River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-12

full wife, was at his side, and his two daugh-
tiers and son-in-law stood by helpless TO
aid the dying man DR.. LOomis arrived at
$50 p m, and simply announced that
Mr. Sharp was dead. Mrs Sharp was led
from the room overwhelmed with grief
The daughters bore the final scene more
calmly. Mr. Sharp had been sinking all
day He did not regain consciousness, and
had not recognized even his wife since late
Monday night The funeral arrangements
viii be announced to-day.
Mr. Sharp's last day was one Of alternate
inconsistencies and delirium, and was in
that respect repetition of the day before
In fact, since last Friday his condition
much of the time had been one of these
two. He frequently muttered that be could
not get Justice done him. Again, he would
be weakly jubilant and would cry: They
wanted to get me in the Tombs. but they
didn't No, they didn't
ISharp was born in Montgomery County, ".
Y, IN July, 1917. His family was poor, and be-
fore he reached his majority Sharp came TO
this city to make his fortune. He began busi-
ness in a small way timber contractor, and
made money His first successful venture in
street railroading, which has been his busi-
ness ever since, was the construction OF the
East River & Dry Dock line. The Christopher
& Tenth Street, the Bleeelxer Street, the Twen-
Avenue line followed. II was away back in
the 1fties that Sharp first contem.
plated the grabbing OF Broadway. Again
and again he secured his franchise from
Legislature or aldermen, which invarla-
bly, was vetoed by Governor or mayor. The
franchise granted in 1852 by the Board of Alder
men known as the Forty Thieves" was the
most famous of these. Governors Cornell and
Cleveland vetoed later franchises. In 1884 bill
was adopted ana signed by the Governor. This
transferred the struggle from Albany TO New
York City, and Sharp approached the notori-
OTIS "boodle" Board of Aldermen Of 1884 In
May OF that year eight members of the board
met and agreed, for heavy consideration. to
grant the franchise and to find thir-
teen others TO override the mayors We
TO. This was done and on June 10
1885,, Jacob Sharp rode down Broad
way to the Battery his first car. lease OF
the new line for 900 years to the Seventh Ave
nue. railroad followed shortly. Then there was
an invest cation by legislative COM
mittee, with results which are recent
and familiar. Inspector Byrnes took
hand and wrested from ex-Alderman
Jaehne confession that landed that worthy
and some Of his associates in Sing Sing and led
TO the indictment of Sharp. The latter was
arrested in October, 1886. His trial began in
April following and lasted nearly five weeks,
most OF which time Sharp spent in Ludlow
Street jail. Sharp was found guilty Of
brbe-givlng and sentenced to four
years imprisonment and TO pay a
fine OF 5000 Efforts were made TO bail
the convict out pend ng motion for new
trial, ana Governor Hill ordered a special ses-
sion OF the General Term. The decision OF this
tribunal was adverse TO Sharp, but his attor-
neys secured an appeal and on November % OF
last year the Court OF Appeals granted new
trial. This, after several recent delays on &C
count Of sharp's condition, had been set for
ADril IL