It's 8 p.m. on December 4, 1875, on Madison Avenue in New York City.

52-year-old William Boss Tweed stands in the shadows outside his brownstone, flipping his golden

pocket watch open, then shut, and then open again. His ride should be here any moment, and his

freedom depends on it. Boss is a disgrace politician who's been jailed on corruption charges,

but earlier today he was allowed a supervised visit home from Ludlow

prison. The boss has decided he isn't returning to his cell, so instead, a few minutes ago,

he snuck away from his guards. A cupboard wagon pulls up in front of the house.

Boss glances along the street and decides the coast is cleared. He steps out of the shadow and hauls his heavyset frame into the back of the wagon.

Then the driver sets off.

There's still no sign his escape has been discovered.

So Boss breathes a sigh of relief and a wave of confidence rushes over him.

This is going to work.

But then, they stop again. Boss anxiously

peeks out from behind the driver. Ahead, a street car has slipped off its tracks. Boss's heart

sinks when he sees who's helping at the scene a handful of cops. Boss ducks back down, his heart

pounding. There's still only a couple of blocks

from his house. If the guards notice he's gone and raised the alarm, the game will surely be up.

But the police officers work quickly. With a screech of metal, the streetcar slips back onto the

tracks, and as it moves away, Boss's wagon follows. He covers himself in an old

sack, hardly daring to breathe. But the cops didn't give the wagon a second glance as it

passes. It rumbles down the street, carrying Boss away toward a new life as a fugitive.

William Boss Tweed will furtively make his way to the banks of the Hudson River, where he'll

...