The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-09
FATHER and SON.
Sad Spectacle of Dishonesty
and Disgrace in the
Court of Sessions.
BOTH BRETZFELDS SENTENCED.
Five Days for Maurice, Three
Months for Jacob-Disbar-
ment to Follow.
BOTH BRETzFELDS SENTENCED.

This morning in the Court of General
Sessions Judge Lippincott pronounced
sentence in the cases of Lawyers Maurice
and Jakey Bretzfeld. father and son, whd
had been convicted on separate indict-
ments. Judge Lippincott's remarks
were scorching and the two lawyers
writhed under them. The Court, be-
sides recommending and hoping that
both would be disbarred, sentenced the
elder Bretzfeld to the County Jail for
term of five days. and the young man to
hard labor in the Penitentiary for three
months. Both father and son are at
present locked in separate cells in the
Hudson County jail.
Father and son were in the court room
early. They were visibly nervous and ad-
mitted that they expected little mercy
from the Court. They knew that their
queer doings in the past had not escaped
the ears of the Court 1t was whispered
about the court room that since one of
| the lawyers convictions he had boldly
sold some lots in Gutenberg to which he
had no title and the Prosecutor was
aware of the transaction.
Lay Judges Kenney and Hoffman sat
on the bench with Judge Lippincott.
| When the court was seated Ex-District
Attorney Stout, who had been retained
| by the elder Bretzfeld. asked the court to
\ postpone sentence on the conviction for
| embeZzlement, pending motion for
new trial. and the court agreed. Then,
| however, the Court proceeded to impose
| sentence on the indictment for embez.
| Element, to which the elder Bretzfeld
| pleaded non vult.
scATHING CONDENSATION.
| Maurice Bretzfela. stand up" said
sorry for you. You're an old man. and
the Court has been very lenient towards
you for some acts of yours in the past.
| We will not say that these acts arise from
any intention on your part. Still these
acts have become matter OF daily COM
menb, and your conduct in your Dro-
fession has been matter for
very frequent complaint There
| is no question about 1t at all. There isn't
anything the Court can do In your case.
The Court cannot punish an old man like
| you. There must be something done,
| however, that will result in having you
| disbarred and your license taken away.
| We feel that if the Bar Association finds
it necessary to the credit of the profession
\ to do this that will suffice. The Court
| has great deal of sympathy for you.
| Your sentence will be that you be im-
prisoned in the County Jail for term OF
| five days"
| While the Judge was speaking, Bretz-
| field stood with bowed head and there
| were tears Ia his eyes when he allowed
himself to be taken in charge py a con-
| stable.
| JAKEY's TURN.
| Jacob Bretzfeld stand up" said the
! Court in a stern voice.
| For young man." said the Court"
1 you have as bad a reputation as one can
| have. You are engaged as a Ii
censed lawyer. Heecfhg. those with
There Tno@ ysu is no come question ln conIseG abeat
this. In a conspiracy case tried here a
few days age, jury remained ont an
hour trying to convict you and let the
others who had been jointly indicted with
you free. They wanted to convict yon
and the Court had to exert its power to
prevent them from doing SO. The law
and nothing but the law prevented your
conviction at that time"
"There are other offences which you
have committed. People come into this
aud the Court being averse to hearing
their complaints. has sent them away.
Every member of the bar should demean
himself fairly and honestly. You come
into Court and make the most foolish ex-
cuses. You ought to be disbarred at
once. You have no business to
go about fleeing people. If we let you
go without punishment this time you
will 60 back to Hoboken at your old prac-
tice. The Court is going to send this
matter to the Supreme Court with 3
| recommendation of this Court that some
action be taken with regard to your case.
The sentence of the Court is that you be
imprisoned at hard labor in the Peniten-
tiary for term of three months"
| Father and son were then taken in
charge by two conssaoles and brought TO
the County Jail. The younger Bretzfeld
will be confined at the County Jail until
Monday, when he will taken to the Peni-
tentiary to serve out his sentence.