The Portland daily press., 1894-02-20
= SIX YEARS FOR NC KANE.
The Gravesend Boss Overcome by the
Severity of His Sentenced.


cal boss, was sentenced this morning by
Justice Willard Bartlett in the court of
Oyer and Terminer, to six years i'm
prisonment in the State prison at Sing
Sing. The sentence was a great surprise
to every one. 1t was expected that the
jury's recommendation to mercy would
induce Justice Bartlett to be more
lenient. When the judge pronounced the
sentence, McKape turned deathly pale
and clutched the railing before him and
the tears rolled down his cheeks. Nc
Kane had been brought from Raymon d
street Jail as early as o'clock His
counsel arrived there at 10 O'Clock sharp
They had to elbow ana squeeze thelf
way through the biggest crowd that ever
assem- bled at court house III this city;
When the lawyers got inside 1T de-
veIoped that McKane had secured addl'
tional counsel in the person OF Col.
Edwin C, James of New York Mr.. James
did all the talking for the condemned
man this morning. He made motions
for new trial, arrest of judgment; sus-
pension of Judgment, and for twenty
days time to prepare exceptions Iof a
stay. Justice Bartlett denied all OF Ghese
motions. Then Colonel James made a
long plea for mercy. Mchane llsteneo
with downcast eyes and hushed lace.
After the pea was finished MI. oheparu,
for the state, asked that long sentence
be pronounced. .;ls
Clerk Byrne then asked Mckane the
usual question:: "Have you anything TO
say why sentence should not be passed."
McKane rose, seized the railing with
his left hand and in a trembling voice
said II don't know whether l have any,
= d.. 8 4. III I ann M
never did anything wrong in my life.
had nothing to do at the last electlon
with the inspectors. | never ADVISED
them at all, much less to do anything
wrong"
last words. He hesitated and then
turned toward his chair.
@McKane you have not heard your
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.
81 am not at liberty" he said, i'll tone
OF intensity, to disregard the recommen-
dation of the jury for mercy. Neyerthe
less. in passing sentence, l cannot over
look the great gravity of the crime OF
which this defendant has been convicted.
The fact that be disobeyed the laws is
the more matter of moment FOR tine
reason that he is an intelligent man who
exercised wide authority and knew what
this law was This aggravates the
offence. The sentence should not be too
lenient lest it should not be a proper
punishment. And on the other hand, 1T
should not be SO 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 prisoner S
face had gradually grown whittier, and as
the words six years" fell on his ears, his
countenance turned pallid. He started
to go to his chair with his eyes still
closed. AS he felt his way along like a
man stricken blind by the severely of
the sentence, the sheriff took him by
the arm and helped him into seat. He
was then removed to the jail.
An exciting scene took place while the
sheriff was trying to work McKane
through the immense crowd that filled
| the court house Hobbies to the
street, where stood the carriage
which was to take the prisoner to
Jail. Nearly all of the
crowd were Gravesend adherents of the
convicted boss. AS he appeared, the
crowd surged around him. The sheriff,
his deputies and the police could not
clear the way. The jam was SO great
that they could not get through. Nc
Kane raised his hand and called out:
"Clear way, boys" :" All right, chief, J"
shouted back the big crowd in thunder
Gus tones that shook the big stone
pillars. In a minute the crowd had
obeyed. They fell back, forming a
passage clear to the carriage. The crowd
kept up continuous shouting. as the
carriage sped away towards the Jail.
A Stay Procured.
Brooklyn, February 19.-At tonight
LAWYER Roderick succeeded in getting
from Justice Cullen stay of proceed
ings until Friday in the McKane case.
The hearing will take place at 10 Friday
morning before Justice Cullen in the
supreme court in Brooklyn.