“Boss†Tweed delivered to authorities
William Magear Boss Tweed leader of New York Citys corrupt Tammany Hall political organization during the 1860s and early 1870s is delivered to authorities in New York City after his capture in Spain.Tweed became a powerful figure in Tammany HallNew York Citys Democratic political machinein the late 1850s.By the mid 1860s he had risen to the top position in the organization and formed the Tweed Ring which openly bought votes encouraged judicial corruption extracted millions from city contracts and dominated New York City politics.
The Tweed Ring reached its peak of fraudulence in 1871 with the remodeling of the City Court House a blatant embezzlement of city funds that was exposed by The New York Times.Tweed and his flunkies hoped the criticism would blow over but thanks to the efforts of opponents such as Harpers Weekly political cartoonist Thomas Nast who conducted a crusade against Tweed virtually every Tammany Hall member was swept from power in the elections of November 1871.All the Tweed Ring were subsequently tried and sentenced to prison.Boss Tweed served time for forgery and larceny and other charges but in 1875 escaped from prison and traveled to Cuba and Spain.
In 1876 he was arrested by Spanish police who reportedly recognized him from a famous Nash cartoon depiction.After Tweeds extradition to the United States he was returned to prison where he died in 1878.
