New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-05
NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
RUSSELL FOUND GUILTY.
CONVICTED OF TRYING TO BLACKMA1L
Ex-coRpoRATION COUNSEL jerks.

r,,r ,,,ev WAS OFT ONLY LITTLE OVER TWO
uo,-Rs-PRIsoNER DID HIS OWN SUMMING UP
Edward 7 Russell. the ex-convict who was ar
,ss,od while II was alleged. he was trying 10 oiack
mail Corporation Counsel Alret r. JenKs d. 'ne
office of the latter in the Real Estate LNchse ",
tho evening Of Sunday February g. was to""N
guilty by the jury last night as chsrseo !" '.'e IA
allotment and was sent back to jail to await sen
tencc. o.,r, n
Russell took TO Mr. jerks story purpor,ns ~
n. discovery that witnesses in the suit ior u.oi''
brought against Mr.. jerks by his ioTHei WIZ"
daughter of Bishop Iittlejohn, now WIG VI Wv
Rev. Mr. Bird private secretary 10 ."e '.sn 49,,
we're periurers The manifest cnrct OF 'ne VIZ
affair however. was TO bring TO lie inc "e'a,.' 49,
rounding the separation of Mr.. and Mrs Jenhs sew
eral years ago. Mr.. jerks had TWO oe'es"
hand on the night Russell had visited nm -
after he had given check for SO" 10 nu'Se. , ."
ranned on a table with his cane and the detec'N.S
stenpcd from an outside office and arrested HuSe
r,hn 10, fan 10 the floor the discriminating cheeN'
-,h,cb h. brazenly asserted he had never seen oe-
fore - ,,u ~
The County Court room YESTERDAY W"s va go.
spec,ators as usual. Russell conducted ''e 80
examination OF nearly all the witnesses. i'i"une
49, o,., nd,,ors Of Two New-York newspapers.
pr.s.u endeayored 10 establish foundation io' MS
assertion that ne was engaged in legitimate new"
paper work n; the time OF his arrest ou' " .e
not SUCCEED. His wife and mother were III oo"'''
as usual. and the latters sonctuoe io' "' '''' wa
a pitiful sight ,.n, MANN
.or;n, which contained several intended literary
illusions and many fine words fusse" pio'e'eu
that he had not threatened MI 'ehks nor ue''''i
ed money from him. He said that the oo!ice o'''
GERS were making special eiIort TO MAKE inc "'o''
Of the case He partly broke down before hnish'ns
bis argument but resumed, and Closed apFup'iS
soon aftcrward Mr.. Speiro pleaded strongly loi
the sympathy of the jury. but offered lie" areu-
ments in behalf Of mis- client
District Attorney Backus. ir his argument de-
scribed the prisoner as weil-informeo ana sh'iiu
man. the only one who ever able TO b!ackmah
himself out of prison. Mr. Backus then mace me
following comment newspapers and newspaper
men: ia
What is legitimate newspaper work! ne sall
"Is il 10 keep things confidential ana secret! No'
II is 10 publish them 10 everybody There is "
great disposition on the part CT the press 10 aNo
being beaten; that Is that any paper should come
out one morning with something the others did no.
have They do not like paper 70 beat them 'hiS
way. The suppression Of news is no. he"spdie-
work. That is publication l want 10 ca" your -.
tenton 10 the fact that there Is no sucA prom.
able field for speculation in biackmail @s III new
paper work Clergy men sometimes Put on Inc
Sleeps clothes and disgrace their proiesslon' ~
ministry. and sometime We hear Of t. downfall:
Lawyers intiusted with clients seere,s 10 h1 ,S,
sometimes belray their trust, We hear OF mn
sometimes Bur when 40 you hear OF legitimate
newspaper man charged with blackmallns people.
with taxing money 20 suppress the ruin IL t"o!
did IT, the legitimate newspaper men WOulu hV' ~
around with tnolr heels down: they WouIu ~,
have 10 borrow money when their folks were SICK
or their wives in the hospital. They couid uIeSs
like this defendant and walk about IKE people WIN
living in good style ,...,..
Mr. Backus said further that he had no cfi,leisl
porters were forced TO inquire d private mouse
for news they did not go there 10 suppress lhe
news for money The publication OF the STORY
said Mr. Backus. was the point that con
cerned the jury. but the threatening 10 puosh ior
the purpose OF getting money. .
Mr.. Backus said later to number OF reporters
that his remarks concerning the poverty oil news.
paper reporters were aimed al men VINO are not
Connected with newspapers. but who call them
selves newspaper men and who are sometimes
The jury Went out at 3;l5 and returned win a
verdict OF guilty AT 5.35 with recommendation
for mercy. Mr.. Speiro asked that the verdict be
So, aside and row trial "ranted.. Judge turd
said he would hear argument the motion on
Monday morning Russell was taken back 10 jai.