, 1876-07-02

most directly affected by taxation.
-
EEHM'S CASE.
! It would be useless to counsel and folly to
ignore the large public interest that is felt in
awaiting the announcement Of JAKE REH1's
sentence, which Judge BLoDoErT now holds
under advisement. The statements OF the
Government attorneys in presenting REHM
for sentence should operate to some extent
in changing public opinion, inasmuch as they
present facts not heretofore known to the
public that have 3 material bearing on the
case. The public has simply looked upon
REHa in the capacity Of RingmaEter; not
merely the Treasurer of the Ring, ss Me-
GRuE was in st. Louis, but the "boss, the
instigator Of the frauds, the whipper-
in Of the distil,ers, the manipulation of
the Gaugers, aud the blackmailer Of all par
ties, thus uniting in himself the functions Of
hIEaRuE, JOYCE, and MCDONALD in st. Louis.
To this has been added public resentment for
the vicious influence REIN has e1erted in
local politics, which has strengthened the de-
mand for his punishment. But the Washing
ton authorities took no account Of this,
and could not be expected to do so.
It was the policy Of Secretary
BR1srow to reach all the Federal officials who
had entered into the conspiracy to betray and
rob the Government, and punish them the
most severely. The Government prosecu-
tors at Chicago had traced large amount of
money to REHM but REIN was not an official,
and it WAS reasonable to suppose that be had
redistributed a large proportion of it am ong
those in charge of the Government service.
But no one could or would tell of this but
REHm himself. When, therefore, REIN,
through his counsel, volunteered his evil
dence relative to tho distribution of this
stolen money aud looking to the conviction
of MUM, WADswoRrH, WARD, Hort, and
BR1pGEs,-all prominent Government OIL
cials,-it was the duty Of the Government
counsel to accept his evidence. Two Of these
men confessed their completely by running
away; one Of them was put on trial and ac-
quilted because the jury would not believe
REHM told the truth and was not corrob-
Grated; the cases against the two others were
then dismissed for lack Of confidence in get
ting another jury to believe REHM's story,
which might possibly be still further i'm
peached.
In accepting RzuN's testimony, the Gov
ernment counsel expressly stipulated that
REHM should not have absolute immunity,
to which REHM's counsel assented. Taking
the statement of District-Attorney BANGS,
*~41 Ill 1on3 {1%of 10
nothing was promised REIN except that he
should not be consigned to the Penitentiary.
This much was explicit; and it seems under
the law Of States evidence, as stated by the
Government counsel, the Court is absolutely
bound to abide by this contrnct, It was
further understood by REHM's counsel, and
finally assented to by the Government
counsel, that the latter would recommend to
the Court that REHMs sentence should not
be more than six months in jail in case he
should testify fully and fairly. This they
have done, but at the same time they hive
pointed out that the Court is not bound by
this mere recommendation as it is in the
positive agreement relative to the Peniten-
tiary, but may, at its discretion, increase the
term Of imprisonment. In regard to the
fine to be imposed, there was no agreement
whatever; but this, we infer from remark
of the Court, is limited by the law to $40, 1000,
since the Court regards the case as
one conspiracy and one otfense, SO that there
Gun be no cumulative fine. It is within the
discretion of the Court, therefore, without in
any sense breaking faith pledged by the Gov
ernment through its officers, to send REuM
to the Bridcwen or the County Jail for one
year, eighteen months, or two years, and
fine him $4,000. This would be the same
sentence as that. passed upon lesser con-
spirator HEs1sG, with thes6ne doubled.
There is another point: which wns elected
from coun6ers statements. All agree that
the recommendation for 1eniency was based
upon REHM's testifying "fully and fairly"
It does not clearly appear, however, who is
the proper judge of this. The Government
counsel express the belief that he did testify
fully and fairly, though it would seem to
have been their duty to go on with the WAHD
and WADswoBTH cases if they thought so,
especially as the Solicitor Of the Treasury
ubEA LAEAA W w A4ts UCAGf4AE LA4o3
they have abided by their agreement and
recommended that nEHM be not sentenced to
more than six months. The jury in the MUM
case, on the, other hand, did not believe
that REHs1 testified *sfully and fairly" since
they refused to convict. Now, between these
two stands the Court, and it is palpably for
Judge B1opGETT to determine whether REHM
testified "fully and fairly" or not, and to
govern the sentence accordingly. If he be-
ieves as the Government counsel have said
they do, then he will probably accept their
recommendation that REBA's sentence be not
extended beyond SIX months. But if he be-
heves as the jury believed in the MUM case,
aud as the Government counsel feared other
iuries would believe, viz: That REIN did