The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-16
BIG FOUR FREE,
Their Years Imprisonment
Remitted But They Must
Pay the $500 Fine.
CHANCELLOR M'GILL PROTESTS
He and Judge Sims Insist Upen
Having Their Objections En-
tered Upon the Records.

The Court of Pardons, by vote of
six to two, this afternoon remitted the
sentence imposed upon Guttenberg's
"Big Four of oEe years imprisonment
in the Hudson County penitentiary and
allowed only the fine of $500 to stand as
the final punishment of the offenders.
The members to vote against the re-
initial were Chancellor A. T. McGill and
Judge Clifford s. Sims.
For the first time in many months all
the members of the court responded to
court consists of Governor Werts, Chan
cellor NGcGill, Judges John Bogert, H. H.
Brown, Gottfried Kreuger, George Smith
Albert Tollman and Clifford S. Sims
The court went into executive session
shortly after ten o'clock Although
there were several applications for the
pardon of prisoners before the court
the only case taken up was that of the
famous sfBig Four" Dennis Mclaughlin,
John C. Carr. Nick Crusius and Gott-
fried Walbaum. At about half-past
and Water Board John F. Madden ap-
peared on the scene to ascertain if pos
sible what disposition had been made of
the case. A half hour later Allan L.
McDermott, counsel for the quartet.
strolled in and appeared very much un-
concerned. At intervals of every few
minutes members of the court left the
conference chamber and held whispered
conversations in the halls.
THE DECISION ANNOUNCED.
At half-past one O'Clock the meeting
room door was thrown open, and it was
at once announced that the sentence of
one years Imprisonment had been re-
mitted. Chancellor McGill and Judge
Sims made the earnest fight to have the
sentence upheld for the sake of law and
order and decency.
In refusing to vote to remit the SEN
tence of imprisonment Chancellor Nc
Gill and Judge Sims insisted upon hav-
ing their views on the subject made
part of the records of the court. This is
what has entered in resolution, "The
sentence of Imprisonment is because OF
their continued maintenance of an in
stitution for their individual gain and
profit at the expense and decentralization
of public morals, and in defiance of all
law and the courts. We, therefore, vote
against any interference with the SEN
tence imposed"
By consent of the other members this
will stand as a part of the records. 1t
was after these expressions by the op-
posing members of the court that the six
members voted away the years impris-
onment and allowed the $500 to stand.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
1t was in 1892 that the Law and Order
League began it's crusadea gainst theGut-
tenberg race track. 1t was in February
and March that Captain Jack Graham
began, making his raids SO numerous.
dered themselves and furnished ball.
The case dragged along. it having been
reported from time to time that the
indicted men would be called for trial
by struck jury.
Considerable surprise was occasiored
when Allan L. McDermott. counsel for
.a1n n
threw them upon the mercy OF
the Court. Justices Lippincott and IIoff-
man, it was reported, insisted upon the
Imprisonment of the defendants, and SO
voted Justices Hudspeth and Kenny
voted for the imposition of fine only.
No decision could be arrived at and
the sentencing of the men was referred
to the Supreme Court. On the morning
of February Is, the accused men were
sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Dix
ON to Imprisonment in the Penitentiary
for year and also to pay a fine of $500.
The case was next carried to the Court
of Errors and Appeals, and only few
days ago the sentence of the lower court
was confirmed.
The court also paroled Henry Reinecke.
Florence Hall, William Ryerson and Ed
ward Wayne. who were sentenced to
State Prison for policy operating. 1t
was Wayne's father who it is alleged
attempted to bribe Judge Hudspeth to
secure his sons release.