Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-02-22
THE BOSS CONVICTED.
McKane, the Gravesend Boss, Convicted Ct
Election Frauds and ,.iven six Years in
Sing sing


Election Frauds and ,.iven six Years in
Sing sing
BROOKLYN, Feb. 16.-After a long
trial in which the defense has made
every possible endeavor to 'hwart JUS
tice, Boss John Y. McKane. of Graves
end. was found guilty this morning of
viola ations of the election laws during
the election last November.
GIVEN SIX YEARS.
BROOKLYN, n. Y, Feb. 20.-John Y.
McKane, the boss of Gravesend, whose
power in the past was as absolute IN
that section as that of the car in Rus
sia, will. unless the supreme court
in general session, the court of appeals
or the governor shall intervene, serve
the state for six years in the capacity
of a convict for hagrant violations of
the election laws Whether ne will or
will not really don the stripes for that
period of time his power is now broken
forever and the boss-ridden people of
Gravesend will henceforth be able to
have comparatively pure elections if
they so desire.
Crowds of anxious men beSieged the
doors of the court room and twenty
six policemen found herculean task
in keeping them from breaking down
the doors in their anxiety to get in to
secure good position at which they
could hear and see everything which.
took place. Finally, one by one the
spectators were let in and just at 9:55
o'clock the door opened wide and Nc
Kane, accompa anied by Sheriff Buttling,
entered.
McKane was apparently the most un-
concerned man in the court room and
walked about talking to his friends,
who one and all shook him warmly by
the hand. Everyone who saw him re-
marked his wonderful nerve and self
possession. He held short conversa-
tion with one of his counsel, Foster L.
Bactxus and the two sat down beside
each other few minutes later and
laughed heartily at something that
was said by a man sitting near by.
Prosecuting Lawyers Z. VI. Sheppard,
Col Lamb and Joe Weinberg were also
in court and held consultation.
When Judge Bartlett took his seat
on the bench E. c. James said: :'YOur
honor, / appear for the defendant, Mr..
John Y. McKane. l move for new
trial under section 4G5, code of Grim
ina1 procedure, subdivisions and 6.
Judge Bartlett denied the motion.
McKane when asked what he had to
say, said: II do not know that / can
say anything but what 1 said on the
stand during the trial I have never
done anything wrong to any one as far
as I know. l never did anything di-
rectly or indirectly wrong with regard
to the election, nor did | ever counsel
any one else to do anything wrong. I
again say that / am not guilty Of any
offense against the law"
,inHrp FsarfIefr then TTOcaeded to
pass the sentence, saying: Il do not
feel inclined to disregard the recon-
menda tion OF mercy made by the jury.
The crime which the defendant COM
mitted was a serious one. That great
crime seems to BE- one which demands
emphatic sentehce. The penalty should
be so severe, as to express due con-
demnation. while not So severe as to
excite sympathy. The sentence of the
court that the defendant be impris-
oned in Sing Sing state prison for six
years"
There was dead silence in court for a
moment and then amidse murmur of
voices throughout the chamber Judge
Bartlett ordered the court to be
cleared
Lawyer Rodericll said that n appli-
cation would be made some time to-
day to justice of the supreme court
for q stay of twenty days pending an
appeal
McKane was taken back TO Raymond
street Jail in a coach by S eriff But
ling about II clock AMI if the stay is
not procured TODAY he will be taken
] to Sing sing tomorrow in company
with some OF the convicts.