New-York tribune., 1909-02-25

FISCHER -HANSEN IS SEN
TENCED TO ONE YEAR.
Trial Stopped By Unexpected Infor-
matiOn-L00k for Another
14rreSt IN Case.

Carl Fischer Hansen, the lawyer who has
been on trial for bribing witness Unexpectedly
pleaded guilty late yesterday afternoon 10 an
attempt to bribe a witness before Justice DOW
ling, who almost Immediately sentenced the
lawyer TO twelve months in the penitentiary on
BlackwelFs Island. Execution of sentence was
suspended for week TO give the prisoner an
opportunity to wind up his business affaifs- An
other arrest in the case is expected this morning
Before the plea of guilty was entered stephen
c. Baldwin. counsel for Fischer Hansen. had
said that it would be impossible for him to
continue in the case, and Justice Downing hau
adjourned court twice
When it was decided to allow plea of guilty
on the minor charge to be entertained, MI
Baldwin addressed the court at O'Clock. In
the courtroom with Fischer Hansen were Alex
ander Michaelson, the latter's partner, and
George Gordon Battle The roll OF the jury
was called and Mr. Baldwin then said:
u have been directed by my client, Carl
Fischer Hansen. TO withdraw the plea OF not
guilty to bribing a witness. and to enter plea
Of guilty to attempting bribe witness He
desires to say that this substituted plea does
not in any way implcate Michaelson, who is
absolutely innocent in this affair. We ask 10
have sentence pronounced tonight"
The usual questions were then put to the law
yer and he made his formal plea.
Il do not want TO say anything that will add
TO the defendants plight" Justice Dowling SAID
when he began to pronounce sentence IN the
early hours of the morning information reached
the state that would seem to make it best for
this plea to be entered, a plea commensurate
with the crime
1T is a sad spectacle TO see a career thus
ended. but the one victim of this whole trial
x1r{tn X
whose life has been ruined because of his con-
naction with this defendant. 1t is in my mind
that further perjury has been avoided by this
course.
ITO the defendant the necessary consequences
are disbarment which means the loss of his
means of livelihood so for that reason am not
disposed to infict the full penalty for this Of
fence Nor am l inclined TO suspend sentence
although l have been asked to do So ] will
grant stay eff execution of sentence for one
week TO give this prisoner time to adjust his
private and personal affairs"
After Fischer-Hansen had received his SEN
tence Justice Bowling turned and thanked the
iurv. The state feels indebted to you" he said,
for YOUR services, which has meant to at least
one of YOU physical pain, and must have caused
all of you considerable disgust"
District Attorney jerome said after court
had closed that when the trial had been in
progress several days letter was received from
Southern state and on Washington's Birth
day Assistant District Attorney Howe. who vas
in washington investigated the story OF the
writer. The District Attorney gained much val
uabie information concerning the defence.
Then followed another conference In the
courts chambers, at which a stenographer was
nresent In talking with Justice Dowling Mr.
baldwin decided that it would be against the
ethics of his profession to continue in the case,
hut as he did not wish to prejudice his client by
anpearfng TO desert him he argued for a mitiga-
tion of the penalty if Fischer Hansen made an
immediate plea. The District Attorney was
willing 20 substitute g charge Of attempting 10
brihe for the charge of actual bribery, and then
Fischer Hansen who had been haggling over the
terms he might get assented. No promises were
made but the sentence he received was the
minimum prescribed by law, although It's terms
nrevent him from getting any communication of
sentence for good behavior. A years sentence
generally carries with it two months comTnuta-
ton for good behavior.
Fischer Hansen is son-in-aw Of Isaac v
Rrokaw, but when the lawyer was last indicted
wav Mrs Fischer Hansen also announced that
she would sue for a legal separation. Anson Nc
Cook Beard counsel for the Brokaws, was in
court Yesterday and saw Fischer Hansen in the
af4aruoon Mr. Jerome said that the lawyer
ms not in court to ask for clemency but To help
in The settlement Of Fischer -Hansen's business
affairs.