AMERICAN MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 4 September 1907, Page 4

AMERICAN MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION.

AN EXTRAORDINARY SCENE. HOW MAYOR SCHMITZ, OP SAN FRANCISCO RECEIVED. HIS SENTENCE. An extraordinary Bcene occurred iu Judge Dimne s court-room at San Fraucisco on the Blh July, when Mayor Schmitz, convicted of extortion, was ordered to the bar tor sentence. After denying a motion in arrest of judgment by Mr Sehniitz's counsel, Judge ilunue turned to the prisoner, who had risen, and after describing some of the circumstances of his conviction proceeded to say:—

"You have heretofore occupied tho highest office which the City of San Francisco can confer on one of its citizens. You were elevated to that position because of the confidence and trust reposed in you by the mass of the " At this point Mayor Schmitz interrupted in loud~and defiant tones: "I am here to receive sentence at your hands—and not to be humiliated by a lecture which the newspapers can repeat in print." Paying no attention to the interruption, Judge Dunne resumed: "You were elevated to that position, I say, because of the confidence and trust reposed in you " He was now interrupted by Mayor Sehniitz's attorney, whom he threatened with punishment for contempt. After listening to a rebuke from the attorney he again turned to Mayor Schmitz and proceeded! "You were elevated to that position because of the confidence and great trust reposed in you by the mass of the people. You have by your wilful criminal act, so a jury of your fellow citizens has declared, broken that confidence and betrayed that trust." Here Mayor Schmitz spoke up again, protesting against the "lecture" the Court was imposing. Judge Dunne took no notice, but continued: "Therefore it may be said that the penalty which the law permits in this case is insufficient to meet the demands of justice. It may be suggested, however, that by your conviction you will lose the respect and esteem of all good citizens and men; that you will sufTer the humiliation of knowing that your career of hypocrisy, duplicity, and dishonor "

At this point Mayor Schniitz once more interrupted, exclaiming: "I stand here as an American citizen to' demand my rights. I'm not asking any leniency at the hand 3 of the court. lam prepared to receive sentence. X ask that your Honor do your duty and pronounce it immediately, and that I jo not subjected to humiliation and degrading remarks that the papers are copying and will print. 1 say if you Honor has any self-respect you will proceed with the sentence."

Having paused for the interruption, Judge Dunne again resumed his speech jfroni the bench:

"It is not unusual for courts to be , brought into contact with such brazen ( acts of effrontery as yours in the pre- , sent instance. It ft the duty of the court in such cases to view the conduct of a convicted felon with patience and toleration, not to say pity. By your conviction you will lose the respect and esteem of all good men and citizens. You will suffer the humiliation of knowing, I say, that your career of hypocrisy, duplicity and dishonor has been exposed, and that you stand before those wno believed in and honored you, morally naked, shamed and disgraced." Once more Mayor Scmnitz broke in. This time he said: "I deny that. The people of San Francsico know how I was railroaded through." Again the Judge: "It is the knowledge of these things rather than in any mere term of imprisonment in a State penitentiary that the full measure of your punishment will he found. It is the judgment of thisc ourt that you lie confined in the State prfson at San Qucnlin for a term of five yeara."/

As the penalty of five years* imprisonment was imposed, the crowd in the court room cheered loudly. After the sentence Mayor Schnutz published this statement:'•'The court wherein 1 received my sentence lor the charge of extortion again demonstrates, and more clearly than anything else that it has heretofore done a charge 1 made upon my immediate return from the Jiast, that Judge Dunne was prejudiced agaiust me, and that it was impossible to secure i.i his court a fair trial The animus that he has treasured in his heart for some

lime came clearly and positively to the surface this morning. i have never asked for leniency, but I have expected, a* every American citizen has the right -to expect, justice. 1 ask the people to withhold their final judgment in this matter until the iniquitous proceedings which have been hold in Judge Dunne's court since the beginning oi my trial, shall be brought before the highest court. I have never asked for mercy, and before a court where I did receive a fair trial 1 certainly did not expect it. I intend not only to fight this case step by step, but ail the charges that have been brought against me, and with the knowledge in my own conscience of my entire innocence, 1 expect to be successful in the contest. 1 now repeat what 1 have stated already, that 1 will be a candidate for Mayor of the City of San Francisco this Fall, when the people of San Francisco will have an opportunity by their votes of demonstrating whether they believe me guilty or innocent. The people are always right. lam satisfied to leave my case with them."