New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
GARDINER DENIES FREELY
HIS ANSWER TO DEPUTY ATTORNEY
GENERAL HAMAfOND'S CHARGES A
SERIES OF ST DID NoTs"

Both general and specific denials Of the
charges Of Deputy Attorney-Genera1 John Henry
Hammond are contained in the answer which
District Attorney Also Bird Gardiner filed yes
terday with Governor Roosevelt. The District
Attorney will go to Albany with witnesses to-
morrow morning TO make defence against the
charges at the hearing which the Governor has
appointed to take place there at 1870 o'clock.
In his answer to the Governor the District At
torney declares that nothing has been said
done by him, or omitted to be said or done by
him, or any one connected with his office. with
intent to hinder, delay or obstruct the prosecu-
tion of election offences. but that, on the
trary, he instructed all the members of his pro-
fessional and administrative staff of the said
Office to afford every possible assistance in the
prosecution of cases for violation OF the Election
law, and has never had any reason to believe.
and does not now believe, that those instructions
were not loyalty and faithfully carried out and
with the attention to the public service as
in the conduct of the other criminal business
OF the county,
The District Attorney alleges that Mr.. Ham
mond never asked the District Attorney for his
advice, aid or assistance in the prosecution or
conduct of any case for alleged violation of any
provision Of the Election law, nor has the Dis
trict Attorney been ir<-4.zed that said Ham
mond ever asked the zd2ice, aid or assistance Of
any member of the OCCASIONAL staff of said
District Attorneys offioe in the prosecution or
conduct of any such case but that, on the con-
trary thereof, sale Ez1rnaond deliberately neg
lected to avail himself in such matters of the
experience and professional assistance which the
District Attorneys Office would have willingly
furnished"
In the Lynch case the District Attorney de-
clares that instead of causing delay in the re-
turn of papers on the motion for writ of habeas
corpus his assistants did everything in their
power to aid the Acknowledgements deputy.
Specific denials are made to the charge that
Assistant District Attorneys interfered with Mr..
Hammond in proceedings before the Grand Jury.
The refusal of the District Attorney to permit
Mr.. Hammond to nave blank Grand Jury
subpnnas is accounted for in part by a state
ment that the District Attorney was in great
hurry to keep an appointment in court when
Mr.. Hammond's request was made, and in part
by the statement that long established rule of
the office forbade the giving of subpoenas IN
blank As reason for refusing to let Mr. Ham
mond have witness attendance slips, it is stated
that there is no provision Of law for the use of
such slips, which are a private matter of the
District Attorneys office.
The interference of the District Attorney in
the case Of his librarian, General Charles G.
tion is explained by the statement that General
Bartlett is the retired list Of the Regular
Army, and is a member of the Military Order
of the Loyal Legion.
It is denied that Assistant District Attorney
Unger tried to poison Recorder Goff's mind by
a, remark about of the indictments secured
by the Deputy Attorney General. The District
Attorney declares that his remarks about the
Devery Indictment were intended to express only
his personal view, and the indictment was dis
missed at the request of Deputy Attorney-Gen-
eral Hedges.
The failure to have certain election cases
placed on the calendar is declared to be no fault
Of the District Attorney In conclusion the Dis
trict Attorney declares that his assistants have
tried to aid the Attorney General in the prosecu-
ton of the election cases, mot merely from
sense of obligation of the law, but for the rea-
son that false registration and Illegal voting
strike at the liberties Of republic, and should
be punished promptly and vigorously.