Daily Republican., 1880-04-27
yUsxacs ar East.

Pennsylvenla's batch OF COrrapf
Legislators Sent 10 tho Penften.
tiary
Yesterday as the city hall bell at
Harrisburg tolled the noon hsur, Mes
srs. William II. Kemble, Charles B..
Salter, Emile ]. Pstroff, Jesse R. Craw.
ford, and William y. Rumbergsr filed
into the Court House and took seats
within the rail to await the action Of
Judge Pearson, who had announced
that he would sentence them at II
O'Clock. The defendants were a triHs
pale, this being especially noticeable
In the case Of Mr.. Kemble, who was
greatly agitsted. Salter's bushy san
dy whiskers concealed q whitened face.
The prisoners were accompanied by
Messfs. Brewster and Herr. When
quiet had been restored Judge Pearson
asked:-"Are all the defendants hsre2"
eyes, your Honor" replied Mr.. Herr.
"Let them stand up" remarked the
Judge.
When the defendents were in readi-
ness Judge Pearson proceeded 10 read
his decision in manuscript, and address
ing the prisoners he spoke in substance
as follows:
"You are each charged with corrupt
ly soliciting members of the General
Assembly and endeavoring to induce
them, under promise Of money, to vote
for the passage Of bill under consid-
Grafton. Four Of you have pleaded
guilty and one has been convicted after
an impartial trial.
"It is greatly to be regretted that for
years this practice has been carried on
in the Legislature. 1t was charged
throughout the whole country that
bribery in the legislature. was the great
evil Of the day so crying was this, that
when the convention met to revise the
Constitution o; the State, 1t was decided
to make the most stringent laws and
enact heavy penalties, to meet the case
Of legislator Withholding or giving his
vote on any measure whatever for
confederation"
The Judge then referred TO the law Of
1874, which provided that the punish
ment should be five years implison-
ment and 81 900 fine, and then, he con-
tinued -
"Te this has been added the disqual-'
ifcation OF the defendants to any Office
Of honor, profit or trust in the Common
wealth even the occupation Of solicit
ting members votes is prohibited by
6ne and imprisonment, and this meets
that large class Of men who hang about
the legislative halls, and who are known
as 'borers.'
However trivial you may have con.
sidered your otfense, 1t is not looked
upon by this Court in such a manner.
The public treasury has been plumber
ed and others made great gains by this
practice. What was particularly notice.
able in this case was that two Of you
were members Of the Legislature. Indi-
vidually, l feel pity for your situation
but as Judge Of the Court must carry
out the law. The beggar in rags, who
steals a loaf Of bread, or the millionaire
in broad cloth, are treated the same.
1t cannot be pleaded that the bill
was highly meritorious, for il it had
been it would have passed the Legisla-
ture. You are not like some who come
here; you cannot be executed on the
gre und Of ignorance, because you are
all intelligent men. You went into this
thing with your eyes open because you
knew many members Of the Legislature
we're corrupt.
Ths sentence of the Court is that
each of you pay fac Of $1,000, the
,osts of prosecution, and that you serve
! term Of imprisonment Of one year in
he Eastern Penitentiary.
The prisoners stood thunder struck
or some minutes, when Kemble and
2umberger addressed the Court, deny
ng their guilt, bat the sturdy old
Judge simply said, i've have done our
luty and are done with the case"