New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-07
CLAICHE GIRL GUILTY.
PLEA or MANSLAUGHTER.
Nay Earn Light Sentence By Er-
posing Police Corruption.

Berthe Claiche pleaded guilty TO nanslaughter
in the first degree the resumption of her trial
| before Justice Davis. in the Supreme Court yes
| terday. Her action a surprise. as it
| was expected that she would go on the stand
! In her own defence to the charge Of numbering
Emil Gendron last summer She was remanded
for sentence until March 20. and an adjournment
| of the court to that date was taken
Following a conference between Justice Davis
and counsel the defendant was called to the
| bar. She was weak and sobbing and had to
| be aided by her counsel.
Berthe Claiche do you not withdraw your
plea of not guilty to the charge of murder in
the first degree and plead guilty manslaughter
| in the first degree" asked the court clerk
| The defendant sobbed out. Yes" and immedi-
ately fell to the floor. She grew hystericsl and
shrieked out, "Ohi my mamma, my mamma
L shall never my mamma again on this
earth"
Still crying wildly, she was carried to the
Tombs A physician was summoned, and after
considerable work succeeded in reviving her
When she regained her senses. she begged for
her mother vehemently that Mrs. Deon was
finally sent for. Her mother quieted her after
being with her daughter more than an hour.
No one in the District Attorneys office would
discuss the possible outcome of the case but il
is freely admitted that she will be called upon
mating the police of the Tenderloin district. It
is no secret that District Attorney Jerome Is
determined to investigate with the aid of Berthe
Claiche. the relations of the Tenderlon and
West 47th street station police with the dis
solute women of those precincts.
Abraham Levy counsel for the defendant.
admitted that the girl will tell all she knows in
that respect The March grand jury Will prob
ably hear her story on Monday.
After the girls dramatic confession OF her
guilt and when order was finally restored in the
courtroom Justice Davis addressed the jury as
follows:
Gentlemen of the jury: The defendant having
withdrawn her plea of not guilty and having in
terposed plea OF manslaughter in the first de-
gree that ends your connection with this case.
There are many features of the case which in
duced the court to accept and the defendant to
offer the plea OF manslaughter in the first de-
gree; and think when the final results shall
have been reached and sentence imposed the
court will see that the interests of justice will
be served. You are discharged, with the thanks
of the court for your very patient and careful
attention during this trial
After the adjournment Mr.. Levy said that al
though the maximum penalty is twenty years
he knew the defendant would not get It. He
would give no reasons for his statement but
said he was sure that the sentence will be very
favorable TO the defendant"
Later he and his associate. ex-Judge Rosalsky,
gave out a statement which said. in part:
The assurance of the court in dscharging the
jury that II would in finally disposng of the
matter satisfy the public we'll as clemently
consider the defendants interests should be
enough to assure the public that counsel took
the step only after careful consideration
We believe that we have lived in our conduct
OF the case, up 10 the highest ideals of the pro-
fession.
We had no other matter 10 consider except
the veal OF our client This, we believe we have
done
When the prisoner called to the bar Mr.
Jerome addressed the court as follows:
have come from conference with counsel for
the defendant, and am informed that she is pre-
pared TO withdraw her plea of not guilty and
VIII interpose plea of guilty to manslaughter
IN the first degree TO this Indictment recon-
mend that such plea be taken, and If II he of
Tered and taken 1 suggest that the term of this
court be adjourned to some future date when
sentence may be imposed and such mat ars i'm
litigation be laid before the court as NAV be
proper
His reference to ''such matters In litigation is
taken to mean that an investigation will be made
into the police conditions in the Tenderloin