The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-17
THE JAEHNE BRIBERY TRIAL
1he Defendant Takes the Stand, and De-
MES All of Byrnes's Statements.
me Case Finished and Given to the Jury, Who,
After Two Hours Deliberation, Return
Verdict Declaring Jaehne Guilty.
From Our First Edition Of suadav.l


Inspector Byrnes and Detective Cosgrove as to
the alleged confession of the defendant be
stricken out, on the ground that they were made
nnder the inducement of hopes and the pressure
pf fear The motion was denied.
Detective Rogers testified that he heard Jaehne
confess to Inspector Byrnes, in March last. His
story was substantially the same as that Of In
bpector Byrnes.
john Scott testified that George w. Alter.
5aehne's former clerk, told him that the Doodle
lad been kept in Jaehne's safe over night When
he left the witness-stand District Attorney Mar
zine announced that the prosecution rested.
Counsel for the defense moved that the in
kictment be dismissed. as the grand jury had
been tricked into making false presentment
Il was fraudulent record, and should be
Huashed; furthermore, that there was no evil
aence of the receipt of a promise or agreement
10 receive bride, and that evidence that it
bad been received in this county had been
ndduced. Judge Barrett held that the points
were not well taken, and overruled the motion.
Counsel for the defense then made the open
hg argument, holding that the prisoner had been
eoercsd by threats and intimidation, and that
Ghe action Of Police Inspector Byrnes and Dis
erict Attorney MARITIME was taken to save them
selves, because Alderman Jaehne, in his testi-
mony before the Senate investigating committee,
lad implicated them in compromising felony
The defendant would be placed on the stand and
would tell why he had had the talks with Byrnes
and it would be shown that the latter had more
at stake in this trial than the prisoner. The
Board of Aldermen had no franchise to sell; for
che Supreme Court must pass upon their &C be-
fore it would go into effect Moreover the grant
Ing of the franchise was benefit to the city, and
the defendant had expressed himself as in favor
Of it before the matter came before the board.
District Attorney MARITIME was called by the
defense, under a subpoena, 10 produce the minutes
Of the proceedings before the grand jury III this
ease, but declined to do so and was sustained by
ehe court.
William Harvey was called to testify that the
prisoner had favored street railroad in Broad
way before the general surface railroad law was
waiting for the testimony. The prosecution also
admitted the amounts of money paid to the city
tn percentages by the Broadway road.
The prisoner at the bar was then placed in the
Witness box on his own behalf. He testified that
he became acquainted with Police Inspector
Byrnes in the fall of 1882. During the frat two
OF three years after that he saw him but seldom
After that he saw him much more frequently.
Their relations were what he would call intl-
mate. He was asked what Inspector Byrens had
done, if anything in reference to the defendants
canvass for alderman in 1884 or 1885. The cues
tion was ruled out.
ibid you ever receive promise of money"
be was then asked 'sfor your vote on the Broad
way railroad franchisel'
'T never did in my life," was the answer.
; "Did you ever ask reward for such a vote2
Did any person ever give you or offer you
any money for such voter
Never
'.After you had voted in favor of the Broadway
EBilroad franchise did any one ever give you any
money for such voter
''They never did,
'stffsEa d you at any time conversation with any
pDe in regard to the payment to you of any money
for such vote?"
81 never did"
Replying to further questions he said he voted
eor the franchise because he thought it of bene
at to the city. Coming down to the testimony
Of Inspector Byrnes in regard to the several al
Ie0ed conversations with the defendant In which
Be was alleged to have acknowledged having re-
Eeived money for his vote on the Broadway rail
road franchise, his counsel asked Jaehne, regard
Ing each of the alleged chats with the chief of
detectives, If he had said what he was alleged to
have said. In each instance the answer was an
smphatic denial.
''When for the first time, did Mr. Byrnes
ever speak to you about the Broadway franchise?
WAS asked the witness.
II think" he answered 'it was about three
Gays before my arrest in March last"
The witness then went on to say that Byrnes
bad sent for him, and when they were together,
charged the witness with having got the In
spector into trouble by his testimony before the
Senate investigating committee. In order that
be might put himself right and make show of
having been at work on the matter, the In
spsctor asked the witness to give him some
points, and said he thought there would
be some arrests. He asked the witness to meet
Rjm at his tByrnes's) house the next night, so
that II there were to be any arrests the witness
sould take advantage of it. At this meeting not
Rword was said about bribery. The next even
ing the witness went to Byrness house, accord
ing to appointment At that meeting they
saiked about the Broadway franchise. They sat
eloss together and talked in low tones. The
witness almost whispered, because he suspected
pavesdroppers. The witness then gave the fol
lowing account of the interview:
Byrnes produced paper on which there were men,
Dranda of all the proceedings of all the Board of AL
hernen in reference to the Broadway railroad. Now
1aehne he said, who were the men who voted for
Ihs franchisel told him they all voted for it except
Iwo. Give me their names, he said. I called over
be said, did every who voted for it get $40 00O
rs people say2" II don't know that they got any
money" answered; II have heard rumors that that
was the price" He then asked me about the caucus.
p he called it, at Fullgras and McLaughlins. told
bin knew knothing about it. Then In very loud
lot at that cauous what a tell you IL
answered. Then told him had an appointment and
had to go.
ibid he ask you If you had received any
money for your voter asked the counsel.
HE did not" was the answer.
Jaehne denied that he ever told Byrnes thai
be had kept Mooney's DOODLE one night when
Moloney was drunk 1t was a fact however,
that, one day when Moloney was drunk and
dropped $500 bill in q saloon, the witness took
sare of it for him over night. AS to the state
ment Of Byrnes that Jaehne had confessed hav-
log found one $40. 900 bill and ten 81, 900 bills in
bis drawer at the aldermen's rooms the witness
Eaie: IF there was any money placed there,
som cone else must have got it never found
IT, never saw $4,000 bill, and never told
Rnyone that had received one.'
The witness was cross-examined at length in
IN attempt to elicit admissions to the effect that
be had been In conspiracy in France to rob
humber OF diamond merchants but the witness
denied all knowledge of any such plot He did
pot know that Billy Moloney WAS go-between.
The witness admitted an acquaintance with sew
eral well-known criminals. He Indignantly de-
Hied that he had connived to have John Jordan
escape from custody.
This closed the testimony, and the arguments
Il - nil 4has .n&.o~