Daily globe., 1880-04-29
THEY GOT JUSTICE.
The ArrGiOnnsent and Sentence of the
Pennsylvania BrtberS-A POtUerfuL Re
buIse from the Judge.


! buIse from the Judge.
Harrisburg Special, April 26.
Ex-Treasurer Kemble, Representatives
Hamburger and Petroff, Representative
Salter and Jessie R. Crawford appeared for
sentence at IL NJ. to-day. Judge Pearson
pronounced judgment, after having request
ed the Legislative bribers to stand up, "for,"
said the judge, "we will treat you precisely
as we do everybody else in the criminal
courts" In sentencing the prisoners Judge
Pearson said: at is greatly to be feared
that for many years it Las been the practice
in this State to procure the passage of laws
by corrupt and impr oper means, and to such
an extent has this evil prevailed that instead
priety of measures presented to either House
for enactment, the inquiry was much more
likely to be made as to the amount of money
which those requesting the legislation could
afford to pay for the passage of the law. 1t
was charged throughout the whole country
that bribery in the Pennsylvania legislature
was of daily occurrence, and was always the
order of the day. So crying was the evil
that when the convention met to frame our
present constitution, there appeared to be
fixed determination to break up the practice
by severe constitutional enactments. How
ever unimportant you may consider the of
fense, it is not so esteemed by this court.
We look upon it not only as a high crime
against the laws of the State, which have
been long in force and are we'll known to all
men, but one leading to the most corrupt
kind of legislation, by which the public has
been frequently plundered, and some
individuals enriched, and others
greatly impoverished; and it is
much to be feared that some of you are by
no means novices in the art and practice of
Legislative bribery. What adds to the enor-
nifty of the offense of two of you is the fact
that you were at the time members of the
legislature, and acting in violation of your
official Oaths, and endeavoring to induce
your fellow members to commit perjury on
their part. AS an individual, l feel pity for |
your situation; as judge cannot sympa- |
thize with crime. When you come into this |
court you must understand that the beggar |
in rags and the millionaire in broadcloth |
stand on precisely the same foot |
ing. The one is to be imprisoned |
for stealing a loaf of bread; the
other is not to escape, who, by his criminal |
acts, may involve the State in the loss of
millions. 1t is lot the slightest excuse, as
urged by some, that the pending bill was
highly meritorioug.' If so, it should pass
without the aid of bribery" The judge said
they could not plead ignorance, as they
were men of intelligence. "You went into
the criminal practice in plain violation of
law, with your eyes open. You well know
that many members of the legislature were
utterly corrupt, and were ready to sell their
votes in the public market to the highest
bidder. You were ready to suborn them to
commit perjury by violating the oaths they
took on their installation into office" The
Judge alsoI reminded the Irsoners that they
were disqualified from holding any official
or position of honor, trust, or profit in thu
State, and closed by sentencing them TO pay
a fine of 81 900 each, costs of prosecution,
and to imprisonment of one year In the east
ern penitentiarY, separate and solitary con-
inement, at labor.
The sentence fell like thunder-clap oE
the prisoners, who had no idea of going to
the penitentiary. It was also surprise to
their lawyers and the spectators. Kembie
was greatly agitsted by the judgment, but
said with considerable distinctness:
'In appearing here to-day to receive my
sentence l do so in conformity with the
promise made two weeks ago; but wish it
understood that l never plead
guilty to any offense whatever. made
plea to this court of which they chose to ac-
cept portion and reject the balance.
l do not admit for one moment
that there is anything in my plea
which justifies the claim of this court that
am guilty OF the crimes therein charged"
The prisoners were soon after removed to
prison with as much privacy as possible.
They will be removed to the penitentiary
within two weeks, according to the custom
here. Kemble made corrupt pro-
positions to three members of the legisla-
lure, Salter to eight, Rumberger to one,
Crawfort to three, and Petroff to two. The
sums offered ranged from $500 to $4,000,
10 be given for votes for the $4,000,000 riot
relief bill. The sentence imposed is half
the maximum authorized by law, and the
fine all that could be demanded. The board
of pardons will no doubt soon be asked to
the prisoners to the mercy of
the governor.