New-York tribune., 1886-03-19

ALDERMAN J4EHNE'S CONFESSION.
Spurred on by the singing criticisms OF the
press as to his mistaken lenicncy toward AIoel-
man Jaehne in the matter Of Mrs. Hamilton
stolen silver, Inspector Byrres has entrappeu
the Alderman into confession that he WIS
bribcd in 1854 to vote for the Broadway iran
chjse The details of this confession VIII not
he made public until the CRIMINAL Is airalgned
in court bnt il is known that Jaehne admitted
receiving $40. 900 for his vote, and that ms al
missions implicate several other Aldermen. NO
confession from Jaehne or any one else was
needed to convince the public that the majority
of the Aldermen who met in that ever noton-
ous Q o'clock meeting in August, 1881, were
paid for their Infamous work. Every one
come to that conclusion long ago. But though
public oDinion on that point was
clear and definite, the confession OF
Jaehne NAV prove invaluable in bringing
hr.be-givcrs and bribc-takcTS to justice. II
was a brilliant piece Of detective strategy on
the part of the Inspector to secure IT. ana VIII
90 far IN atoncmcnt for his errors III the liam
iitOn case.
TRIBUNE reporters talked last evening with
q number Of the Aldermen who voted for the
franchise In 1884. They pr0fessed to be un-
concerned. and declared that whatever MIR.
Jaehne might have said. they were innocent OF
any wrong-doing Mr.. Sharp also protested
earnestly that he knew nothing OF any bribery
in connection with the franchise These de-
mails will not surprise any one nor snake III the
least the general conviction that the charter
was bought from the Aldermen and pad Tor.
! Men who deliberately violated their OathS OF
! Office. who with full knowledge OF the punish
ment for corruptioh received money for then
votes and have been lying about the matter ever
since. will not hesitate at any time TO add a few
more falschoods to the perjuries that they have
beaDed up. Nor is the givcr OF brlbes
any more likely than the receiver to tell the
truth concerning his crimes. This stubborn
adherence to the practice OF perjury winch has
been the habit of all the men involved Ill
this infamy will only increase the eagerness OF
! the community to see the rascIs III prison.
There now seems to be good assurance Oi
tbc,r punishment. Though Jlehne will not be
accepted as a witness for the people with the
promise of immunity. the confession obtained
| from him will surely set some weak knees shak-
| ing. Though no one of the Aldermen with
whom our reporters talked last evening may
be ready to turn States evidence, some mlnol
agent in this great conspiracy, some one less
conspicuous and active than Jaehne was, Will
try to save himself at the expense OF his fei-
| lows. The chain of evidence for which Jaehne i
| confession has supplied some of the most I'M
portant links will probably be completed with
out much difficulty. 1t will be no small or OBJ
scure company that we may hope to see gathered
by it within the walls OF Sing Sing. Every
man who had anything to do with the purchase
and sale of that Broadway charter should be
included within its iron bonds. Only four mem
bcrs of the Board of 1884 are III the present
! Board of Aldermen. The results of Jaehne'
confession may not make an extensive breach
in the body of our City Hall Legislators of 1856
but they may work sad havoc in the ranks OF
that famous Reform organization, the County
| Democracy.