Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-20
NO STRIPES FOR COYNE.


iOus FeTJury case.
W. L. Coyne received a telegram from
Ottawa last evening stating that the case
of subornat'on of perjury in which he
was convicted and sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary in the Rock Island circuit court,
had been reversed. 1t is unnecessary to
state that the cogtents of the message
afforded much delight to the insuperable
w. L. Had the ruling of the supreme
authority of the state sustained the action
of the lower court, it is altogether likely
that Sheriff Silvis would have received
the message instead of Mr. Coyne, and
that it would have been of an entirely
different nature. The supreme court de-
cision not only clears Coyne's skirts of
the penitentiary, but it will have the
effect of wiping off the circuit court
docket, the case now pending against him
charging him with illegal voting at the
municipal election last spring. Since
Coyne was illegally convicted be was not
legally deprived OF tue rights of suffrage.
The cases on which Coyne was form
ally convicted and sentenced to two years
and a half in Joliet year ago. were of
peculiar nature and involved much that
was new and interesting from legal
point. Coyne and one Henry Fluegel
had been engaged for number Of years
in real estate speculation, and Coyne
finally tleeced his partner in busincss-so
the latter claims-and Fluegel then in
formed against Coyne in his alleged illegal
transactions. He was indicted several
times-with counts running as high as
fourteen on single indictment-untilh he
was finally convicted of the crime of sub.
ornatiOn of perjury at the January term
Of the circuit court "A year ago. Judge
Smith presiding in the case, overruled
motion on the part of the defense for a
new trial and in accordance with the yer
dict, sentenced Coyne to two years and
half in the peutentiary. A stay of pro-
ceedings was granted for ten days TO ais
low the defense to secure writ of suN
percedeas and in the meantime Coyne
became the involuntary guest of the
county, On the last day prior to the
time ordered for the taking of the pris
oner to the penitentiary, Mr.. Sweeney Sc
cured the supercedeas, Coyne was re-
leased on bail and the case went to the
supreme court. The case was ably CON
tested on both sides, Mr.. J. T. Ken
worthy and Mr.. Adair Peasants |
assisting in the prosecution, while
Messrs. E. D. Sweeney and j.
NJ. BeardsIey appeared for the defense.
OF course the case is reversed on legal
technicality; as stated before. the crime
charged was of novel nature. 1t was
averred that Coyne had euticed Fuegel
to swear falsely to real estate transac-
ton, and the swearing was to be done in
Iowa. This may be one of the grounds
on which the supreme court differs from
the lower court.
Coyne is not the most popular business
man in Rock Island, his peculiar"
modes of conducting all his dealings
with his fellow men having made him
generally disliked, but it is to be hoped
that his narrow escape from pretty
severe punishment this time, and, in fact
The real punishment he has suffered in
the way of expensive litigation. will teach
him lesson. and that he will endeavor
to regain the respect he has lost and in
The future be man
1t is not known yet what the exact
'uling of the supreme court is-whetGer
he case is simply remanded for another
rial. or dismissed entirely. There are
.wo similar cases against Coyne for trial
1t the present term of the circuit court, in
addition to the one charging him with
Illegal voting.