The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-26
LUCKY JAKEY BRETzFELD
Spared for the Sake Of McDon0ugh
and Havens.

The jury In the case OF Recorder NC
Donough, John r. Havens and Lawyer
Bretzfeld of Hoboken, who were tried in
General Sessions yesterday on an indict-
ment charging conspiracy. brought in a
verdict of acquittal after being out two
hours.
The proceedings up to the time when
recess were taken was told in last
nights JERSEY CITY NEWS. Judge
Daily opened the defence with
an eloquent plea. He maintained that
nothing criminal had been proven
against Recorder McDonough. The
worst that the Recorder could be accused
of was indiscretion in allowing the papers
to leave his office. Judge Daily showed
disposition to say more for Recorder Nc
Donough than for the other defendants.
and when he pictured the clean record of
the Recorder until this unfortunate affair,
the effect was not lost on the jury.
1T is the first time in my experience in
this Court" Judge DAILY said, "that an
complaints being lodged. Ludwig and
Mrs. Weber. in their testimony. say that
they were perfectly satisfied to pay the
money to get out of jail. and how the
Indictment was found know not. The
only proceeding that borders on a COM
pldluU Is SHOWN Ill tu6 IcSUluuouy VI udIbs
Weber when she says that she and Lud-
wig were taken from the County Jail
and Ludwig was questioned"
The defendants were then placed on the
stand. Lawyer "Jakey" Bretzfeld was
the first witness. He testified to having
received $50 for professional services and
he told how Havens had received $40 for
procuring bondsman for Ludwig and
Mrs Weber. There was no collusion with
Havens and Bretzfeld had notifseen Re-
corder McDonough in the matter at all.
Prosecutor Winfield subjected Bretz-
field to rigid examination and tangled
him up considerably with the bonds and
recognizances. Bretzfeld admitted that
his charge for professional services was
rather exorbitant.
John r. Havens was next called. He
testified that Bretzfeld met him on Wash
ington street and asked him to get bonds
man. Havens went to Recorder McDOn-
ough. learned that the bail was 5000 in
each case. and asked the Recorder If he
would accept Henry Cordes' bail. The
Recorder replied that he would, but Ha-
vens could not find Cordes and suggested
Henry Barck. This was agreeable to the
Recorder, and Havens took some papers
to Barck IS shoe store, had them signed and
gave them to Bretzfeld. He saw Bretzfeld
again that same day with Ludwig. and
they all went to Ludwig's house and got
some money. Then Ludwig wanted Mrs.
Weber released, but the witness could not
exactly recall how the second discharge
and recognizance were secured, or
whether they were faulty in construc-
ton.
Prosecutor Winfield knocked the latter
part of Haven's story to smithereens In
his cross-examination.
Recorder McDonough told straight
forward story. He admitted letting the
bail bond leave his office in the morning,
but he did not see Havens again, as he
went home i'll. He never saw Bretzfeld
in the matter at all.
Prosecutor Winfield did not cross
examine the witness.
Ex-Judge Hoffman ably summed up
for the defense.
Prosecutor Winfield administered a
scathing rebuke to Bretzfeld, whom he
said was disgrace to the bar of New
Jersey. The Recorder might be innocent
Of any attempt at wrong doing, but he
certainly acted very ipdiscreetly.
Judge Lippincott delivered an able
charge. He defined conspiracy and said
that the jury to convict would have to
convict two or all three of the defend
ants.
After the jury had been out an hour
they asked for instructions. They
wanted to know If 1t was not possible for
them TO convict one and acquit the
others. The Court said they could not
and the jury again retired, and after
being out two hours brought In verdict
acuuitting all the defendants. 1t is said
that the jury was In favor of onvicting
Bretzfeld and acquitting Recorder Nc
Donough and Havens.