New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-06
THE JlEHNE DECISION.

II was extremely unpleasant news that
guilty members of the Board of Aldermen Of
1884 and the Broadway bribcrs who bought
their votes received yesterday. Bribery will
not be so lightly and iauntily undertaken in this
city hereafter as it has been in the past. Tho
District Attorneys ollce has scored a great
triumph and it is a triumph for right ana
Justice also. When the Court of Appeals sus-
tained Judge Barrett's decision that Jachnc
was properly prosecuted under the Penal Codc'
the fools paradise in which the scoundrcls
who paid for the rotten votes OF 1894 ana inc
knavcs who took the money had been spending
their DAYS was transformed INTO a dismal piU
which no sunlight Of hope now enters a
reversal of the conviction Of Jaehne and the
granting of new trial would have set all the
indicted Aldermen wild with JOY, and every
dishonest official every thicvish contractor,
every corrupt trader in the powers and priv
leges of Office would have been encouraged TO
perscvcre in wrOng-dong
Under the Penal Code Jachne was sent TO
Sing Sing for nine years and ten months.
Under tho Consolidation Act he could nave
been imprisoned for two years only ana III
pcnitcntaIy Distrct-Attorncy MARITIME wisely
decided to proceed against HIM under lhe
Penal Code and the decision OF the Court OF
Appeals sets the sign Of approval on his course
He deserves much praise, as does his able ana
energetic assistant. Mr.. Ncoll, who really held
the labonng oar in the conduct OF the Jachne
case. and made the argument before the Court
of Appcals. If the Judgment had been reversed
AMI Jaehnc had been released from prison.
he and his fcllow-knav would have fell little
would have been the duty Of the District
Attorney to prosecute the cases under the Con-
soLdation Act but the criminals would have
had only two years in the pcnltentlary 10 dlead
at the worst, while the prosecution would have
leen discouraged and dishcartened and the
defence elated and cmbOldcncd. Alter lllSt
defeat il would have been far more dllncmU 10
secure an absolutely fair. impartial jury, VINO
could be trusted TO weigh the evidence exactly
ON its merits and to bring in verdict OF
guilty where guilt was proved. Now the Judges
in Over and Tcrminer and General Sessions, the
District-Attoney and his assistants, Inspector
Bymcs and his detectives, and all the officers IN
This CITY who arc charged either with the pre-
vcntion or the punishment of crime, VIII iccl
themselves sustained and supported in dong
their duty unlinchingly by the just and
righteous decision of the highest court.
II is not at all unlikely that the discontinue
and dsmay which this decision must cause
among the men concerned IN the Broadway
bribery may result in some confessions Oh grca.
value and importance. No matter how hard
the indicted Aldermen and their accompllces
NAV try TO brazcn it out, this decision is sore
blow to them They may strut and Drag as
they like, but they are sick at heart The long
delay in announcing the decision OF the Cour,
of Appeals had made them confident OF I'M
munitv. They were counting Oh a reversal OF
the Judgment. Now that this hope is gone
some of the brbc-takcrs Will probably be
eager to tell the truth if they can thereby save
| themselves. Mr. MARITIME should now push The
| cases against the indicted men with all possible
energy. His impulses, aims and motives are
generally right, but he is sometimes sluggish
unless he feels behind him the constant pressure
of a rcsolute and upcompromising public scnt-
ment. Let HIM feel that pressure now.