The New York Herald Newspaper, December 6, 1875, Page 3

HUNTING. THE FUGITIVE William M. Tweed Still at Liberty. THE METHOD OF ESCAPE. Where the Carriages Used Came From. QUEER LIVERY STABLE BUSINESS. What a Watchman Witnessed on Saturday. INTERESTING DETAILS. The escape of William M. Tweed from the custody of his keepers formed the principal topic of conversation yesterday among every class of society through- out the city. The opinions advanced as to the method of his departure were naturally as various as they were conflicting. Every person in the community appeared to have a different theory to advance, Some of these were of the wildest nature, but whenever the subject was broached each new idea was listened to with almost breathless atten- tion, There were people who stated their belief that the ‘Boss’ had been allowed to quit the jail fome ten days ago. Others imagined that he had left the city on Friday; while again there were many to be found who expressed their convictions to the effect that Tweed had driven directly from Ludlow street to the North River and had em_ barked on some outward bound steamer, The Police authorities as well as the officials attached {o the Sheriffs office had, of course as usual in such cases, their own particular theories to give, accounting for the disappearance of the prisoner. ‘These, however, difered as widely as did those given vent to by the outside public, The high po- lice officials, detectives and others —_con- nected with the department, aro firmly impressed with the opinton that W. M. Tweed eluded his keepers at some place before reaching his own house, where the flight Is said to have taken place by Warden Dunham, and that his escape was not only a deliberately planned affair, but that it was aided and abetted by Warden Dunham himself and his assistant Hagan, The Sheriffs assist- ants hold to the view that the fugitive eluded the watch placed on him while in his house and got away without the knowledge of any one, and that he had made preparations therefor without any connivance on the part of those haying him in charge. That the whole scheme of escape was well planned there cannot ‘de the slightest doubt; but as to who wore the parties who connived at or assisted in the final consummation the future events alone can determine, It may, however, be here stated that from the investigations made during yesterday there ia sufficient ground to convey the almostcertainty that Mr. Tweed did not leave the jail at all on Friday, but ‘that it was on Saturday he folded his tont and silently stole away. As to THE MANNER OF THE RSCAPR and the exact locality where he managed to effect his object the proof is not so positive, but, as will be seen from the accounts published elsewhere, there is good ‘eause to reason that William M. Tweed did not enter his house on Madison avenue on Saturday at all, but quietly withdrew from the party atthe time when all hands left the carriage at the knoll in Central Park. This idea is further strengthened by the state- ment of Warden Dunham, published yesterday, rwherein he states that Tweed, accompanied ‘by bis son, W. M. Tweed, Jr., himself and Mr. Hagan, his assistant left the jail after one o’clock and arrived at Tweed’s house on Madison avenue at about half-past four, after having driven in the carriage to Kingsbridge ‘and back. Anyoné acquainted with the route, as pre- viously published in the Heraup, can readily per- ceive that the distance travelled would prevent the Probability of the journey being accomplished in ‘the space of but little over three hours. The more reasonable proposition appears to be that, as already stated, the escape was carried out at the time when the party left the carriage in the park. That this is the most feasible view to take the developments of yes- terday clearly indicate, for, as will be seen in another column, a series of circumstances in regard to the hire of the carriages by which the flight was consummated are so strong as to preclude the possibility of ques- tion, It will be seen that two carriages were employed, both of which, it appears, were pressed into the sertice in a most pecular man- ner, and that one undoubtedly took W. M. Tweed his son, the Warden and his assistant to the Purk, when, on arriving at the “Knoll,” the other, driven by ‘Tweed’s favorite driver, was supposed to have been in ‘waiting to receive him, He had, therefore, but to wait favorable opportunity, such as would be readily fur- nished by his accomplices to quietly disappear from view, quickly enter THR WAITING COACH, und be specdily driven away beyond the reach of the Jaw, If this 18 the case a clean bill of fraud and corrup- tion cannot but be found against Warden Dunbam and his Deputy, In fact, the story in regard to the manner in which the two carriages wore obtained would be sufficient to show that — every- thing bad been prepared. The result of the interviews with the two stable keepers who farnished the carriages will be found particularly interesting, especially as the facts mentioned therein seem to bear out the theory of the police that Twoed did not visit his house as claimed, The statement made by a watchman in charge of the new block of tgtenanted houses on the north side of Sixtieth street also goes to confirm the fact that the late chieftain ‘Was not im the neighborhood at the time stated, and, further, that he must have set off fur parts unknown soon after leaving the jail. This waseSenan, it will be observed, states that somewhere about four o'clock he noticed acoach drive up te the corner of Sixtieth street, from which descended three persons who entered Tweed’s residence, It will be remembered that on leaving the jail the ooach con- tained four people as previously stated, What had be. come of the fourth party? The fact, too, that one of the twin propri¢tors of the livery stable should have, being a warm personal friend of Tweed’s, bought a pas. sage ticket for % tris to Europe on the steamship Spain, while he on the day of Tweed’s escape sailed on the Celtic ts also significant, Both these steamers sailed on Sat- urday for Europe, and the question now is whether the fugitive was noton one of these ships and now far on bis way to more hospitable shores, ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT FACT. It will also be seen on reference to the report given elsewhere that one of the carriages used, as a mitted by the livery stable keepers Lamb and Kern to have been hired and used for Tweed, returned to the stable early in the afternoon fand that was the one driven by a man whi swers in every way to the description of Tweed’s old and trusted driver who drove him on all occasions during his reign I power whenever he had any secret mission to per- Sorm, either of a business or social character, WARDEN DUNHAM'S STORY, fs told to the different reporters of the New York press, Also presents some singular discrepancies clearly point- dng to a more intimate knowledge of the means and ‘Methods of Tweed’s escape than he at the first blush cares to admit. He has contradicted himself in many essential particulars, and his record of the timé of day at which certain events he alleges to havo Dappened occurred are’somewhat fatal to a belief in the trathfulness of his story. His desire to avoid any- thing Ike questioning yesterday by being in- visible, and the fact that Sheriff Conner and his friends were ooking for him but un- able to catch sight of him, is also portentous, and there were not a few persons who ventured to assert that he had also departed for felds and pastures new, There were also rumors circulated tnat he had ei\her already been arrested or that a warrant was out NEW YORK AERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1815.—WITH SUPPLEMENT, for his arrest, TiHese rumors, however, could not be traced to any reliable source. OTHER ABSENTERS. ‘The sudden departure of Foster Dewey, Tweed’s pri- vate secretary, and Tim Campbell, the newly elected civil Judge, for parts unknown, were also commented ‘on yesterndy. It has been ascertained that a man hired @ special en- gine to take him to Sag Harbor on Saturday evening. ‘and was ip such a hurry to get off that he handed a five-hundred-dollar bill to the station master in payment for the accommodation, but did not wait for the change, which now awaits hig order. As to which di- rection Tweed has gone in, tf he bas left the city at all, scarcely # conjecture can be formed, but it is generally believed that he is now far out at sea That he would be hiding in the city is not considered probable, for the reason that, did he attempt any such thing, and afterward try to get away, bis appearance being 80 marked would at once lead to his arrest If he went to sea he must have done so on Saturaay, for yesterday no vessels went out by way of Sandy Hook. ‘THR PREMISES INVESTIGATED. At daybreak yesterday morniog a HeRAxp reporter, in order to get at rest the question as to the probability of Tweed having escaped from the rear of his house and thence over the fences to the street, in company with Captain Mount, of the Nineteenth precinct, anda detective made an extended examination of the yard at the rear of the residence and of those adjacent, as well as of the vacant lot at the corner of Fifty-ninth street. The re- sult showed beyond question that Tweed did not go out by the back way, for not a blade of grass was found awry or the earth disturbed in the slightest degree, These officials are firm in the be- hef that Tweed did not visit his house at all, but gov away from his keepers soon after he left the jail on Saturday, if he did not leave there on Friday, or Perhaps sooner even than that time, That he did Bot escape by means of the scuttle of his own house and through that of the one adjoining was also clearly demonstrated by measurement, for it was found that the space would not possibly allow a man of the Boss? dimensions to pass through. WHAT A WATCHMAN SAW, €. Gouldrich, a watchman empioyed in taking care of a Dumber of uneccupied buildings on Sixtieth street, near Madison avenue, states that on Saturday atter- noon he noticed a carriage drawn by 4 pair of horses drive up to the corner of Sixueth street and Madison avenue. This was, he thought, about half- past four o'clock in the afternoon. From this coach he saw three men get out and walk up to and enter Mr. Tweed’s house. The carriage stayed on the corner ‘until nearly seven o’clock, when two of the three men came out of the house, entered the carriage and were ¢riven off. ‘THE SUPPOSED DRIVE. A Hsratp reporter yesterday went over the route said to have becn taken by Tweed and his party on Saturday last, in order, if possible, to find out whether or not the journey purported to have been made had really been performed. From the time of start- ing until the return no one could be found who had seen or noticed any sucn party. The proprietor of the Claremont Hotel, on the Western Boulevard, stated, in answer to questions put to him, that he had never seen Tweed but twice in his hotel, viz, on the day he left the Island, and again on last Tuesday fortnight, when he dined there with a party of friends. At Kingsbridge no one had seen any party of which W, M. Tweed was a member, nor had any one from there to the Third avenue bridge at Harlem, Thore a special policeman is detailed, but hé stated he had not seen Mr, Tweed, and that if he had passed over the bridge he thought he would have noticed him, WHAT MAJOR QUINCKY SAYS. Major Quincey, the order-of-arrest clerk in the Sher- iff’s office, stated last night that he had heard no news of W. M. Tweed’s whereabouts, He supposed his being taken out of Ludlow Street Jail was with the con- sent of Sheriff Conner, Any such leniency he had often opposed, he said, and had repeatedly cautioned the Sheriff against granting any request to allow the late prisoner to go out, Tweed had often re. quested the privilege and further asked that Deputy Sheriff McConegal and himself should go in charge of him. The Major said he had emphatically de- clined to incur the risk, He did not believe Warden Dunham had been bribed, but he blamed him for being Wo lax in his duties. The Sheriff he had not seen, he said, but had been looking for both him and Warden Dunham all day. Sheriff Conner he knew felt vory much cut up at the loas of his prisoner, and would do everything in his power to cause his rearrest, LIGHT ON A DARK ‘SUBJECT. The stories of Warden Dunbam and Keeper Hagan, as published in explanation of the escape of “Big Six,” are 80 utterly absurd and self-contradictory, that & detective, who believed that Tweed did not escape from his own house, ventared yesterday to attempt to unravel a little of the mystery for the benefit of the police and the Sheriff. In a few hours he learned that the point to which to turn for a clew was the stables of Chester Lamb, in Fifty-eighth street, and Lamb & Son, in East Forty-ninth street. The senior Lamb has long been a fast friend of Boss Tweed, and his son Charles a chum and confidant of Wm. M. Tweed, Jr., as well as the young bloods of the old Ring. At the Fifty-cighth street stables the Tweed family kept their turnouts. There, too, Miller, the Court House carpenter, and other Tweed adberents kept their steeds of blooded stock. It is no secret that there are ties of no un- common order connecting the Ring men that made this a great resort, In the rear of the office kindred spirits have often met to dis- cuss the affairs of the city over sparkling wines and choice Havanas, The other stable is, as has been stated, on Forty-ninth street, and these hacks and other vehicles are kept for public hire. The manager of this establishment is William Lamb, twin brother of Charles, and son of Chester Lamb, the friend and companion of the Boss in many a lively election and political in- trigne, She twin sons are known as Charlie and Billy. The former has been suffering for some time from ill health, and has been under the care of ex-Coro- ner Schermer, the family physician of Tweed. Charlie spent last winter in Florida, and a few weeks ago he announced that by the advice of bis physician he would spend this winter also there, While the wine was being consumed by the boys in the old Fifty-eighth street stable there were mysterious transfers of teams and carriages between the two stables and another owned by ® simple-minded German named Kern, At about the same time Charlie Lamb gave out that he had changed his mind and would not go to Florida Last Wednesday and Thursday he announced among his friends that he would sailon Saturday on the steamship Spain, with the view of spending the winter in the south of France, and in support of that resolution exhibited to various persons his ticket by that vessel, alleging that Dr. Schirmer had ordered it, Yesterday tho detective boldly walked into the offlce of the Forty-ninth street stable and at once recognized the genial Billy, who was surrounded by three friends, ‘The frst question was: “Is Mr. Charles Lamb in ?"” Billy promptly answered France yesterday.” This was old news to the interrogator, so calling Billy ide, he said in a low voice: ir. Lamb, I have information that leads mo to be- Keve that the carriage Tweed escaped in came from this stable.” ‘The livery man seemed much astonished at the an- nouncement, but before he could reply the visitor con- unued :-— “Ob, I know all about it Do not be alarmed; I merely came to get the name of the driver. I want to see him.” Mr. Lamb was confused; eyed his visitor from head to foot, and then nervously turned about as ho answered :— “He didn’t have my carriage, but he did get a team here yesterday.”” “Whose carriage did he use then?” was tho next query. “He sent here and got a team and had his own car- riage.” “All right, now give me the name of the driver, Mr, Lamb." “1 don’t know him, fore.”” “Look here, sir,” remarked the stranger, ‘you say Tweed got your horses and used his own carriage. He keeps that carriage at your Fifty-ergbth street stabio, but he didn’t use it on Saturday ?' “No, sir; sailed for 1 never saw him but once be- ‘Lamb hesitated for a moment, then said:— “What are you questioning me this way for?” “Never mind, 1 kpow what] am about I want the facts,” “Well, then, he sent here for the horses and 1 sent then to Fifty-first street for the carriage.” “Ab! that is something like it, Who did you send witb the team?” “One of my men.” “Give me the name of the keeper of the Fifty-first street stable ?’” “Mr, Kern,”’ was the reluctant answer, “Thank you,” said the detective with a smile, “Now, Mr. Lamb, is it the practice of livery stable keepers to Btve out teams to strangers?” “No, sir.” “Did the man bring an order for the team?” come, “Did he bring an order?” “No, he did not.” “Now, let me ask, Is it your habit to do business in this way?” ; “0, I understood all about it when the man came and didn't question him.’ “Give me a description of that man?” was the next question. “Ob! he was a tall, slim man, with a black mus- tache,”” “What was the reason Tweed did not teke bis own team from your uptown stable ??’ “Well, last week an accident happened to his horses on thi nue and they are not fit for use. That's the reason.”” “Mr, Lamb, let me qsk you this:—Don’t you know that Tweed got away with the aid of your team ?” ‘Well, ll tell you; I think he used two carriages,” “How many times do you say the man bas como here?” “T have seen him but twice,” “ Now give me his name; 1 am bound to find him”? “Didn't I tell you I don’t know. Now ‘that’s enough of this, What are you driving at, any way?” Thanking Mr. Lamb, the detective bade bim good day, and soon after entered the livery office of Mr, G Kern i Fifty-first street, and found him sitting at his desk, “Mx, Kern, did you supply the carriage in which Tweed escaped ?”” “Me? No, sir; I know nothing about tt,” ‘Let me refresh your memory, then. Yesterday, at about noon, a span of horses were sent here from another stable, and after they were attached to your jandau they were driven away.” “‘How in hell did you hear that?” exclaimed the pro- prietor, “Never mind; you just answer my questions, Now, tell me who ordered that carriage?” “Mr. Lamb sent for it There (pointing to the car- riage standing on the street) is the landau, but 1 don’t know what it was used for.’ “Thank you, How many times have carriages been ordered in this way?” “Three times, I guess. I thought it was suspicious to ordera carriage this way at different times, because when we livery men want a team from another stable we always order, not only the carriage, but the horses and driver; butas Mr. Lamb and I have been doing business together a long time I thought it all right.” “Who came for the landau ?”” “One of Lamb's men,” “Thank you. Now another question You admit that two or three times Lamb has ordered carriages in this manner? You, no doubt, have a record of the orders on your books? I want you to give me them,” “Before—I do—it, you please tell me who in hell ate you.’” “I decline to tell you, Mr, Kern. there on your books. Do you retuse?”” Mr. Kern moved over and spoke in a confidential whisper :— “To tell the truth, Ihave gone into bankruptcy, and there is an assignea, 1am here as his agent, Wait til) he comes and he may show you the books, I don’t like to take the responsibility.” “I don’t want to see your books, I merely want you tolook at them and give me the dates when Lamb ordered the landau.”” Very reluctantly he complied, and stated that these orders were given on November 13, 23 and on Sat- urday last. The detective thanked Mr. Kern, and leay- ing, proceeded to meet his axsociate and compare notes, ‘The two subsequently visited Lamb’s stables and found the proprietor in, MORE LIGHT ONTAINED. “Is Mr. Lamb in?” asked the detective, “Yes; that’s my name.” “Well, Mr. Lamb, we have information that you sent team of horses to Korn’s stable, in Fifty-first street, on November 13 and 23, and on Saturday last. Is that true?” “I presume it is. You have been here before.” “Well, was it the same man each time that took them away?” “Yes, it was, you asked me that before to-day,” “But you said to-day it was only two timgs.” “Well, two or three times, What's the difference?” “It's a good deal of difference, Won’t you give us the name of the man ?” “Now see here, I don’t want to be bothered any more ‘this way.” “We don’t want to vother you,’’ remarked the de- tective’s companion. ‘We only want a fair answer toa fair question.” “Well, I don’t know his name. That's all about it,” “But Mr, Lamb,” continued the new interrogator “‘will you please tell me whether it 1s usual tor livery stable keepers to send out horses for strangers whom they never saw before?” “Oh, I sent them out because we received a telegraph order from our other stable.” “Ab! you got a telegram, did you?” remarked the detective who had first spoken. ‘You didn’t tell me that this afternoon.” “Yes, I did) You must have misunderstood me.” “Well, I am willing to be corrected, but I don’tremem ber it, By the way, you stated to me to day that your brother bad sailed yesterday for France. How comes it that be purchased his ticket by the Spain ana went on another vessel ?"” “Well, what of it? Suppose he did? What does that amount to?” “It amounts toa good deal. We know that he went by the Celtic, instead of the Spain.” “Well, 1 know he did. He knows his own business.” “Now, Mr. Lamb,” remarked the detective's com- panion, ‘we want to find that man. Can't you give us his name?” “No, Ican’t.” “Can you describe him ?”” “J gave the description to this other man to-day.” “He was a tall, thin man with a black mustache, was he?” “Yes, “and that’s all you know about him ?’? “Yes; and I don’t want to be bothered any more.” “Now, Mr. Lamb, will you let me ask one more question? How long would it take a carriage to go from the corner of Grand and Mercer streets up to McComb’s Dam and back again, taking the usual way Come, The entries aro of driving ?” “About two hours.”” “Thank you! Good night!”” These transactions in hiring carriages at one stable and teams of horses from another, the orders coming from a third stable where Tweed’s equipages were kept are, to say the least, singular. It will be remembered that mention {s made of tho fact that Mr. Charles Lamb had exhibited his ticket for the Spain to hie friends, and appears in the passenger list of the Coltic as having sailed in that vessel. SCENES AT HEADQUARTERS, The excitement at Police Headquarters continued all throughout yesterday and up to midnight Karly in the morning President Matsell and Commissioner Voor- hes arrived, and shortly afterward came Superintend- ent Walling A protracted consultation was held as to the best course to pursue, and it was finally decided to send for reinforcements to the detective squad, and the telegraph wires in the basement were soon flashing orders to the various precincts to send officers to the Central Office forth- with, Eager reporters crowded around the office of the Superintendent, anxiously awaiting developments, but hour after hour passed, and still no news of the fleeing Tweed Whenever the Superintendent emerged from his sanctum he was besieged for information, but to all question: jake of the head was the only an- swer. Carriages lined Mulberry street, and politi. cians and others came and departed. A dozen times during the day a report was started that Tweed had been captared, but each time it was traced to some waggish originator, Among the callers was Sheriff Con- ner, who was, for several hours, at different periods of the dav. closeted with the Superintendent and Prem. dent Matesell. Under Sheriff Cammings and a large number of the deputies were also present, but they all preserved an impenetrable silence, A LOCOMOTIVE STORY. While Superintendent Walling was in consultation with,President Matsell at the latter’s bouse on Fifty- eighth street Saturday night, the door bell rang and the servant ushered in Mr, Henry Havemeyer, son of the late Mayor, who had called to pay a friendly visit to the President of the Board of Police. He was greeted by the latter witn the news of Tweed’s escape, at which he expressed much astonishment. When the details of the flight bad been narrated Mr. Havemeyer hastily said:— “A strange and suspicious circumstance happened this afternoon whieh may possibly bave some bearing on the matter’? He then made the following statement :— “Shortly after four o'clock on Saturday afternoon a well dressed man, apparently about thirty years of age, round, smooth face and wearing a sealskin cap, rushed into the ticket office of the Long Island Railroad at Hunter's Point and excitedly asked if the express train for Sag Harbor had yet left? “The ticket agent replied that the last train had been gone about twenty minutes. ‘Then I must catch it'at all bazards,’ exclaimed the man. ‘Quick, telegraph ahead to stop it, and I will charter a locomotive to over- take it,” “The manner and appearance of the stranger indi- cated that he was in dead earnest, and the agent, without further words, told him that the charge would. be $50 for running a special locomo- tive, In reply the man took from a plethoric pocket- book & $500 bill, and, handing it to the agent, bade him jose nota moment The latter could not change the bill, and so informed the man, but he hastily said, ‘Never mind about that; get me the locomotive; you can renft me the change to Sag Harbor; my namo is John C. Clarke.’ In a short time the iron steed was on the track, and the stranger was whirling over the road at the rate of a mile a minate. “‘As the express train neared Mineola, a small station near Hempstead, about fifteen miles from Hunter's Point, the engineer saw waving ahead the red flag and immediately stopped the train. Tho telegraph operator hurried to him with a despatch, directing him to await the arrival of a special locomotive with a passenger. Among those on the train was Mr, Have- meyer, the President of the road, who, finding the cars at a standstill, inquired into the cause of the samo. The operator could only inform him of the order tele graphed from Hunter's Point, When the passengers became acquainted with the cause of the stoppago much cunosity was manifested as to whom the coming lecomotive contained, Their curiosity was gratified before long by the arrival of the mysteri- ous stranger, who quickly boarded the express and in a moment was speeding toward Sag Harbor. Some per- son asked him the reason of his great haste, but the only roply received was that he didn’t want to stay in New York over night. Of coarse no one on the train had as yet heard anything about the escape of Tweed, and after a little ripple of excitement the affair of the special locomotive was forgotten. On hearing this, President Matsell and Superin- tendent Walling were much impressed with the belief that the mysterious personage was none other than an agent of Tweed’s gone ahcad to make arrangements for the flying Boss at Sag Harbor. The latter town, being on Long Island Sound, afforded ap excellent place for the fugitive to take passhgeon a steamer or vessel from. After a hasty discussion {t was arranged that Mr. Havemeyer, who entered into the chase with much en- thusiasm, should proceed forthwith to Hunter's Point, and ascertain by telegraph from the agent of the road at Sag Harbor what became of the man, Superintend- ent Walling was in the meantime to communicate with Sheriff Conner, inform him of the circumstance and put a sufficient number of detectives on the track. Mr. Havemeyer accordingly burried to Hunter's Point and at once telegraphed to the Superintendent of the road to hold all the conductors and telegraph opera- tors on duty until further notice, Communication was subsequently opencd with the operator at Sag Harbor, but all the information he could give about the stranger was that he had frequently seen him in town, Where he had gone the operator could not say. Yesterday morning further measures were taken to solve the mystery by the sending of detectives over the road, but up to the present time no positive information as to their success has been received. The police authorities are reticent with regard to the mat- ter but express themsolves as determined to ascertam who the stranger is and the reason of his extraordinary haste. Various theories are afloat, Some incline to the belief that the escape having been previously planned it was arranged for Tweed to embark for the high seas at Sag Harbor, which point he was to reach from New York in a roundabout way, Later yesterday afternoon it was rumored that the mysterious person was J. Foster Dewey, Tweed’s private secretary, or Cornelius Corson, who had gone ahead to arrange for the ship to be in readiness to carry away the fugitive, but this was not confirmed. The description of the man, as given by the ticket agent at Hunter's Point, is very meagre, owing to the haste in which the transaction was conducted, INTERVIEW WITH COMMISSIONER VOORHIS. At a late hour last night Commissioner Voorhis came to the Central Office, A HxRAuD reporter interro- gated him with reference to the mysterious person who chartered the locomotive at Hunter’s Point, but he declined entering into the particulars of the work done by the detectives in that direction, fearing that — publication ~— might interfere with their plans. Ho wonld not say that the detectives had identified the stranger as J, Foster Dewey, neither would be deny that such was the case. He admitted, however, that the prolonged absence of Mr. Dewey from his residence at the Hoffman House had a strange appearance at this juncture, HOW THE SHERIFF RECEIVED THE NEWS. Sheriff Conner first learned the news of the escape of Twoed while on his way home on Saturday night, After visiting Ludlow Street Jail he reached his home in East Fifty-seventh street at a little before one o'clock yesterday morning. He could not be induced to go to bed, but walked the floor all night. His famtly tried to pacify him, but all to no purpose. He would every once im a while exclaim, “I am ruined! I am ruined!’ He was loud in his denunciations of Warden Dunham and Keeper Hagan. He re- marked to his son, “And this is the class of men I have got about me, 1s it?” One of his sons said to bmn, ‘Father, you have been warned against these men, Now you see what they are.” “Yes,” he re- phed, “and if I had only taken my friends’ advice this could never have happened. I have been too easy, but they shall suffer for it Iwill make a thorough over- hauling in that office if I live till Monday morning.” At six o’clock yesterday morning he put on his hat and coat and started out, but did not state where he was going. His family tried to persuade him not to go out so early, but he would not listen to them. ‘This was the last seen of him all day by his family. His two sons were at the houso most of the day and received all who called, but they botn strictly denied knowing the whereabouts of their father, About six o’clock‘tiowever, they received a despatch from him, staZng that he would not be home until midnight’ They were quite relieved when they received it, In conversation with a friend on Saturday night the Sheriff said:—“‘I will spend the last dollar I have in the world but what I'll have Tweed back again.” WHAT THE SHERIFF SAYS. One of our reporters mot the Sheriff just after leaving the Ludlow Street Jail, when the following conversation ensued :— Rerorrer—Well, Sheriff, can you inform me what steps you propose taking in regard to the capture of Mr. Tweed? Mr. Conner—I can’t talk to you now. I am ina great hurry. Ibave no information that I can give you. But I hope you will state that I shali have that man if I have to go to tho uttermost ends of the earth, Rerorter—Have you any clew that may lead you to think which way he has gone, or how he made his escape? Mr. Coxner—None whatever, as yet, But I must leave you. Isball cheerfully let the papers know all that I learn as soon as ican. He then started off, ac- companied by one of his deputies, AT LUDLOW STREET JAIL. After Ludlow Street Jail was closed at half-past two o'clock yesterday morning no one was admitted nor did anything of interest occur. Warden Dunham remained there all night, and at ninee’clock vesterday morning he was visited by Sheriff Conner, who drove in his Private carriage, and, entering the jail, was re ceived in Tweed’s old room by From nine A M, until eleven o’clock the two officers were closeted, None of the officials were sent for by the Sheriff, except the keeper, Edward Hagan, and Warden William Dunham, both of whom were with Tweed when he escaped. At eleven o'clock A. M. Warden Dunham left the jail and was absent all day. Sheriff Conner remained in the jail until two o’elock in the afternoon, and then drove to Police Headquarters, During the day but few persons were admitted to Ludlow Street Jail, except reporters, a few friends of prisoners, and the Rey, Dr. Carter and choir, the latter party enterimg the chapel of the jail apd conducting the usual religious service, Every reporter who entered the jail was asked, “What's the latest, have they caught Tweed? Until late im the evening the office of the Ludlow Street Jail was thronged with reporters anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Warden, thinking that he had been anxiously searching for some clew to the fugitive, in order to relieve his own honor and that of his superior officer from the imputation of having permitted a prisoner of so much importance to evade their custody. DISTRICT ATTORNEY PHELPS’ views, District Attorney Phelps was found at his home last night by a Henan reporter, who called to learn what action that official would take im reference to the in- dictwents against Mr, Tweed for forgery which have been pending the issue in the civil suite. In reply to numerous questions Mr. Phelps gave the following tn- teresting and concise outline of the case, which makes ery clear the position in which the fugitive stood be- fore the law at the time of his flitting, and what it was that decided him to withdraw from jail at this particu- lar time, “In the first place,” said Mr, Phelps, ‘you know there were several suits brought against Mr. Tweed to recover large amounts of money. They were proso- cuted by Charles 0’Conor and others in behalf of the county of New York, At the same time there were criminal proceedings commenced against him on a variety of charges, some being misdemeanors and others felonies. The indictment upon which it was thought best to try him was what was known as the ‘omnibus indictment,’ which involved a large number of misdemeanors. Upon that indictment he was tried twice, The first timo the jury disagreed. He was placed on trial a second time, convicted upon twelve counts of the indictment and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment on each count, besides the payment of a heavy fine. He served out ono year’s imprison- ment and then began proceedings by habeas corpus to have the additional terms of imprisonment over one year declared illegal, In this he succeeded, as the Court of Appeals sustained him, and he was discharged from further imprisonment upon that conviction, In the meantime the Court of Appeals had also decided that the suits brought in behalf of the county could not be maintained, Just beforo he was discharged from custody by the judgment of the Court of Appeals a new suit was commenced against him under the previsions of an act of the Legislature passed, I think, in 1874, and an order of arrest was procured, holding him to batl in $3,000,000; so that when his imprisonment on Blackwell’s Island terminated and he was discharged he was immediately taken into custody by the Sheriff under the order of arrest, and, bemg unable to give the amount of bail required, was confined in Ludlow Street Jail. His counsel made two efforts to free him from this latter suit. First they made a motioa to have the people compelled to furnish adil of particulars. specifying all the items upon the various claims upon which it was alleged he had de- frauded the city, Had this motion been successtul it would have practically ended the suit, because. very large number of the bills containing those items had been either stolen or destroyed. At this period it seemed as if he were to be freed, for Judge Donohue granted the motion. The question, however, was brought before the General Term, which reversed Judge Donohue’s order. Mr. Tweed then carried it to the Court ot Appeals, which sustained the General Term in refusing to order the bill With unabated energy Mr. ‘Tweed's counsel then made a motion to vacate the order of arrest against him orto have the amount of bail reduced. They carried this motion also to the Court of Appeals, and wore again defeated. These de- cisions were delivered two or three weeks ago, I had nothing to do with those civil suits, but I understand that counsel for the people have been pressing them with great vigor just now, and that a motion was to have been made to-morrow to have @ “struck” jury drawn to try the case. I believe that Tweed, finding himself unable to have the bail reduced, and being unable to obtain the amount required, and seeing the fguits being pressed against him resolutely, with every prospect of & speedy trial, which would probably result In a judg- ment against him for five or six millions of dollars, which judgment would involve an execution against his person, so that he would be table to imprisonment on {t—I believe that, finding himself in this position, he made up his mind that the hest thing he could do ‘was to got away from hero now, because the chances of bis being released were becoming more and more re- mote Not only were these civil suits being pressed, but there was a probability of his being brought to trial on other criminal indictments which were pending against him. Upon some of these indictments he would have been tried ere this had it not been that counsel for the people in the civil suits thought it desirable to press their suits before any further steps wero taken in the criminal cases. These indictments in the latter cases charged substantially that bogas warrants, issued in payment of various claims made against the city, were taken by Mr. Tweed, who indorsed them and ob- tained the money forthem. In all of these cases he was admitted to bail. The bonds are now in my possession, and amount to something like $20,000, The indictments are laid in the Court of Oyer and Ter- miner, and on the opening of the next term of that court I will probably proceed at once to cause the for- feiture of these bonds,” “With respect to the civil suit which was to have been. called for trial to-morrow, I do not see any reason why it should not proceed just as if this had not oc- curred, for Mr. Twoed’s personal presence is not req- uisite at all” In answer to several questions as to Sheriff Conner’s relation to the escape Mr. Phelps expressed his belief that that official ts liable for the full amount for which Judgment may be obtained tn the civil suits. As to whether Tweed can be extradited in case he is found on foreign soil the District Attorney could give no decided opinion, as it would depend altogether on tho nature of our treaty with the government of the country in which the fugitive may be found. Asa gen- eral rule cases of mere misdemeanor are not extradita- ble, AMONG TWEED'S CONSTITUENTS, A Herp reporter, despatched to ascertain the dis- position of the people touching Tweed’s escape, in the Seventh ward, where most of the lower classes are in- clined to remember only his favors and forget bis crimes, endeavored to fathom public opinion in his re- gard, and arrived at the conclusion that most of the working people in tbis district look upon his eluding the ends of justice as a cause for congratulation. Opinions expressed by mon who are fitted by circumstance and position to acquiro a thorough knowledge of the drift of public sentiment tend to show that his old constituents look upon Tweed’s case with leniency, and, carried away by a very general disposition of sym- pathy, they feel that escape is only the due of the man who has faced the charges brought against bim and manfully combated them. Some of the property owners, however, who are subjected to heavier taxation than formerly, are not disposed to look 80 favorably upon a man for whose gins, as they themselves say, they are doinfpenance. They ciaim that this thwart- ing of the law is in every way reprehensible, and that any one concerned in effecting it should suffer the severest penalties, Among the politicians a disposition was manifested to give no atter- ance to private opinions, but while they declined stat. Ing their sentiments regarding Tweed they generally agroed in exculpating Dunham from any complicity in the escape. He was aman, they claimed, of strict in- togrity, and one who would be likely to evade any cor- rupt influences brought to bear upon him, IN THE LOWER DISTRICTS the reporter found that a peculiar rumor had gained ground to the ellect that certain Tammany officials had interested themselves in effecting Tweed’s escape Statements were brought to bear touching the indebted- ness of certain politicians to the Boxes of days gone by, and reasons were shown why the holders of Tammany distinctions should be inclined to favor his speedy exit from Ludlow street confinement, A story was circulated in the Seventh and Thirteenth wards that Judge Timothy J. Campbell, who was re- 3 =. ported by the Warden to have recently entertaines ‘Tweed at the Clarendon Hotel, had been instrumental in effecting bis escape. It was generally known that Mr. Campbell had disappeared mysteriously on Friday last, and many were under the impression that Tweed had accompanied him. It was claimed that no one hae seen Tweed since that day, and that tn all probability THE PLAN OF ESCAPE WAS DISCUSSED at the Clarendon Hotel dinner only to be put into effeot at a later day. Campbell's friendly disposition toward Tweed, taken m connection with his indebiedness toward him for many __ political favors in the past were mentioned as probable causes for his part in tne afar. Various anti-Tammany politicians who were interviewed by the reporter seemed to look upon Campbell’s com- plicity in the escape as more than probable, and they referred to his departure from town as an indisputable proof that be was concerned in it The friends of Mr. Campbell, however, together with many influential citizens of both wards, were disposed to look upon this statement a8 a mere personal attack, utterly groundless and without any facts whatever to confirm it, They said that Mr. Campbell had, indeed, left the city on Friday last, but that his destination was well known, He had gone to Washington to assist in facilitating tho election of a personal friend to the Speakership, Several gentiemen intimately associated with’ Mr. Campbell were interviewed by the reporter, and they agroed in deciding that the rumor had been circulated. by his political enemies only to damage him in the eyes of bis constituents, His dining with Tweed was not denied; indeed, it was thought very probable from his old time intimacy with the quondam ‘‘Boss;” but it was thought that Mr. Campbell wculd not give his aid to any scheme in the success of which the ends of Justice would be so signally betrayed and the Bupremacy of the law so shamefully insulted, DAVID DUDLEY FIELD ON THE SITUATION. A representative of the Heranp called yesterday afternoon upon Mr. David Dudiey Field, the devoved and persistent advocate of the fleet-footed ‘Boss.’? Mr. Field was tho faithful and irrepressible counsel for “Big Six’? during all his troubles, and the charac- teristic style in which he so brilliantly performed the very onerous task entrusted to bim requires no com- ment. Mr. Field looks more like the gallant colonel of a fighting regiment than a lawyer of considerable tact and discrimination, inasmuch as his bearing is decidedly of the military stamp, while conversation quickly re~ veals that be is a diplomatist of bo mean order, Mr. Field deprecated interviewing a8 @ general thing. Ho thought that Tweed’s escape was @ great mistake, simply on the ground that he had a good detence to the charges under which he was held. He, in fact, be- lieved that Tweed would haye been finally succesful had he stood his ground. Mr. Field thought that the bail demanded from him was decidedly excessive. It was, he considered, an abuse of justice, and as high duties upon imports lead to smuggling, so will ex- cessive bail lead to escapes from prison. If instead of holding Tweed to bail in the sum of $4,000,000, said Mr. Field, he had been held in, say $600,000, his own personal friends would have given bail for him, and they would, in fact, have been hia keepers, His retention in New York, continued Mr. Fietd, would then have depended bd responsible citizens instead of irresponsible turnkeys Mr. Field seemed to be taken aback by the intelh- nce that the A ahed culprit had gone to fareign, and observed that in the end he would have come off triumphantly. The two suits in which he was held to bail would have fallen through, and why they were ever brought to trial he could not understand. The members of the Ring,” as it was called, were said to have robbed the county of millions of dollars, If so tae remedy was to sue in suits brought by the county. If these suits had been prosecuted there could have been no question In the case except the main one as to whether the money had been taken. After enter.ng Into some details of ‘Tweed’s complications, which are somewhat familiar, Mr. Field concluded by expressing his amazement at ‘Tweed’s sudden jeave taking. Hestated, moreover, that he saw him on Saturday morning last by appointment at Ludlow Street Prison. He was there conferring « with him about a motion to be made to-morrow rela- tive toa new trial. Mr. Field left Tweed at a quarter to twelve o’elock, on Saturday last. The case of the wily fugitive comes up this morning in the Supreme Court, . ‘THE SHERIFF'S RESPONSIBILITY. SuwpAr, Dec. 5, 187% To tax Eprron ov tur Heraup-— The escape of Tweed naturally excites great interest in the public mind and presents legal questions which it is important to understand. Tweed was in the cus- tody of the Sheriff under two orders of arrest granted in Civil actions now pending in the Supreme Court. , These orders are to the Sheriff of New York, directing him to hold Tweed to bail in the sum of $3,000,000 im the first case and $50,000 in the other, and upon Twoed giving bail in these sums he was entitled to be discharged from such arrest, The legal effect of these bail bonds, had they been given, would have been, not that Tweed should pay the judgments which might be rendered against him, but merely that be should be forthcoming to an- swer any execution that migbt be issued against his body on any judgment that might be rendered in the actions in which the orders of arrest were granted. The Sheriff, on arresting the defendant, is to take the ponds, He alone 1s the judge of the sufficioncy of the bondsmen offered for the defendant, He alone 18 re- sponsible in case the bondsmen turn out insufficient, bat this responsibility is only that the defendant's body shall be forthcoming to answer the execution against it, An execution against the body does not issue until an execution against the property has been exhausted, and if there is property enough found to pay the judgment then no execution against the body can issue at all. It follows, therefore, that before the Sheriff can be made liable for Tweed’s escape the plaintiffs in the actions commenced against him must not only get Judgment against him, but must first issue an execut: ‘against his property and exhaust that remedy before execution against his body can be issued, done then the Sheriff must produce his man or pay the amount due on the judgment. Until then no action can be commenced against the Sheriff. He is not obliged to lock the defendant up at all on the order of arrest if he sees fit to take the responsibility of being able to find the defendant when the execution issues against the body. He violates no Jaw and is amenable to no punishment if he sees fit te take this risk. This case of Tweed ts entirely unlike the case @ Genet. In that case Genet was under arrest in a crim- inal case. He had been tried for felony, convicted, and had been remanded by the Court to prison to await his sentence, which was to be pronounced on a subsequent day. The Sheriff had no right to take bail and no right to do anything with the prisoner except to take him to rison, Not so in a civil case, where the Sheriff onl olds the defendant provisionally—holds him till he can find somebody to be responsible for him; or he may even be responsible for the deteud- ant himself ft he chooses so to do. It is true that this case of Tweed is an unusual one, The amount in- volved as well as the prominence of the defendant in- vests it with an interest not attaching to ftdinary cases; but still the principles of law are the same and tho po- sition of the Sheriff is the same. Legal principles do not change with the importance of the case. It 18 our boast that our lawsare fixed and certain, and are the same with the rich and poor, the high and low, It 1s true that im such important cases the Sheriff and all otherscharged with the responsibility of applying the law and administering justice should be very careful, to the end that no one may escape through their carelessness or good nature. Tbelievo no on® charges Sheriff Conner with per- sonal cuipability in this matter of Tweed’s From the very nature of his office he must employ deputies; in fact, the law directs him to do so, and while he is legally responsible for their acts, so far av they rolate to their duties, still he 18 not morally re- sponsible for their wrongful or mistaken acts, Sven although [weed has escaped, let us see to it that an honest, yt officer like William C, Conner is nok wronged oF made to sarier for the tm- roper acts of others, Very respectfully, &c, sin ORLANDO L. STEWART. No. 66 East Firty-roorta street, THE HEBREW FAIR ‘The Hebrow charity fair for the benefit of the Mount Sinai Hospital will open this evening at the Hippo- drome. Every preparation has been made to cause the fair to be successful, in spite of the pronibition by the police of the lotteries, in which valuable prizes were to have been drawn. The fair will be opened with an ad- dress, to be delivered by Governor Tilden, and will eon tinge fitteen days, As its erpeee 1g #0 good jectors and managers will doubtless receive encoulage: ment and aid from the benevolent of every sect, Ber CENTENNIAL TEA PARTY. ‘The third meeting of the various committees having tn charge the Lady Washington reception, tea party ‘and ball, to be given on the 22d of February noxt, was held on Saturday evening. The reception, which promises to be the principal social event of the coming season, isto be given in afd of the Floating Hospital of 8t John’s Guild. Mr, Oswald Otsendorfer, chairman of the executive committee, reported, through Mr. Frauk J. Dupignac, secretary, that the Academy of Music, ‘Irving an Nilsson halls had been engaged ; also that a permit had been obtained from the authorities for bridging Irvin place from the Academy to Irving Hall on the night oI the 22d of February, The Commitive on Decoravions reported that arrangements had been made for a mug aificent floral display m Irving Hall, and the covered passageway to the Academy. Also that an exhibition of statuary, arranged with mirrors, and interspersed with fountains of perfumed waters Would be mate im connection with the floral decorations