Boss Tweed Escapes from Prison: NYC's Most Corrupt Man Flees
Boss Tweed fled to Spain after escaping Ludlow Street Jail, only to be captured when his face from Thomas Nast's cartoons identified him at the border. This dramatic arrest in late 1876 ended his reign as New York City's most powerful political boss and forced the return of millions in embezzled funds through a civil suit that had previously stalled.
December 4, 1875
151 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on December 4
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