The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-24
IT WAS TREASON.
Thus Judge Lippincott
ChaTacterizes the Crimes
Of the Ballot Box
Suffers.
PLAIN WORDS FROM THB BEACH.
McGratb, Egan and Murray .Sen<
fenced to Eighteen Months
stumpf Cannot Es-
cape Prison.


election officers were arraigned before
judges Lippincott and Paxton this uzorn-
ing for sentence. On the opening q the
court Judge Lippincott said be would
hear anything in behalf Of the defsndansz
Mr. Dixon then presented to tine Court
several petitions
One was signed by numerous promi-
nent Republicans and Democrats asking
that sentence be suspended in Stumpf's
case; second from the candidates on
the fusion ticket at the election when the
frauds were committed. saying that they
believe Stumpf conducted himself
honestly; third from seven of the JURY
who convicted him, also asking for sus-
pension Of sentence: and q fourth FROM
three Of the jury asking for mercy In
Sfumpf's behalf.
A JURORS CONSCIENCE TROUBLES H1M
Mr.. Dixon backed mp his petitions
with strong plea in which be said that
one Of the jurors in signing the petition
said he hoped no sentence would be i'm
posed upon Stunpf. as his conscience
mad troubled him ever since he had con-
sented 10 Stumpf's conviction.
Judge DAILY made plea for Stringham
and Flynn. who had also been reoen-
mended 10 mercy.
Judge Idppincott fdirected Exan. Nc
Grath and Murray TO stand mp. E,ran
was not present, and the Court ordered
his bail forfeited. Egan, however, came
in before the Court adjourned, and was
sentenced like rhe rest. Judge L4ppin-
colt said that the Court had proposed to
pass sentence without Comment. but ou-
ing TO the circumstances surrounding
these cases he would speak.
He said that be considered the verdict
in all the cases warranted By the evi-
dence.
The Court continued:-sThe defen-
dants In the ballot box cases who are
here for sentence today make twenty-five
persons convicted for outrages upon the
ballot. In no one of the cases has the
jury found the evidence as to singie in
diyidual OF such character as to war
rant an aequittal. The verdiess OF tie
juries in ali the cases have been satisfac
tory TO the Court.
These things of themselves present q
very startling state Of affairs. but there
are let remaining about forty other de-
PENDANTS indicted by the Grand Jury of
this county, and as yet untried
FORTY MORE WILL BE TRIED.
The Court believes that it is due to the
people OF this county, whose rights. lber-
ties and property are concerned. to say
that the remaining cases VIII be rried-
Speaking for myself. would willingly
sit continuously through the usual vaca-
tion OF the Court TO try tAe remainder Of
these cases
''At the same time, recognize the fact
that the season when every one desires
a period OF recreation is al hand, ami iiie
Court IS satisfied that the trials OF the
other cases should be suspended until the
opening Of the September term of the
Court, az which time they should at once
be resumed.
THE CHIEF OFFENDERS MUsTBE REACHED.
The conspiracy against the Governments
| r1<Fk or ha al n
county in 1889 was so widespread as to
make IL incumbent on the law officers in
charge Of the cases to see that all who
have been indicted should have prompt
and fair trial. These defendants, while
OF themselves entitled to no mercy are. IL
is self-evident, but the coInmoa tools Of
those higher in intelligence. Rnd who had
more positive interest in the result or
this election
Justice VIII not be satisfied until the
highest source of this foul stream has
been reached. These outrsges were uo5
sporadic. hut it Is quite evident were di-
rected from some common cenfre OF au-
thority. What Intelligence difecsed this
vile assault upon the elective franchise is
question which the people Of this COM
mnnity will insist upon having answered
sooner or later.
TREASON THAT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED.
You, none Of you. offered yourselves
as witnesses in your own behalf For
some reason your lips were sealed in your
own defense. In this connection the
Court can safely say that the highest SER
vice which can be rendered to the STATE
and TO the people of this community,
would be disclosure by these defendants
or others concerned IN this conspiracy, as
To tbs head dictatorship Of this treason
against government by the people.
'sThe sentence OF the law is that you be
| imprisoned at hard labor IN the state
prison of this State for the term Of eigh-
teen months"
sTUMPF's CASE
The Judge then turned 10 the cases OF
| Stumpf, Flynn and Stringham. He said
that the Court rememn nereo that IN the
| case Of De Rancy the same recommend&-
ton was made. but that the Court was
notfnfuenced. The Court nj ast say that
I in the light of petitions presented and let
1 ters which it had received fC was not
ready to impose sentences upon these men
and would consider the matter further
( The Court, however, had no hesitaney in
saying that these recommendations oouid
4 not save the men from Imprisonment
1 The Court had not made up its mind yet
as to what term It would impose. but
weuld probably do so by Thursday. The
l Court then ordered the men remanded TO
/ the County Jail
When the Court said that the men
could net ue saved from imprisepmeus
Stunpf's face looked the picture Of de-
spsir. His thin. pale face became even
| timer and more pallid as he loeKed in 3
sort Of hopeless way az his counsel, he
quickly recovered. however. and took mis-
seat in the pen with the other defendants
UNSATISFACTORY BoNDSMEE
/ Judge Daily and City Attorney Huds-
| peth had writs of error ready for all the
| men but Stampf. but as Flynn and
| Stringham were not sentenced the writs
were not used IN their cases Police
| Commissioner James Kelly was offered rs
4 bondsman for Egan, but as he was
| on tie bonds of Others OF the election
4 officers the Court refused TO take Kim.
Assemblyman Henry Byrns was next
offered and was also refused Il seems
McGrath went bail for one OF the officers
and wanted 10 sch his property, bat the
4 purchaser refused TO buy while the bail
| bond was a cloud on the title. SO byrne
gave him bond OF indemnity aud ~
! that bond remained on record the Court
/ refused TO accent him as bail for ESau.
| Essp went to Jail with Stringharl. hiyEn
| aud Stumpf.
Murray and NeGrath were released on
s.. 500 bail, Patrick OiConnor. eca
tractor. and Edward AcGInnis. saloon
keeper. becoming their bondsnen re-
spectively.