The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-17
PHILBIN HAS OPENED THE WAY
JEROME'S FUTURE As DISTRICT
ATTORNEY MADE EASIER.
Philbin's Hands Tied by the Short Time lie
Had to Set His Once TO Rights. but
He Did Much RIA WIN S%trcnsthe
the Position of His Successor.

cicS'ioh oi JUSTICE jerome TO Sue
ceed Eugene A. Philbin as District Attorney
was welcomed last week by those in the
Crimina Courts Euilding-their number il
iew-who reared that the campaign against
police corruption would be brought to an
end by Tammany occupation of the Office.
Among the many Tammany lawyers who
frequent the building the opinion has been
OFTEN expressed that Mr.. Philbin has ac-
complishcd but litt!o To these men It
has been pointed out in some instances
thai 1t has taken Mr.. Philbin almost as long
as II had been predicted 1t would to over
come the inertia of apathy and sympathy
concerning protected vice which charac-
torized the prosecutions machinery when
he took office.
The conviction of Dissert was UNEXPECTED
and first aroused corruption's ranks to the
realization that the inertia was being over
come. They had become convinced that
there was no danger likely 10 result from
prosecution on such a charge of bribery
as that preferred against Bissert by Lena
Schmidt because II was only q few weeks
before that the District Attorney had been
Obliged to drop AZ too weak a similar charge
made against a wardman in the precinct
under command Of Capt. Donohue of the
West Forty-scventh street station. After
the conviction Of Bissert Mr.. Philbin said
that lie had not been NJ all confident of con-
Victing but had decided 10 take what the
Tammany men of the Office called "a
chanot.' After his success in this instance
every possible obstructionist measure
known to the corruptionists was used.
The scheme of the prosecution Of the
police was devised by Assistant District
Attorney Cans, who signalized his APP
pointment by the preparation OF a brief
concerning the duty Of the police and what
punishments the law had In store for
neglect TO do II. After that all of the more
involved and obscure legal issues were
intrusted to Mr.. Gans to make plain and
he has gained a reputation for knowledge
Of the law which Is conceded now by those
who sCoffed at him when he began his
work. He has learned some things in
regard TO the criminal law which were
absolutely new TO him. and to-day he is
considered the best versed of any of the
stan in the peculiar branch in which he
has been working for ten months. He
wi be retained by Justice jerome, as will
the other young men appointed by Mr..
Philbin, whose characters and ability have
created in the Office an atmosphere re-
freshingly different TO that which pre-
vailed in the past.
Nearly all Of Mr.. Philbin's appoint ments
were of young men; those who make up
the remainder of his stat are Tammany
holdovers from Col. Gardeners regime,
some Of whom are not a. energetic and
forceful as Mr.. Philbin would like. He
felt, however, that under the circum-
stances of his appointment he ought not
TO throw out those men who might be held
TO their work by rigid supervision. This
course he followed and it was not long
after his appointment that one Of the best
known members of his staff was caught
asleep in court while the trial OF a case
was In progress and the defendaut's lawyer
was examining a witness. This mans
resignation was requested by Mr.. Philhin,
who finally relented because Of the pleading
Of the culprit. but the incident has acted
a. q warning 10 the rest of the stan, Such
was one 81 the conditions with which Mr..
Philbin had 20 contend. Had he followed
his own desires, unmindful Of the hard
ships which would accrue to but fairly
efficient mel suddenly thrown out Of their
places, he would have discharged almost
the entire staff and filled the Office with
young men of energy. ambition and ability,
like those who are known in the Criminal
Courts Building a. the vice stan Mcrsrs.
Schurman, Garyan, Gans, Inorne, Sand
ford ard Train.
There ara two OF the Tammauy mem
hers Of the stan whom Justice Jeroiu"
will ask 20 remain one Of them D. ASST
tant District Attorney O-borLe who va-
appointed by Col Gardiner and ~" other
II Mr.. GHrvan. appointed hN Mr PulbIu
and the assistant 81 NJ. OshunI" ma ~"
Kennedy and Pituck murder ca~"s Aud
Of Justice Jerpm" Iu that portion ~ he
vio. crusade. which hDgau with 'hr -u-
called Whitney confession regarding tip
ping N puulrpIm- and gambling hou-r-
over polio. NIT.- concerning contemplated
raid. Nj O~borup.r auiIiy 49, o. prps
Ia. N- 49, HALH a fl ID ga