The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-03-19
A BAD ALDERMAN.
An Interesting Mass of Cor
ruption.
How the Crooked Official Rribed
for Votes in Obtaining
His Ends.
Alderman Jachne's Arrest

New YoRK, March 18.-The court
room was crowded when Alderman
Jachne appeared and gave bail. Hear
ing was fixed for Monday afternoon.
The arrest created sensation, but this
feeling gave way to one.ot astonishment
when 1t became known, later on, that
Jachne's confidence had been PLAYED
upon by Inspector Byrnes, and
that he had furnished that wily
officer of the law complete details of
the corruption in the Broadway Rail
way franchise matter, not only so far
as he himself was concerned, but also as
to other members of the board of alder
men, who sold themselves. Inspector
Byrnes told his story of the steps that
led up to the arrest, after the alderman
had been committed. l was a most ex-
traordinaryst ,thoughmuch morewas
lett unsald than was told by the chief of
detectives. Inspector Bvrnes possesses
the rare gift OF being able to worm him
self into peoples confidence and of
making them talk to very useful de
gree. Jachne was no exception. In
the course of ten months intimacy with
the Inspector, whom he knew Ill tt e
time as chief OF the detective force, he
finally told him unreservedly lin
confidence, OF course) all about the big
steal. When nothing more remained
to be told, Inspector Byrnes dropped
the mask of the confidential friend a nd
assuming the character of an official,
had the alderman locked up, having
previously seen to it that the alder
mans confidence" had unseen wit
nesses who could make an oath to what
he had said.
Less than year ago." said the in
.spector, ten or eleven months, per-
haps, the district attorney sent for me
and asked if | could not, in some way.
help TO get at the facts about the al
legged railroad steals and probe the truth
OF the rumors that were floating
around. 1t was not an easy mat
ter, but [ told him 1 would
try. picked out Alderman Jachne
for a subject and contrived
to meet him accidentally, as it were,
now and then, and mostly down town
when 1 did manage to bring up the
franchise troubles, until Jachne got
used to hearing me talk about them.
Gradually he began to talk, too. l got
some information at every one of
these meetings. though disjointtd
and loose, led up surely to the convic-
ton that money had been paid him and
other for their votes on these railroad
franchises. This information 1 i'm
parted to the District Attorney from
time to time and a further line of in
quiry was laid out so that matters went
on till six months ago, l met Jachne
down at the City Hall, ard by way of
opening the conversation, said SOME
thing about the struggle going on be-
tween some women over the property
left by Alderman Kenney. Jaehne fell
into the trap Immediately. Yes, "-said
he, The was a damned sucker,
Buying property for his money.
What L got 1 have in such
way that 1 can protect myself"
He talked quite freely, but said
nothing definite. Last Monday, a week
ago, we met again, and before we had
parted ne had given me good deal of
Information in general way. Things
were narrowing down to business, and
when found District Attorney Martin
and Judge GildersleeVe at the Manhattan
Club last Sunday night, 1 talked
the situation over with them. They
thought it quite probable that con
viction for bribery could be had with
the evidence already mentioned to
work upon, but advised me to have
Jachne make the statements where they
could be corroborated. To that end sent
for Jachne on Tuesday, inviting him to
q confidential chat at headquarters. He
came, bat we were disturbed and could
not talk in peace. so we appointed
Wednesday night. at my house, for a
meeting, and Alderman Jachne went
away. AS he was going out, he turned
around al d said that these Aldermen
were scared to DEATH, and some one
might tell them that be was seen CON- |
ing from the police headquarters. What |
shall l say if they do?" he said Say |
you have been up to see friend in the !
Health Department" l said, and be !
went away. He came on Wednesday, |
and, in course OF an interview lasting |
for hours, he told me all about his share |
in the Bro; way Railroad steal. ad |
hear all that was said without being
seen. Jachne said he got $50 600 for
his vote on the Broadway franchise.
He told me how he got it and how much /
be had got for the other railroad fran
chises; how the same were paid and
much more. He named other alder
men who had been bribed and volun-
teered information that three of them
who had invested in real estate or bust
less IN such money that might show on
inquiry, had, since the Senate investiga
ton began, certain lawyer go over
their books and fix them SO that it
would appear all right, when their turn
should come. He said who the lawyer
was, but | am not going to tell
you low. l shall not tell you either,
m detail, just what ne said
and whom he Implicated; that viii ap-
pear In proper season. Jachne said,
incidentally, during the interview, that
i things got much hotter he was going
TO skip town. l presume he thought l
vas his good friend. l thought enough
Of him, anyhow, to have him looked
after closely that night, and up till 10
o'clock this morning two detectives
we're on his track all the time. At that
hour made my report to the District
Attorney and received a warrant for his
irrest. While was in Mr.. Martins
IaW Jachne going through the City Hall
oark, followed By two dectiYes. 1 sent
detective Reilly out with the warrants
md they arrested Jachne and took him
o police headquarters.