His downfall began when he supported a partisan riot, which saw 60 civilians and members of law enforcement killed; it was then that institutions began to fight back.
Tweed's power came not from holding elected office but rather from his role on the government commissions that controlled the public works meant to serve the booming population.
One political cartoon had him proclaiming: 'As long as I count the votes, what are you going to do about it?'
Another cartoon depicted Tweed's political organization as a tiger wearing the crown of the republic mauling a woman representing the law. The suggestion was that Tweed was as dangerous and corrupt as he was powerful.
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