The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-02-22
M'KANE SENTENCED.
The Boss of Coney IsIsnd Gets
Six Years in Sing'sing.
Tears Roll Down His Cheeks as He
Listens to Judge Bartlett An
nOunCing His Fate.

BROOKLYN, N. Y, Feb. 19,--John
Y. McKane, the convicted Gravesend
political boss, was sentenced this
morning by Justice Bartlett, in the
court of oyer and termlner, to six
years Imprisonment in the State
prison at Sing Sing. The sentence
was great surprise to every one. 1t
was expected that the jury's recon.
mendation to mercy would induce
Justice Bartlett to be more lenient.
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 10 IL o'clock. McKane had
been brought from Raymond street
Jail as early as 9 o'clock. His counsel
arrived there at 10 o'clock sharp.
They had to elbow and squeeze their
way through the biggest crowd that
has ever assembled at the court house
in this city. When the lawyers got
inside, it developed that McKane had
secured additional counsel in the per.
son of Col. Edwin G. James of New
York.
Mr.. James did all the talking for the
condemned man this morning. He
made motions for new trial, an arrest
OF judgment and suspension of iudg-
ment for twenty days time to prepare
exceptions for stay. Justice Bartlett
denied all of these motions. Then
ECol. James made a long plea for mercy.
McKand listened with downcast eyes
and flushed face.
After the plea was finished E. M.
Sheppard, for the State, asked that a
long sentence be pronounced. Clerk
Byrne then asked McKane the usual
question
"Have you anything to say why sen.
tence should not be passed?"
McKane arose, seized the railing
with his left hand, and in a trembling
voice said:
II don't know whether I have any
thing to say much. l am not guilty.
l never did anything wrong in my
life. had nothing to do last election
with the inspectors. never advised
them, much less told them to do any
thing wrong. / am not guilty. l
never did anything wrong in all my
life"
His voice grew weaker as he spoke
the last words. He hesitated and then
turned towards his chair.
"Hold Oh minute" said Clerk
Byrne. "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.
SIX YEARS IN SING SING.
II am not at liberty" he said, in 8
tona of intensity, "to disregard the
recommendation of the jury for mercy
Nevertheless, in passing sentence !
can not overlook the great gravity o.
the crime OF which this defendant has
been convicted. The fact that he dis
obeyed the laws is the more matter
OF moment for the reason that he is ar
intelligent man who exercised wide
authority and who knew what the law
was. This aggravates the ofense. The
sentence should not be light, lest il
could not be a proper punishment
and on the other hand, it should MOI
be 30 severe 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."
AS Justice Bartlett spoke the prison
er's face had gradually grown whittier
and as the words "six years" fell or
his ears his countenance turned pallid
He started to go to his chair with hi
eyes still closed. AS he felt his way
along.
LIKE A MAN STRICKEN BLIND
by the severity of the sentence, Sheriff
Buttling took him by the arm ant
helped him into seat.
: Then the court room burst into al
uproar. The court officers and TIL
t Judge vainly endeavored to restore ol
r der The lawyers tried to talk to tn
3 court, but they could not be heard.
Sheriff Buttling took his prisone