The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-21
THE SENTENCE OF JAEHNE.

against him was irrefutable, though 1t was all,
or nearly all, purely circumstantial. In his
address to the prisoner the judge took occasion
to advert to the fact that, while there was
general belief that the accused was guilty of
the crime charged, there seemed to be an i'm
preston that he would escape punishment,
and that his conviction was impossible by
reason of the fact that he was man Of influ-
ence, and was in position to 'take care of him
self" in spite Of the law. 1t is a scandal upon
the people Of this country that such a senti-
ment should be allowed TO obtain, and it is
well that an exception has been had at this
time. Whenever public sentiment becomes
lax enough to alphabetically think in that way
it is morally certain that an i'll effect will be
felt in the courts of justice. As a rule, courts
and juries are as good as the public chooses to
make them. When popular opinion gets low,
and when the intention to enforce the law
gets feeble and lax, 1t is one Of the most
natural things in the world that the courts
not do much to counteractit. Judge Barrett,
however, has disabused enc man at least and
Mr. Jaehne doubtless has greater respect for
the law than he had few days ago. It is
triumph to send such fellow to prison at all,
and to send him there for nearly ten years is
something that should be source Of satisfac-
ton to every honest man in the land,
whether directly affected by his misdeeds
or not It is no excuse for any
people to speak disparagingly of their courts,
and especially in this country, where the
judges are chosen by the people. If there be
anything wrong about them, the fault lies
with the people, for they have it in their
hands to compel the strictest enforcement of
the laws. In every case like the one under
consideration 1t may be set down as morally
certain that the people have not done their
whole duty when they dare torefect upon the
integrity Of the courts and to intimate, if not
assert, that such thing as exact justice can
not be expected when the accused is a man Of
political influence. A healthy public senti-
ment is certain to make healthy and incorrupt-
ible courts. If the people really desire that
justice shall be done in all cases. without re
gard to the political or social standing of the
accused, all that is necessary is to insist that
justice shall be done, and it will be DONE
T,,J- hoe Ill 81
for the responsible place he occupies, and that
he is appreciated is attested by the fact that
he has been almost unanimously reelected to
the high place he so signally honors. 1t is
morally certain that he will maintain his
| place in favor of equal and exact justice. All
| that is necessary is that the people of
| New York city give him the moral support of
public opinion, which should declare itself
by predicting justice as the outcome Of every
trial. A people that impeaches its judges in
advance impeaches its own honesty, for the
former are but creatures of the latter. And
now that this rascally alderman has been sem
fenced to States prison, it is to be hoped that
no technicality of law will serve to get him
out of it until such time as his term shall
have been served. Attempts to defeat the
fnding of the law will doubtless be made, but
if strong public sentiment demands that
| justice shall be done, 1t is quite certain that
the people will not be disappointed, and a
nest of conspiring swindlers will be effectu-
ally broken up. It is the duty of the New
York public to hold up the hands of the
! courts, and to do all they can to make their
findings respected. There is no more reason
why this corrupt official should escape his
deserts than that any other thief should In
truth, there are reasons why he should be held
! to even stricter accountability Cnpunished,
his example would have done incalcnlatle
harm in encouraging others TO initiate him,
and to make the best of every opportunity to
steal or to trade on their chances to obtain,
by foul means, that which they are not en-
titled to.
| Judge Daniels, TO whom application was
made, refuses stay, and Jaehne, the con-
victed alderman, goes TO Sing Sing this morn
! ing. The mills Of justice ground rapidly in