The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-19
Convicted.
The Second Batch of Ballot
Box Suffers Found Guilty
and Sentenced TO Eight
cen Months in State
\ Prison.
JURY OUT BUT FIVE MINUTES.
There Was No Defense, No Sum-
ming Up, No Charge by the
Jury, for the Guilt Of the
Accused Was Too
Evident.
THE MEN ARE IN JAIL.
1t Will Be Difficult for Them to
Procure Bail, for Bondsmen
Are Getting Scarce.

The election scoundrels are convicted
and sentenced to eighteen months at
State Prison.
To say that anyone was surprised when
ex-Judge Garretson this morning closed
the case for the indicted election scoun
drels would not be true. It had been
noised about that no defence would be
made, aud but little was attempted. The
little was If such a character
that II did more damage
than good. The astute counsel saw this
and threw MP the case. Very seldom has
a case Of such nature been given to a
jury after three days battle without coun-
sci summing up and making plea for
mercy, at least. But this case was abso-
lutely abandoned. There was no hope at
all for mercy and all that
could be looked for was justice. Instead
of Justice the scoundrels got mercy. for
eighteen months In State Prison was a
very light sentence for the crime COM
mitted. The able lawyers who represent
ed Cassidy, Meskill and Burns did accom-
plish one object, however.
By refusing to place on the stand the
thee ballot box suffers they took from
Prosecutor Winfield the opportunity of
bringing to the view of the public the
greater seoundrels. the office holding
sconndrels, who induced the miserable
tools to commit crime for their benefit.
Had Cassidy been placed on the stand
beyond doubt the great ability of District
Attorney Winfield would have, on cross
examination, extracted from him the
name OF the man who induced him to
commit the crime. 1t was this opportu-
nifty Mr.. Winfield sought. and the astute
counsel for the defence knew it. The
evidence was choked off by throwing up
the case.
During the morning ex-Sheriff Davis
was an attentive listener TO the evidence
iIa was thoughtful, and the pleasant
smile that is usually found on his face
was gone. He said nothing except when
he conversed with the indicted men and
Counsellor Black, in an earnest manner,
but IL was apparent to all that he was
doing much thinking.
WHAT were those thoughtsi
Police Commissioner Kelly was on
hand also and he was u decidedly inter-
ested spectator of the trial. He had rea-
sons for being so.
When the case was given to the jury, at
y ten minutes before twelve o'clock, they
Niretired Five minutes later they an
Anounced that their verdict had been found,
but delay OF ten minutes occurred. for
the defendants had left court. They
= were found and brought in, and in answer
10 the formal questions of Clerk Kellerg-
her. Foreman Bushman said Guilty"
80 said all the jurymen, and Judge LIP
pincott discharged them with thanks.
The jury disposed of. the Court said
THE Court sees no reason for any delay
in passing sentence. Stand up"
The convicted ballot box suffers did to
and Judge Lippsncott continued. In
the last case of this nature tried. the
Court saw no reason to be lenient and Is
finds no reason for leniency in this case
The Court has no reason to doubt your
guilt and believes that there
was no man In the court
heard the evidence. that did not believe
you to be guilty. You are unfit TO be
citizens Of this country. There is 10
place in this free country which you are
lit to fill. You and those aCttt you who
consummated this fraud against the
people ought to share the same punish
meTt.
The Court then sentenced each Of the
three men to State Prison for eighteen
months at hard labor.
The prisoners were sent to the County
Jail, where they will remain unless they
are bailed 10 wait the result Of writ of
error. They will find difficulty in getting
the bail Jailer Birdsall, who was Cas-
sidy's bondsman, refused point blank to
continue as such, and 1t was said that
Patrick II. Buckley had refused to con-
tinue bondsman for Burns.
The defense Is allowed fifteen days to
file a writ of error, and Counsellor Black
said that one would be prepared ab once
There is a general Impression that Cas-
sidy win give the whole plot away il kept
IN jail. When sentenced he trembled
violently. and his eyes filed with tears.
He was pitiful object The two
others appeared more hardened and
took their sentence with the GOODNESS that
old veterans In State Prison would be ex-
pected 20 exhibit. The end is not yet. and
T1.-<x~ a.I<1 -
procession to State Prison will con-
tinue. The election officers to be
tried Monday are John A. Whalen. judge;
Joseph G. Mullrain and David Gordon,
inspectors. and Martin j. White. clerk;
election officers OF the Second precinct Of
the Second district.
nIAlnTNn TECTIMNNV