, 1881-12-04
ILLINOIS JUSTICE AND LESSER FRIED
BERG


A member Of the Chicago police force
and one Of its best and brayest-nalned
Race, was killed while attempting to make
IN arrest Oct i, 1875. The lnan who killed
him was tllef. The shooting took place in
front Of the pawnshop Of professional re-
ceiyer of stolen goods, Lesser Friedberg,
where band Of thieves had been caught in
the act of disposlng Of their plunder. Part
of the stolen goods were recovered within
the pawnshop, in the actual possession Of the
pawnbroker, and hidden. The robbers were
in the act of carrying in the rest of their
loot, consisting of silks, Iaces, and other rich y
stutfs. when the officer interfered and was
shot by one Of the gang. The goods were
fully identified It was shown that the
pawnbroker had perfect knowledge that
they were stolen, and several witnesses tes~
titled that he instigated and planned the rob-
berry. He was regular thieves " fences
Here was one OF tie clearest cases of re-
ceiying stolen goods that ever was made. 1t
was morally impossible that Lesser Friedberg
should have received these goods innocently.
The coacealment Of the property was alone
sufficient evidence that lie knew it had been
uniawfully obtained. But there was other
proof. The character OF the men who brought
the articles established d violent presumption
against their having come honestly into the
possession Of anything of value, much less
Of large quantity Of silks and laces. If they
had, they would not have offered to sell them
at such a disreputable place as Friedberg
kept, nor for the price pawnbroker com-
monty offers; nor would they have brought
the goods loose in an express wagon to the
door, nor chosen an hour after dark, as they
did. for an honest bargain or transaction.
What kind Of justice has been meted out
to Lesser Friedberg, the receiver of the
stolen goods, caught in the act? The ac-
count of justice with him stands thus:
Oct. 1, 1S7s-Crime committed.
Nov. 2 lS.B-1ndsctel - Il receiver of stolen
Sept =, ls:S-Flrst trial concluded. 1ndics-
uleut defective, Us not charging burglury as
well rs receiving stolen goods Judge Harnum
advised the jury. as be wns compelled By the
10 prove completely in the burglary, defendant
could not be found guilty of - receiving sto'rn
goods; man may not legally - receive" tie
eleven being In favor OF acuuitia1 pursu.lnt TO
instructions of court, and oae holdtlg out for
Jan. i, 1sS;eUd indictment nolle 11ossd: new
Indictment for - burglary 0itd receiving stolen
goods +" found, and Friedbcrg again admitted TO
tdif.
Sept. g, 1ss0-Continued by defendant, though
he mad had ttco neurx to prepare for tria
Oct. T.. lss1-Eontinucd by defendant.
Nov ~ 1St-Contil.ued by the people.
Dec Is. lsat-Conrinue,l BY defendant.
Jan. 1S-115 1SSl-Seconl triAl. Verdict: "Guilty
the third. fourth, and n tth counts Of buying,
receiving, And coucealiuz stolen goods. knowing
them to be srotcn." peualty: Four years lit the
pen,lca.iary; Value Of proper;y tixed Al $, ,o9o.
Same duy: Defendant admitted to bail in IS, ,U0O.
Feb =, lSsl-MuEon for new trial.
Nnrch 5, leSl-MOttun oyerruled. Bill Of ex-
cepuons tiled Judgment pronnunttt.
March i. 1SSt-TiMe far removal to penitenti- !
ary extended to March Y.
March 9. 18Sl-Tme further extended to April
March 9, 1ssl-supersedeas grantes by Judge
Nov. II. lSsl-Judgment affirmed by Supreme
Court Opinion BY Craig. !
Nov. II. lSel-Stny OF proceedings tor twenty
days By Judge Gardner to aiiuv counsel to ap-
ply 10 Supreme Court for arehca:tnkk
NOV. ~, lSSt-A reheaftnE granted By Justice
Craix OF the Supreme Court, who delivered the
opinion Of Nov. II approving the finding OF the
court below.
The case now goes over to the January
term OF the Supreme Court in 1882. and the
end Of Fritdberg is not yet Three years
and one-third will have passed after the co11-
mission Of the crime before the criminal,
caught red-llanded in the act, can be pun
ished, even If the Supreme Court should de-
eide against him the second time, as it has
already the first
Is not this case = trayesty, parody Of JUS