The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-13
GETS NINETY DAYS
"COFFEE JOHN" FITcHETTE CIV
EN- THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
BY JUDGE SIMPSON
HE MAKES A SPEECH
THAT PLEASES THE CROWD
jolly Captain Says That the Jury Has
Convicted an Innocent Man-WiII
Consider Taking an Appeal to the
Supreme Court-Judge's Significant
Remarks.

Police Captain John Fitchette was
yesterday morning sentenced by Judge
Simpson. He was given the limit as
provided by the statute, ninety days
in the wOrkhouse.
Capt. Fitchette was found guilty Fri
day evening by a jury who were out
tribe over an hour of the crime of
receiving a gratuity or reward for
securing the appointment to a public
office of one John Long.
A stay of thirty days was granted
to allow time to argue motion for a
new trial and carry the matter up to
the supreme court, should the motion
be denied. He was released on bond
of $1,000, the same suretieS who ap-
peared for him, Leonard Paulle and W.
5. Conrad, being satisfactory, the orig
inal bond was renewed.
Coffee john" the nom de plume by
which Capt. Fitchette is known,is moth
ing if not unique. After he had been
asked the usual question as, to wheth-'
er he had anything to say why SEN
tence should not be passed at this
time, and his attorney had reIS;ed in
the negative, the jolly captain" Sc
cured the floor, and in one of his usual
impromptu speeches ne complimented
the county attorney on the manner in.
which he prosecuted the case, and
also thanked the judge for the per-
fectly fair and impartial manner in
which the trial was conducted, and
concluded his remarks by saying that
the case was clean-cut and Satisfac-
tory to him."
Judges Significant Words.
Before passing sentence Judge Simp-
son took occasion to remark that this
was an offense which could be COM
mitted under varying circumstances.
The facts as revealed in the case tend
ed to show that there had been in OPP
Grafton a system of collecting money
from various police officials and under
these circumstances this must be con-
s1dered a very serious Offense, in fact,
much more serious than some crimes
for which heavier penalties are inflict-
ed 1t would, If persisted in, result in
time in the decentralization of the en-
tire police department
The only thing in the case that tend
ed to help the defendant was that the
men who were associated with the de-
PENDANT in this system were not on
trial for the same offense. The de-
PENDANT could not alone carry out this
system; he must of needs have assist
ance from others. No one else was on
trial, however, and sentence must be
passed upon him alone. The court also
referred to the fact that Capt Fitch
cites position as police captain be-
came vacant on this conviction, ac-
cording to law, but said that this was
out Of his province. The facts revealed
at the trial warranted the court in Civ
Ing him the extreme limit of the pen
atty, and it was then pronounced
Took Sentence CooIly.
Coffee Johns" wife was in court
with him at the time sentence was pro-
nounced. She made no demonstration
whatever, and the captain, barring his
INN oTNfI1 i
himself with his usual composure.
When seen after the ordeal he said
that he did not know just what he
would do. 1t would cost considerable
to carry the case up to the supreme
court, and in his present poverty
stricken condition he did not feel like
appealing to his friends to help him
out of the quandary, and suggested that
1t might be the part of wisdom for him
TO commence serving his sentence at
once, and thereby save himself and
friends considerable ANNOYANCE
There is considerable speculation as
to what the outcome will be if Capt.
F1tchette goes to the workhouse, as
ne and Supt. Mcdonald. of that in
stitutfon, are both very quick tenn
pered, and should there be a clash at
the works the fur would literally
fly.
Capt Fitchette says if he has to go
70 the Workhouse he Will do so decent
ly and in order, and will be a model
prisoner while member of that insti-
tuition. He claims that it is all a mis-
take, as he positively did not receive
the money in any manner from "Davy''
Johnson, but some one had to be con-
victed, so it might as we'll be him as
anybody else. He also AYERS that he
does not claim to be an angel" but
no one can say that in all his dealings
he has not been honest. He concluded
by saying that the jury had convicted
an i0OOcaOt mon