Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-30

An Unprecedented Scene In a
Pennsylvania Court.
Special Dispatch to the Pitssburg po,.l

Special Dispatch to the Pitssburg post.l
HARRISBURG, Pa, April 26.-It is
a mild way to put it that Harrisburg
was awestruck by the sentence of the
legislative bribers by Judge Pearson
to-day. 1t is the general subject of
comment, even excluding the interest
In the convention. Kemble's wife
daughter and son came here with him
yesterday. An Imprisonment of one
or two months in Jail was the utmost
that was expected. and in the expec-
tatlon OF that, arrangements had been
made to furnish apartments in the
prison. One of Kemble's lawyers
tells me the scene was thrilling in
court when Judge Pearson said /:
You each be imprisoned in the pen
ltentiary of the eastern district of
Pennsylvania by separate and
solitary confinement at hard
labor" The audience involuntarially
rose to their feet and a subdued muir
muir Of approval pervaded it. Kemble
turned to his lawyer, made a remark.
and then faced it out bravely. Poor
kumberger, for whom there is a
pretty general expression of sympa
thy, made a scene but the Judge cut
it short by declaring, however, he felt
as a man, as a judge he must do pre-.
cisely with the wealthiest of men in
court as with the veriest beggar that
can come before us. Rumberger's
family is scattered. His wife is i'll,
and his acquaintance say he cannot
survive his present disgrace and Attic
ton. For the others there is very
little expression of sympathy. But
predictions are general among the
citizens they will be pardoned before
they are removed to the peni-
Tertiary. On the other hand.
it is asserted, Attorney Cen
eral Palmer and Lieutenant Governor
Stone will not consent to a pardon.
and the only way it can be secured is
the removal of the attorney general.
and Hoyt will not venture on that.
Kemble, | have the best authority for
stating, acted contrary to the advice
OF his counsel, who told him to take
his thirty thousand dollars a ear in
come and goto Europe for four or five
years. They estimated Judge Pear
son correctly, but Kemble, who has
always moved in the full tide of Cam
eron power, believed it would sway
judges and pardon boards, and refused
to go. lie merely anticipated a few
weeks nominal confinement in the
parlor Of the Jail or a cell in the pen
itentiary. Solitary confinement, hard
labor and striped clothes, is the result.
Representative Wolf, of Union, the
head and front of the prosecution, is
in the city. and is we'll satisfied with
the result. He says Judge Pearson
did by rich and influential men as he
would have done by poor men, and
that is justice.
Harrisburg streets are lively TO-
night with the gathering throngs of
the state convention. Kemble, Pet.
rolf, Salter, Rumberger and Crawford
are in the midst of it, for the Jail is
in the center of the city. But they
are feeling for the first time the
power Of the outraged law behind
stone walls and iron bars.
The severe sentence has created a
profound feeling among republican
politicians. Cameron wants to save
Kemble from the penitensiary but
how? Governor Hoyt, Secretary QUAY
and the Philadelphia Boss Nc.
Manus left for Philadelphia tonight
to consult the clans. It is believed a
movement will be started at once to
drive Palmer from the attorney
generals Office. Kembie will be kept
in jail here three or four weeks to
work cut the scheme.