Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-22
M'KANE GETS SIX YEARS.

bbNy Ab INV btN'fhAg Us
the Sentence--Justlre Bartlett Paid no
Attention 20 tho Jury's Rerominenda-
ton to AIercy--He said He Could Not
Overlook the Great Gravity of the
Crime of Witch MclSane Had Been Con.
victed.
BROOKLYN. N. v, Feb. 1j.--The jury in
the case Of John Y. McKanc. the Gravosend
politician charged with violating the cleo.
ton law, after being out all night, returned
a verdict of guilty this morning.
BROOKLYN, N. ", Feb. l9.--John Y.
Mckane was this morning sentenced to six
years in Sing Sing prison, for conspiring
to defraud the election.
This severe sentence OF Grnvesend's
political boss was imposed by Justice vii.
lard Bartlett in the court of oyer and
terminer. The sentence was great sur
prise 10 avery one. 1t was expected that
the jurv'S recommendation to mercy
would induce Justice Bartlett TO be more
lenient.
M'KANE MOVED To TEARS.
When the Judge pronounced sentence
McKane turned deathly pale and clutched
the railing before him, and tears rolled
down.his cheeks.
Justice Bartlett took his seat on the
bench at 1910 o'clock. McKane had been
brought from Raymond street jail as early
as . o'clock. His counsel arrived there al
10 o'clock sharp. They had to elbow aud
squeeze their way through the biggest
crowd that was ever assembled at the court
house in this city.
FEulTLEss FIGHT ron DELAY.
When the lawyers got inside Il de.
velOped that McKane had secured addi-
tional counsel in the person of Colonel
Edwin e. james of New York. Mr.. James
did all the talking for the condemned man
this morning. He made motions for a
new trial, arrest of judgment, suspension
of judgment, and for 20 days time in
which to prepare exceptions for stay.
Justice Bartlett denied all Of these mo.
tions.
FLEA FOR MERCY.
Then Colonel James made q long plea
for mercy. Mr.. Mckane listened with
down.c,lst eyes and flushed face. After
the plea was finished Mr.. L. NJ. Shepard,
for the State, asked that long sentence
he pronounced.
Clerk Byrne then asked McKane the
usual question: Have you anything to
say why sentence should not be pAssed?"
~ NEVER DID Anything WRONG"
McKane arose, seized the railing with
his left hand and in trembling voice
said: II don't know whether have any
thing much to say. am not guilty.
never did anything wrong in my life.
had nothing TO do last election with the
inspectors. | never advised them at ALL
much less to do anything wrong / am
not guilty. never did anything wrong
in all my life"
His voice grew weaker as he spoke the
last words. lie. hesitated and then turned
toward his chair. Hold on minute"
said Clerk ByFne. 'McKane you have not
yet heard your sentence"
Mckane turned back again, caught the
railing with his left hand and put his
right hand into his pocket. Then, with
lifted head and closed eyes, he listened.
The voice of Justice Bartlett broke the
silence.
II am not at liberty" he said, in tone
Of intensity, ITO disregard the recommen.
dation of the jury for mercy. Neverthe.
less, in passing sentence, cannot overlook
the great gravity of the crime of which
this defendant has been convicted. The
fact that he disobeyed the laws is the more
matter of moment for the reason that
he is an intelligent man, who exercised
wide authority and who knew what the
law was. This aggravates the offence.
The sentence should not be too light lest it
should not be proper punishment; and,
on the other hand, il should not DE so Sc
we're as to excite sympathy. The sentence
of the court is that you be confined in
the state prison at Sing Sing for the term
of six years"
LIKE A MAN STRICKEN BLIND.
As Justice Bartlett spoke the prisoners
face had gradually grown whittier, and as
the words six years" fell on his ears, his
countenance turned palIid. He started to
90 to bis chair, with his eyes still closed.
As he felt his way along like man
stricken blind by the severity Of the
sentence, Sheriff Buttling took him by the
arm and helped him into seat
COURT ROOM IN AN UPRoAR.
Then the court room burst into an up-
roar. Tho court officers and the Judge
vainly endeavored to restore order. The
lawyers tried to talk TO the court but they
could not be heard.
Sheriff Buttling took his prisoner into a
side room and kept him there until squad
| Of policemen cleared the hall. After that
he took him to the sheriff's Office and then
to the jail. -