The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-16
THE JAEHNE BRIBERY TRIAL
The Defendant Takes the Stand, and De-
MES All Of Byrnes's Statements.
The Case Finished and Given to the jury. Who.
After Two Hours Deliberation, Return
Verdict Declaring Jaehne Guilty.

Jaehne for bribery was continued to-day. Coun-
sci for tho defense moved that the testimony of
Inspector Byrnes and Detective Cosgrove as to
the alleged confession of the defendant be
stricken out, on the ground that they were made
under the inducement of hopes and the pressure
of fear. The motion was denied
Detective Rogers testified that he heard Jaehne
confess to Inspector Byrnes. in March last. His
story substantially the same as that of In
spector Byrnes
John Scott testified that George W. Alter.
Jaehne's former clerk, told him that the Doodle
had been kept in Jaehne's safe over night When
he left the witness-stand District Attorney Mar
tine announced that the prosecution rested
Counsel for the defense moved that the in
dictment be dismissed as the grand jury had
been tricked into making false presentment
1t fraudulent record, and should be
quashed; furthermore. that there was no evil
dence of the receipt of a promise or agreement
to receive brihs. and that no evidence that ii
had been received in this county had been
addnced. Judge Barrett held that the points
were not well taken. and overruled the motion.
Counsel for the defense then made the open
ing argument holding that the prisoner had been
coerced by threats and intimidation, and that
the action of Police Inspector Byrnes and Dis
trict Attorney MARITIME was taken to save them
selves because Alderman Jaehne, in his testi-
mony before the Senate investigating committee,
had 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 IL 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
the Supreme Court must pass upon their act be-
fore 1t would go into effect Moreover, the grant
Af thof hsOny FIR nrfx
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, to produce the minutes
of the proceedings before the grand jury In this
case, but declined to do SO and was sustained by
the court.
William Harvey was called to testify that the
prisoner had favored q street railroad in Broad
way before the general surface railroad law was
passed. The prosecution admitted it without
waiting for the testimony. The prosecution also
admitted the amounts of money paid to the city
In percen tages 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 first two
three years after that he saw him but seldom.
After that he saw hm much more frequently.
Their relations were what he would call inti-
mate. He was asked what Inspector Byrens had
DONE ii anything, in reference to the defendants
canvass for alderman in 1884 or 1885. The aues-
tion was ruled out.
did you ever receive a promise of money"
he was then asked. "for your vote on the Broad
way railroad franchise2"
II never did in my life." was the answer.
''Dd you ask a reward for such voteY
Did any person ever give you or offer You
any money for such votea"
Never
''After you had voted In favor of the Broadway
railroad franchise, did any one ever give you any
money for such votel"
''They never did,
Had you at any time conversation with any
one In regard to the payment to you of any money
for such q vote?"
81 never did"
Replying to further questions he said he voted
for the franchise because he thought 1t Of bene
fit to the city. Coming down to the testimony
of Inspector Byrnes in regard to the several al
legged conversations with the defendant, in which
he was alleged to have acknowledged having re-
ceived 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. it he had said what he was alleged to
have said. In each instance the answer was an
emphatic denial
when, for the first time, did Mr. Byrnes
ever speak to you about the Broadway franchses"
was asked the witness.
II think, he answered, sit was about three
days before my arrest, in March last"
The witness then went on to say that Byrnes
had 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
he might put himself right and make show of
having been at work on the matter, the In
sDector asked the witness to give him some
points, and said he thought there would
be some arrests He asked the witness to meet
him at his tByrness) house the next night, SO
that IT there were to be any arrests the witness
could take advantage of it. At this meeting not
word was said about bribery. The next even
ing the witness went to Byrness house. accord
ing to appointment At that meeting they
talked about the Broadway franchise. They sat
close together and talked in low tones The
witness almost whispered. because he suspected
eavesdroppers The witness then gave the fol
lowing account of the interview.
Byrnes produced paper which there were mem
oranda of all the proceedings of all the Board of Al
dermen in reference to the Broadway railroad Now.
Jaehne he said ''who were the men who voted for
the franchisea told him they all voted for it except
two Give me their names he said. called over
he said. ibid every who voted for it get $40 600
as people say2" II don't know that they got any
money, answered; II have heard rumors that that
the price" He then asked me about the caucus,
he called it. at Fullgrafs and MoLaughlin's. told
him knew knothing about it. Then in very loud
no that Ell s
answered. Then told him had appointment and
had to go.
''Did he ask You if you had received any
money for your vote9' asked the counsel.
HE did not" was the answer.
Jaehne denied that he ever told Byrnes that
he had kept Moloney's doodle one night when
Moloney drunk. 1t Was fact. however,
that, one day when Moonsy was drunk and
dropped $500 bill in a saloon, the witness took
care of it for him over night AS to the state
ment of Byrnes that Jaehne had confessed hav-
ing found one 80 900 bill md ten 81 900 bills in
his drawer at the aldermen's rooms, the witness
saids If there was any money placed there,
someone else must have got it nsver found
- u
anyone that had received one..
The witness was cross examined at length in
an attempt to elicit admissions to the effect that
he had been In a conspiracy In France to rob
number of diamond merchants bnt the witness
denied all knowledge of any such plot He did
not know that Billy Moloney was go-between.
The witness admitted an acquaintance with sew
eral well-known criminals. He indignantly de-