Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-23
NEWSY NEW YORK.
M rAIrIN ALDERMAN = AMONG
HxNC1s," prAnoND-RoBBERs. Go.
Beautiful nary Anderson-A rrise-fight--
Unserupuloas Pcliticisns-society and
Tie foibiss- sporting Gossip, 90.
Iconsspondencs Of tho Richmond Dispatch

NEW YORK, May %, 1856.
The case Of Alderman Henry W..
Jaehne, the frat Of the Board Of Al
dsrmsn convicted Of bribery, is instruc.
tive. It exhibits the material Of which
many New York politicians are made.
his father was an honest German gun
smith, who did business on Hudson
street for forty years. The old mans
children were oil born in the Eighth
Ward. Henry was the second son.
lie received an excellent education, aud
made many friends. Five years ago
be entered the field Of politics with the
brightest Of prospects. He was elected
alderman four times in succession, and
each time by an increased majority.
Six months ago be was made vice-presi-
dent of the Board. A shrewd politi-
clan, ever ready 30 do favors for his con-
sti.usnts, he quickly took the leader
ship Of the County Democracy in the
Assembly district, and stood high IN
the councils Of bis party. Next fall
they intended to send him to Congress
in Muller's place.
His political sky was unusually
bright. Suddenly o cloud arose on its
horizon. The State Senate ordered the
Broadway railroad investigation. The
selection Of Roscoe Conkling as master
of ceremonies indicated that 1t was to
be no child's play. Jake Sharp, jim
Richmond, and other millionaire
msnjpulators we're put in the furnace,
and came out scorched but not destroy
ed. One day in the twinkling OF an
eve the young alderman was showed
into the Ere. The furnace was heated
hotter than usual. An affidavit from
Knickerbocker lady was read, which
plainly accused him Of being receiver
Of stolen goods. 1t was clear that be
was not only a professional =" fence"
but that he had been one for years. lie
kent a crucible in which he melted
down the gold and silver stolen by
thieves. The Knickerbocker lady had
traced her silver to his crucible, aud
had received 81, 200 from him to hush
the matter up. The revelation as
tonished the community. Respectable
citizens who had known Jaehne from
. boy stood aghast. The affidavit,
was only the foundation for series OF
questions propounded by Roscoe Conk-
ling that still further sstonished the
community. Instead Of keeping silent
en- the ground that his business ransac-
tons with Mrs. Schuyler Hamilton bad
nothing to do with the Broadway in-
yestigation, the Alderman lost his head
and tired to explain. While founder
ing under the fire of Conkliug's per-
sistent inquiries be made to him the
fatal admission that Chief Detective
Byrnes had done his best to cover him,
and that the district attorney, men,
Der Of bis own political organization,
had advised him to pay over the 81, 200,
thus compromising felony.
HOW HE WAS CAUGHT.
A day afterward the Alderman be-
sought bis friends to save him from IN
dictment for receiving stolen goods. 1t
was while trying to avoid such an in
dictment that he fell into the snare Of
Byrnes, who concealed his indignation
at Jaehne's admissions. The men had
been close friends for years. Jaehne
was confident that Byrnes could exert
On influence on the district attorney
that would save him from the dreaded
indictment. Byrnes's actions con-
firmed the Alderman's confidence. No
indictment fer receiving stolen goods
was found. The confding Jaehne, how
ever, was turned up in way that ne
little anticipated. lie was induced to
make the admissions concerning his part
in the Broadway steal that led to bothhis
indictment and conviction for bribery.
In trying to avoid the whirlpool Of
Scylla he had run upon the rock Of
Charybdis.
Nor was there any escape. Rem
dered wary by Shaler trials, the district
attorney took no chances in the Jaehne
case. The jurors were not only the
work Of the professional jury-fxer in
the two locked up, but were not al
lowed to receive sealed letters from
their families. Great was the cutlery
among the other indicted aldermen.
They accused the judge and the dis
trict attorney Of favoritism because
Jaehne was not given the chance Of
General Sha1er, also indicted for bribery.
They asserted that one Of the Shaler
jury was bought up on the first trial,
and that three Hebrew Jurors were
Fixed on the second trial. They got no
comfort, for the district attorneys aids
replied that there were the best Of rea-
cons Why the jury in the Jaehne case
should not be allowed to separate. This
has made Shaler's friends tremble. 1t
is evident that he will be tried third
time, and by a jury made practically
unspproachable.
The other indicted aldermen were
also chagrined because Alderman
Waite, who has turned States evidence,
was not made to unfold his budget.
The district attorney preferred to rely
upon Byrnes's testimony to secure q
conviction and TO hold Waite in reserve
for future trials. Waite's promised
disclosures are intensified by fear
that Billy Moloney, the clerk of the
Board, has been corralled by the au-
thorities, and that he will be dropped
upon some Of the boys as Andy Gar
vey was dropped upon Oakley Hall in
his trial in 1872.
WITH THE DIAMOND ROBBERS.
Besides afording glimpses Of under
ground political life in New York,
Jaehne's trial let in little lurid hgh,
upon his own antecedents. While on
the witness stand be was closely ques'
toned concerning his association with
well.known thieves in diamond rob
berries in Europe eight or nine year
ago. He denied in toto oil insinustion
Of thsit, but admitted that he was il
company with the crooks, and that b.
came back with one Of them ria Canada
The story, as told by detectives, wh'
claim to have i. from one of the crook.
! themselves, is interesting. Curtin and
Stevens, well knownas diamond thieves,
vent to Europe on a business tour.
They visited the best jewelry stores
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