick, p. 260.
    

20. “I… caution the public against a pretended confession …”: Letter from Hewitt in
    New-York Times
    and other newspapers, November 5, 1876.
    

21. Sweeny full immunity … “unmolested”: The document, signed by Fairchild, DA Benjamin Phelps, William Whitney, and Peckham, is in the Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

22. Critics sneered at the … deal: See, for instance,
    New-York Times
    , December 29, 1876: (“As the election is now over and there is no longer the necessity for a pretense of a Democratic ‘war on the thieves,’ Gov. Tilden has interposed no obstacle.”)
    

23. O’Conor … letter resigning from the Tweed prosecution: On the O’Conor-Tilden meeting, see
    New York Tribune
    , July 2, 1877; Lynch, 405; and Townsend, 121.
    

24. “He attracts few people”: Flick, p. 362.
    

25. Townsend … fee … ten promissory notes: Townsend insisted on collateral for the fee, which Tweed’s friend Benjamin Fairchild provided in the form of a deed on land near Jamaica, Long Island. See
    New-York Times
    , November 13, 1878 and January 9, 1879.
    

26. Field asked Tweed … $1,000 … Tweed refused: Letters between Field and Tweed, February 1877, reprinted in Townsend, p. 124 through 126.
    

27. “Of course Tweed was aware …”: Townsend, p. 121.
    

28. “I… talked with him awhile”: Fairchild testimony to state assembly, in
    New-York Times
    , May 2, 1877.
    

29. notes from the meeting: Document dated February 21, 1877, in Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

30. Bryant … article on his jailbreak:
    Harper’s Weekly
    , April 14, 1877.
    

31. “[H]e refused to lead…”:
    New York Star
    , August 4, 1886, in Flick, p. 401.
    

32. “Unwilling to bargain …”: Morris Jr., p. 252.
    

33. “Physically he was an old …”: Flick, p. 417.
    

34. “[Fairchild] accepted Tilden’s invitation …”: Bryant to Townsend, March 15, 1877, in Townsend, p. 130.
    

35. “The understanding is absolute …”: Bryant to Townsend, March 22, 1877, in Townsend, p. 131.
    

36. “The talk of a compromise …”: Letter from Whitney to Fairchild, March 31, 1877, Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

37. “I saw [Tweed] again at the jail …”: Fairchild testimony to state assembly, in
    New-York Times
    , May 2, 1877.
    

38. “Mr. Fairchild did not fix any date …”: Townsend, p. 132.
    

39. “
    Buckingham
    …”: G. Union [Bryant] to Luke Grant [Tweed], April 5, 1877, in Townsend, p. 132.
    

40. “confession”: For full text, see
    New York Herald
    , October 10, 1877.
    

41. “He says he has no doubt …”: Letter from Townsend to Tweed, April 15, 1877, in Townsend, p. 133.
    

42. “in Tilden’s hands”: Lettter from Townsend to Tweed, April 15, 1877, in Townsend, p. 133.
    

43. “Since his troubles …”:
    New York World
    , April 17, 1877.
    

44. FN: “I notice that the ‘World’ has several columns…”: Letter from Townsend to Fairchild, April 17, 1877, Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

45. “It is pretty well understood …”:
    New-York Times
    , April 20, 1877.
    

46. Dirt… against … Woodin …Weed … New York Central Railroad: Letter from Townsend to Fairchild, June 20, 1877, in
    New-York Times
    and other papers, June 21, 1877.
    

47. “My mind is not easy …”: Letter from Tweed to Townsend, May 4, 1877, in Townsend, p. 133.
    

48. “He is suffering intensely from diabetes…”: Letter from Schirmer to Townsend, May 10, 1877, in Townsend, p. 136, and Lynch, p. 408.
    

49. “If possible, have the Counsel …”: Letter from Tweed to Townsend, May 4, 1877, in Townsend, p. 133.
    

50. “Tweed’s testimony will so key up…: Letter from Whitney to Fairchild, May 25, 1877, Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

51. “Pursuant to your suggestion …”: Letter from Peckham to Fairchild, May 3, 1877. Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

52. “Whitney & I saw [Tweed] …”: Peckham to Fairchild, May 18, 1877. Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

53. “I consulted with several people …”: Fairchild testimony to state assembly, in
    New-York Times
    , May 2, 1877.
    

54. Peckham …meeting secretly with Sweeny’s agents: Peckham testimony, Aldermen, p. 870-872.
    

55. Peckham … gloomy picture of the evidence: Fairchild Report in
    New York Tribune
    , November 30, 1877.
    

    Peckham had bank records: See financial spreadsheets in box 23, Tilden papers, NYPL.
    

56. “In my view the trial …”: Letter from Peckham to Fairchild, May 25, 1877. Fairchild papers, NYPL.
    

57. Sweeny … “laughing and talking”:
    New York Tribune
    , June 7, 1877.
    

58. “It may be proper for me to say …”:
    New York Tribune
    , June 7, 1877.
    

59. “[A]ny settlement [was on] condition …”:
    New York Tribune
    , June 7, 1877
    

60. “I was no party… to any agreement …”:
    New York Tribune
    , June 8, 1877.
    

61. Pechkam … hadn’t objected: Judge Westbrook himself went further and said that Sweeny’s lawyers had requested the language in a private meeting with Peckham present and “Mr. Peckham, I think, said nothing about it.”
    New York Tribune
    , June 14, 1877.
    

62. Smith Ely, Jr.,… Sweeny … offered … $600,000 :
    New York Tribune
    , June 9, 1877.
    

63. Kelly accused prosecutors …Sweeny … l back channel:
    New York Tribune
    , June 7, 1877.
    

64. “I am just informed …”: Letter from Townsend to Fairchild, June 6, 1877. Fairchiild papers, NYHS.
    

65. “After careful examination…”: Letter from Fairchild to Townsend, June 12, 1877, Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

66. Fairchild … leaked … at the Manhattan Club: Letter from Townsend to Fairchild, June 20, 1877, in
    New-York Times
    and other papers, June 21, 1877.
    

67. FN: “If it be shown that through incompetence…”: Townsend to Fairchild, June 20, 1877, in
    New-York Times
    and other papers, June 21, 1877. Peckham, in turn, would callTownsend’s attack “[U]ngentlemanly.” Peckham to Fairchild, June 21, 1877; Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

    FN: “The copy submitted to Mr. Fairchild…”:
    New York Tribune
    , June 14, 1877.
    

68. FN: Fairchild … published a report: Fairchild Report in
    New York Tribune
    , November 30, 1877.
    

69. FN: Carolyn O’Brien Bryant …scathing … letters: See
    New-York Times
    , July 18, 19 and 20, 1877;
    New York Tribune
    , July 18, 1877.
    

70. “You have refused to let Tweed…”: Letter from Whitney to Fairchild, July 20, 1877, Fairchild papers, NYHS.
    

71. “That Fairchild attempted …”: Hirsch (Whitney), p. 125.
    

72. “The worst feature of [the Tweed ring crimes] …”:
    New York Tribune
    and other papers, December 5, 1877; Townsend, p. 145.
    

Chapter 22. Clean Breast
(pages 333–344)

1. “
   I can’t; I am in the same condition …”:
   Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 148.
   

2. “Nathaniel Sands was taken care of …”:
   Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 223.
   

3. “My defenses … have been disclosed …”: Letter from Tweed to Townsend, June 13, 1877, in
   New York Tribune
   , June 14, 1877. On subsequent judgments, see
   New-York Times
   , February 14, 1878.
   

4. FN: Honest John” … accused by Mayor William Havemeyer … “Fraud permeates every part …”: See Werner, p. 278-279;
   New-York Times
   and other newspapers, December 1 and 2, 1874.
   

5. “I never dictate …”: Kelly interview,
   New York World
   , October 18, 1875.
   

6. “John Kelly is a man …”:
   New-York Times
   , October 27, 1875.
   

7. Lewis … star witness … the former Boss himself: Lewis obtained a judicial summons to compel Tweed to testify, though Tweed had not asked for it. In his application, Lewis felt obliged to say it was “in good faith, and without any fraud or connivance between the said committee … and the said William M. Tweed.”
   

8. “He stoops more than usual …”:
   New York Herald
   , September 4, 1877.
   

9. I believe you are a native…”“I am, sir.”: Tweed testimony, aldermen, p. 12
   

10. “Mr. Tweed manifested no nervousness ...”:
    New York Sun
    , September 13, 1877.
    

11. “the most timid never dreaded…”:
    New York Tribune
    , September 17, 1877.
    

12. “There is not a word of truth in it”:
    New York Sun
    , September 8, 1877.
    

13. “There is no truth …”:
    New York Sun
    , September 13, 1877.
    

14. Tweed … producing … sales document… “That settles …”: The document, an assignment of the claim to Tweed’s secretary Foster Dewey, is in Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p.59; the quote is from
    New York Sun
    , September 16, 1877.
    

15. “it is simply and wholly false…”: Argus, in
    New York Sun
    , September 30, 1877.
    

16. “Men whom I have benefited in every way …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p.234 and 239.
    

17. Several hundred persons…” “Every seat …”:
    New York Sun
    and
    New York Herald
    , September 22, 1877.
    

18. “He seemed bursting …”:
    New York Tribune
    , September 13, 1877.
    

19. “jaunty air” “the promptness with which his answers…”:
    New-York Times
    , September 16, 1877.
    

20. “Well, you must recollect that if I don’t answer …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 108.
    

21. “men who could inform me …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 211.
    

22. : “Must I sit here and be abused …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 123.
    

23. “I have read it [the list] …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 273, 261.
    

24. “What I swore then was false; …”:
    New-York Times
    , September 22, 1877. Tweed testimony, Alderman, p. 167.
    

25. “I cannot say anything against …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 290.
    

26. “on the contrary, he was always quarreling …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 119-120.
    

27. “How much was true? …”: Hershkowitz, p. 335.
    

28. Sweeny … hiding behind … immunity: The committee issued a subpoena demanding he appear, but Sweeny sent a lawyer to protest saying Sweeny had come to American under protection of prosecutors. “Mr. Sweeny … has had no notification from any source that the immunity thus assured would at any time expire, according to its provisions,” the lawyer argued, and it would be “oppressive” to make him speak. Aldermen, p. 767-775.
    

29. Taintor …had examined … $30 million is city payments: Taintor testimony, p. 403-404.
    

    $200 million … Matthew O’Rourke: See New York Herald, January 13, 1901; Callow, p. 164; Lynch, p. 16.
    

30. “At present all the thieves …”: Aldermen report, p. 26-27.
    

31. “incomprehensible”…“to save some shred …”: Aldermen report, p. 29.
    

32. “almost a nonentity” … “a poor stick” … “I was pretty well acquainted …” “I was a Douglas democrat…” “I have gained…”: Tweed interview,
    New York Herald
    , October 26, 1877.
    

33. “I think, [he] has been crazy…” “a hard, overbearing…” “I was always ambitious …” “Nothing. My vanity sees nothing…”: Tweed interview,
    New York Herald
    , October 26, 1877.
    

34. I should go to New Orleans…” “My son-in-law is in business…”:
    New York Herald
    , October 26, 1877.
    

35. “I never bother my head …”: Tweed testimony, Aldermen, p. 116.
    

36. aldermen … voted 13 to 6 … to free Tweed: See Aldermen proceedings,
    New-York Times
    , January 5, 1878.
    

37. “[Schoonmaker] will, it is believed …”:
    New-York Times
    , November 11, 1877.
    

38. “Tweed’s case must stand …”:
    New-York Times
    , February 9, 1878.
    

39. “I feel it to be my duty both …”: Letter from Kelly to Schoonmaker, March 21, 1878, in Townsend, p. 149,
    New York World
    , March 27, 1878..
    

40. Schoonmaker … understanding with Kelly and Townsend: See letter from Townsend to Schoomnmaker, in the
    New York Herald
    , April 14, 1878.
    

41. “It is doubtless true that Mr. Kelly promised…”:
    Utica Observer
    , in
    New-York Times
    , April 5, 1878.
    

42. “That gentleman [Schoonmaker] gave assurance …”: Townsend, p. 151.
    

43. “Of what use to the Attorney General …”: Letter from Fairchild to Schoonmaker, April 1, 1878. Fairchild papers, NYHS, and newspapers. See, for instance,
    New York World
    , April 2, 1878..
    

44. “I saw at once that …”:
    New York Herald
    , April 13, 1878.
    

45. “as many as five hundred times …”: Werner, p. 257.
    

46. Dewey … Tweed …out names of people …one out of every four :
    New York Sun
    , April 13, 1878.
    

47. “I felt I could be to him of no further use…”:
    New York Tribune
    , April 13, 1878.