New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-29
harm can come from such a course. Nothing
but mischief can result from any other.
,SCTHERLANDS SURRENDER.

Tho Voluntary surrender Of Sutherland, who
osconed from Justice after his conviction OF
oppresslon In dealing with Gaynor's watchers
and copyists last November Will enable Inc
prosecutors Of the Gravcsend lnwbreakers to
complete their work. The eight new indlct-
ments found against him for various feionies
would have furnished basis for his extradi-
ton from Canada. although he could not nave
been sentenced, under correct international
practice for the crime of which he had oeeh
previously convicted His surrender has evil
IDENTIFY been arranged by his friends. with the
understanding that he is TO plead guilty to one
of the new indictments and then to throw him
self upon the mercy Of the Court He ought
not TO be allowed TO escape with anything less
than q term of three or four years In the Stare
prison. maximum penalty would be seven
wears. but consideration may properly he asked
in return for his surrender and the saving or
time and expense which will be effected by
his pleadng to the new indictments.
The cscape Of Sutherland. while II involved
q tomnorarv miscarriage Of justice, served n
most useful purpose. 1t alarmed the bondsTnen
in the other cases, forced the prosecutors TO
l,oen all the indicted members Of the Gravesend
gang under surveillance, and speedily cleared
the calendar. since all his associates pleaded
s,,iltv and appealed TO the Court for mercy. The
collapsc of conspiracy to secure the Disagree
ment Of jurcs by bribery and perjury was me
Immediate effect Of his cowardly night from
Rrooklyu. Newton and all the underlings maze
u clean breast Of everything that they knew
obout the Gravescnd election. and by their con-
LESSONS established their own guilt rs well as
Mechanics and Suthcrlands. All the details or
the conspiracy 10 cvadc judicial processes and
to cast n fraudulent vote on grossly padded
repistrv were revealed. Sutherland was most
usoful fugitive from justice, although his SER
vices to the State were unprecedented Now
thar he has returned after two months OF exile
In Montreal. prosecutors have reason to be
grateful TO him. although they are not under
ohlieations 10 be unduly lcnient in dealing
with him Justice requires that he should be
sentenced 10 Sing Sing where McKane Is pay
ing a righteous penalty for odlous crime. The
only member Of the Gravcsend gang who can
h, said 70 have cheated justice is Newton, who
turned States evidence most opportunity for
his own interests
The facility with which this audacous gang
of lawhrcakcrs has been broken up Increases
the feeling Of public amazement that they
sbould have been allowed 10 conduct fraudulent
elections FOR long period without molestation
Defiance of injunctions from two courts ana
malicious and oppressive prosecution OF Gay
nor's representatives were the only new ele-
mcnts In the conspiracy of last November Year
after year the registry had been nrthcially
padded and the vote fraudulcntly Increased.
These crimes were notorious; the registry lisis
and the election returns were rocking WIN
fraud; vet no attempt was made 10 holh NC
Kane and his lcutcnants accountable for what
they were doing or 10 prevent the recurrence
OF these outrages. When public opinion was
aroused and tho Dlstrct-Attorncys Office was
placed I'm the hands ~ honest lawyers. IN" cot
lapse Of tho Grnvcscnd ring followed WIN
astonishing rapidly. Then the Truth was re-
yealed that McKanc. Sutherland and Newton
were ignorant and weak men. without othcr
resources than audacity and talent for low
political Intrigue The Discretionary office
could have secured their conviction long ago IL
II had taken up the primafacic evidence OF
fraud disclosed by the registry and 'hc election
returns. The responsibility FOR n long series OF
election outragcs rests there. Notorious crimes
were connlvcd at. condoncd and Instignted year
after year by the negligence and inaction OF
publlc prosecutors whose sworn duty II was 10
nrotcct the interests Of the State.