The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-12
COFFEE JOHN
GETS LIMl'
The Convicted Police Captain
Sentenced to 90 Days
Straight.
He Says He Is Poor and
May Not Ap-
peal.

In Judge Simpsons court this morning
Police Captain John Fitchetts, better
known as Coffee John, was given the ex-
treme penalty Of the law-nin ETY. days
straight in the workhouse.
Judge Simpson first imposed a sentence
OF ninety days and fine of $780, Upon
the suggestion of County Attorney Board
man that the law provided for a fine or
imprisonment, the court amended the SEN
tence. .-.. '..1 +. '.a.# .s asf5.s
A stay of proceedings for thirty days
was granted and Police Captain Fitchette
will not commence his sentence at once. 1t
= was announced by Attorney Freeman p
Lane for the defense that at the end OF
a stay a motion for a new trial would be
made with a view to taking an appeal to
the supreme court. l.. |sls,.tzl.
= Captain Fitchette sustained his repu-
tation as humorist In the midst of try
ing circumstances. After his attorney
had stated that he, knew of no reason
why sentence should not be passed, the
captain made one of those delicate, i'm.
promptu speeches in which he compli-
mented the county attorney upon his
work, and also the court for the fair
trial which had been given him. He said
in the exuberance of his feelings that
the cease was clean cut and satisfactory
to him ..-.>> ..ss-s
This remark caused litter Of amuse-
ment to pass through the court room.
. -.- The Courts Comment.
Judge Simpson, previous to passing SEN
tence, said that the defendant, having
committed the offense of receiving re-
ward and having been convicted, he
wished to say that this was an offense
which could be committed under varying
circumstances. The facts as revealed
in this case tended to show that
been = employed from various police
officials, and under - these circum-
stances this must be considered a very
serious offense. 1t would result, If per-,
sisted il Systematically, in the entire
decentralization of the police department.
The only thing in this case that tended to.
help tho defendant was that the men who.
were associated with him in this system
were not on trial for the same offense. p
The defendant could not carry on this
system without the assistance of, those
associated with him. No one else was
on trial, however, and the sentence must
be passed upon the defendant alone;
sThe5court also referred to the fact that
Captain FitchetTe's position as polieefeap-s
}tain .s5seane vacan4 on his conyiction,,
according to the law. hut. said this was.
outside his preyiRee; He, said that he felt
= that the facts, as revealed In a the, trial,
justified the imposition of the extreme
!. penalty and he would therefore sentence
the defendant to ninety days in the
.fworkhouse and to; pay an additional fine
of $100, and upon failure to pay this fine,
an additional thirty days in the work
shouse. f,-'. r r-~s...~, Z -. s =
A Stay Is Asked. -; .5-z..~ ~.
Attorney Freeman P. Lane then made
his motion for a stay of thirty days, the
present bond of, $1,000 TO be renewed and
the defendant to be released on bail. z ;
In this connection he said that Captain
Fitchette had never attempted; to run
away and that the bond was suficient to
protect the state. So. =, .;--.,s.s ~s.-t.
The motion was not opposed by County
Attorney Boardman and the stay was
granted. It's expected the motion for a
new trial vii come up in August. = :.
County Attorney Boardman then called
the attention of the eourtsto the fact that
the sentence exceeded the limits of the.
law and Judge Simpson amended 1t max.
ing it ninety days straight. 80 -
2 During the proceedings Coffee John .
maintained his composure, and except for
the break in his speech before the court,
APPARENTLY received what he expected. He
. was, accompanied in court by his wife,
who was somewhat nervous and who
lowered her eyes to the roses at her belt
during the proceedings. -: -
- Following sentence, CAPTAIN Fitchette
renewed his bond and was released on
bail. tsk ( = = :.5- r -" 8:
He May Not Appeal. <:f.
Captain Fitchette declares that he is all
at sea and doesn't know what course he
will take, He still pleads poverty and
says he would certainly appeal his case
to the supreme court but for the fact
that he hates to distress his friends again
a. =. ~.
In view of his inability to raise the neces-
sary money himself, bis present impulse
is to take the sentence as final and HE
him to the workhouse. = :, =:
Pending an appeal to the supreme court,
Fitchette can still cont inue on the force
and draw his 500 per month for doing
nothing, and by this course probably get
MORN" King, upon conviction, promptly
resigned. This was quite unnecessary
action from legal point of view. The
city attorney rules that q, police officer is
privileged to remain on the force after
conviction in the district court pending
q supreme court decision. :
The disposition q of Coffee Johns"
famous gold and diamond star in the
event of his leaving the force has not
been settled. .
If Captain Fitchette decides to seek
the hospitality of the workhouse, the
there will be a serious one. Can Captain
Fitchette and Al Mcdonald, the gingery
euperint ntendent OF the institution, live
for that length of time on the same forty
acre lot? Those who know both men and
are conversant with their personal rela-
tions say their conjunction under such
circumstances would certainly cause the
fur to fly all over that section.
The superintendent, on his part, is said
TO dread the ordeal. Ss&
THE VERDICT HANDED IN
The Convicted Man Heard 1t with