The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-20

4
as Though Blinded by the Severity
of His sentenoe-The Court Room
Bursts Into an Upr oar.
Brooklyn, N. Y, Feb. 19.-John Y.
NcKane the convicted Gravesend politi-
raI boss. was sentenced this morning by
Justice Willard Bartlett, in the court of
Over and Termiuer. to six years imprison-
nent in the state prison at Sing Sing.
The sentence was great surprise to
averv one. 1t was expected that the
iurv's recommendation 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 1O:11 o'clock. McKane had been
brought from Raymond street jail as
early as 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 assem- bled at
the court house in this city.
M'KANE GETS NEW LAWYER.
When the lawyers got inside it devel-
oped that McKane had secured additional
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 a new
trial arrest of judgment, suspension of
judgment, and four days time to prepare
exceptions for a stay. Justice Bartlett
denied all of these motions. Then Col.
James made a long plea for mercy. Nc
Kane listened with downcast eyes and
flushed face.
After the plea was finished, E. M.
Shepard, for the state, asked that a
long sentence be pronounced.
M'KANE GOES ALL TO PIECES.
Clerk Byrne then asked ,McKane the
usual questions: Have you anything to
say why sentence should not be passed?'
McKane arose, seized the railing with
his left hand, and in a trembling voice
said: Il don't know whether l have any
thing to say much. | am not guilty. |
never did anything wrong in my life. l
had nothing to do at the last election with
the inspectors. / never advised them at
all, much less to do anything wrong. l am
not guilty. / never did anything wrong
in all my life" His voice grew weaker
as he spoke the last words. He hesitated
and then turned toward his chair.
Hold on a minute - said Clerk Byrne,
McKane, you have not 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 SENTENCE.
The voice of Justice Bartlett broke the
silence. Il am not at liberty" he said in
tone of intensity, ''to disregard the re-
nf fnYs
Nevertheless in passing sentence, cannot
overlook the great gravity of
the crime of which this defend
ant has been convicted. The fact
that he disobeyed the laws is the more a
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 odense. The
sentence should not be light lest it could
not be proper punishment; and on the
other hand, it 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"
LIKE MAN STRICKEN BLIND
AS Justice Bartlett spoke the prisoners s
face had gradually grown whittier and as
the words, six years, fell on his ears,
his countenance turned pallid. He started
~ ~ " MS Cndlr, Win MS eyes SJlll
closed. AS he felt his way along, like a
man stricken blind by the severity of the
sentence, Sheriff Butling took him
by the arm and helped him into
seat. Then the court room
burst into an uproar. The 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 Butling took his prisoner into a
SIDE room, and kept him there until a
squad of policemen cleared the halls.
Alter that he took him to the sherif's
Office and then to the jail.