The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-23

SEVERE. BLOW
TO JEROME.
Comptroller VIII Not Pty Bills
fa Obtaining Evidence.
MUST SUSPEND ALL WORK.
ID tho Direction Of Detecting Illegal Liquor
Selling and the caTyiag on sf Gambling.
6roufs Letter.
MUST SUSPEND ALL WORK

notified District Attorney jerome yester-
day that, despite the opinion OF Corpora
y tion Counsel Rives. that money spent TO
obtain evidence against liquor dealers and
gamblers Is n proper city charge. he will
not pay such bills unless bv order OF d
court
Mr.. Grout told reporter tina. this de-
cision applied TO 'he police force as well
as TO the county detectives. The letter
was the result OF bill from County De-
tective Mcclellan for $5i for drinks bought
In obtaining liquor evidence In Capt.
Foody's district. Mr.. Jerome said:
I'm my judgment the comptroler's de-
cision is the greatest blow that has ever
been dealt TO order ard decency in this
community. and IL persisted I'm will rem
der the system OF Dlackmail heretofore
existing absolutely impossible OF sdestruc-
tion or OF being interfered with mate
rally.
The result OF this action OF the comp
troller I'm the face OF the opinion Of the
corporation counsel rendsrs IL necessary
that j should Immediately suspend all
work looking 10 the detection OF violation
Of the liqaor laws, gambling laws and
disorderly house laws. IL also practi-
obtaining evidence In gambling or disor-
derly house cases. This office is too
much occupied with seeking TO punish
criminals. both in and out OF the police
department. TO have any time or money
TO spend IN itiSation against the city Of
New York.
CURED by county detectives, in order TO
secure evidence OF criminal wrong doing,
VIII, OF course, pay myself. These SER
vices were rendered az my direction
In his letter TO the district attorney Mr..
Grout said: II have bill from County
Detective, Mcclellan for some $54 for
LIQUORS claimed 70 have been purchased
cerning which the law department. has
advised me that II is proper city charge.
! have given the claimant the usual no.
uce 10 appear before me for examination.
1 desire 10 know the full faces. they
can be learned only by such examination.
1T is but fair TO say 10 you that. not
withstanding the opinion Of the law de-
partment l am not disposed TO believe
that public funds can properly be cx-
pended in the purchase Of liquor. or
gambling chips. or In anywise TO procure
a person TO commit an offence. and that
only an order of court Will compel me 10
make such payments. fr
expenditure of public money TO detect
crime. but / think that there Is broad
and substantial distinction between the
spending of public money necessary to
detect crime and the spending OF money
10 induce the specific offence. Concern
ing McLellan's bill can speak more
clearly after examination"
Commenting on this letter, Mr.. Jerome
said that the courts hold that a person
who buys liquor TO get evidence Is not
an accomplice. He can get the money
needed from private sources. IL neces-
sary. but this would enable him to sup
press only temporarily the evils aimed at
But the most serious phase OF the mat
ter he puts thus
bv the comptroller. as applicable to my
office. applies equally 10 the police de,
partment. II i am correct In this
cannot see how there can be any further
proceedings taken by the police to check
selling against the law and disorderly
houses.
'As far as the captains are concerned
they would have a perfect defence when
crimes, as they could not get evidence
without spending money. and no duty
devolves upon police captains TO spend
money ont OF their own pockets with
the ultimate possibility of recovering IL
again BY suits against the citv.'
When told OF Mr.. Jerome's remarks
concerning his letter. Mr.. Grout said;
'If the district attorney will mandamus
me he can have an opinion from the an
nellate division by the second week in
June. II his idea OF length OF procedure
in criminal cases comedies with what he
evidently thinks u Is In civil cases his
calendars will not be much diminished
'T cannot heip II if my decision pre,,
vents the destruction OF the blackmati
system 7 am obevinv the law as ] nm
tho courts sustain me. there Is the rem
edy OF legislative action. Y do not think
that he IL very SIRE OF his position or
else he would 40 TO the courts the
offences he seeks to discover arc of SUCH
character and so secret that he has 10
spend money 10 get men TO commit them
IN order 20 obtain evidence. 7 don't think
they are quite so serious as he thinks