Connecticut western news., 1886-05-26
THE CASE OF ALDERMAN JAEuNE. He is Convicted of tho Crime of which IIo
 was Charged.

At ten o'clock on Saturday Judge Barrett gave the case to tue jury. In his charge, the judge said: ''There is no man who can ade quately express Q proper abhorrence of the crime of bribery. It is a crime which if it be- comes common destroys the country. We have founded this Government in tho belief that the people have virtue in themselves sufficient to maintain staple form of govern mont, but there are crimes which go to the root of government, and this is ono. If this crime shall go unpunished, then we may bid adieu to our noble government" He reviewed the case carefully and thoroughly, and in closing said: "I solemuly dissent while sitting on this bench, and with all the responsibility of my office from tho proposition that any kind of bribery can be a technical crime. l trust that no such sentiment may ever find any Judgement in my mind or heart. God gtant that it may never find any lodgment in the hearts of our citizens. There is nothing trivial or technical in this abhorrent offense. As I said before, it is an offense when commit ted in the very line of duty. It is not 8 tech nical affair to allow the people to think that measure which was founded in corruption was not crime, or that the end, however good, is justified by the means, however bad.
 'Your verdict will be one of two things, either guilty of the charge as in the first count of tho indictment or it will be not guilty"
 The jury went out at Il o'clock. and at 1.1O Sunday morning word was sent to the court that they had agreed upon a verdict and the verdict was guilty as charged. It is under stood that upon the first ballot tke jury stood II for conviction and 1 for acquittal, but on the second ballot the jury was unanimous for conviction.
 After Jaehne had been convicted of receiv- ing bribe of $20,0O0 for voting for the Alderman in 1884. he was taken to the Tombs by Deputy Sheriff McGonigle. He arrived at the gloomy prison about two o'clock in the morning, and was immediately led to cell No. IT, on the first tier, known as "Murdrers' Row." Within half an hour he had fallen into sound sleep. from which he did not wake un- til eight o'clock Sunday morning. At nine o'clock breakfast was taken in to him, with the morning papers, which he scanned eager ly. His first visitor was his brother.
 asked.
 ssBadly," replied the brother; 'sshe broke down completely, and refuses to be comfor- ted"
 Jaehne was so overcome that he could not speak for the moment. Afterwards he said:
 "Tell her for me that there's no occasion for worry. I'll be out on bail pending appeal to the higher courts, and it will be years be- fore I go to States Prison, if go there at all"
 Un Thursday Jaehne was brought up for sentence. Judge Barrett made somewhat lengthy address to the prisoner, in which he referred to Tweed Fish, Ward and Crowley. He then said; "The judgment of the court is that you be confined at hard labor in the State Prison for the period of nine years and ten l months.''
 | Jaehne listened to the sentence without | moving, and with his head bent forward. His | face, though pale, had 8 determined expres- | sion, but it could be seen that he deeply felt | the situation in which he was placed. Under the law, withjevery possible deduction | from his term of imprisonment through good | conduct, Jaehne will have to serve in prison l six years, four months, and twenty-five days. The crime of which he was convicted is pun | ishable by imprisonment in State prison for | not more than ten years, or by fine of not
 moro than $5,00O, or by both, in the discretion | of the court.