New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-25
SC4NNELL AWAITS TRIAL.
SiStanct

What has become of the Scanneu case! The
former Fire Commissioner is the only one of
the high otficeholders under the Van Wyck adj
nnistration who was actually brought TO face
a criminal charge and the success of District
Attorney Philbin in striking so high among the
men who misgoverned the city and securing
his Indictment was hailed with much satlsiac-
ton. Mr.. Philbin in spite OF the dlfncultes
under which he labored with Tammany III
power, started an impressive procession tow
ard Sing Sing. In the matter of Scanneu ne
and his special assistant Mr.. Ordway, secured
one Indictment which at first the Commissioner
professed great eagerness 10 meet. He or his
lawyers, however soon discovered that a vindi-
cation from jury not so desirable after
ALL and they managed to drag the case through
the summer vacation and then get the indict-
ment dismissed on a technicality. In Novem-
her Mr. Philbin again submitted the testimony
TO the grand jury. and secured new indictments
against Scannell and his friend Marks, who, II
is charged had to be employed q sales agent
by firms wishing 10 secure orders from the Fire
Department.
1t was not possible to bring the case on In De
cember before Mr. Philbin retired. He was
busy trying other important cases, and Scan
nelTs counsel using all his endeavors to
push the trial over into an EZRA of good feel
ing" when Jurors would look indulgently upon
the sins of back number officeholders He could
offer plausible excuse for delay of a month
after Indictment but it expected that Mr..
Jerome would on taking office promptly bring
10 trial this most important 1t is now al
most the first of May. Yet Scannell Is not
brought to trial. nor is there any prospect that
he will be In the near future. He is enjoying
himself as of old, and would-be followers In his
loi,,,x 1>olia hat
political graft is pretty safe, in spite of the
possibility of occasional Indictment. If Sean
nell is guilty he ought TO be sent to State
prison. and the fact that he is now out of Of
fee is absolutely no reason for leniency
delay. 1t is highly important that official mis-
conduct should be punished promptly. The diff
ficulty of conviction is Increased and the bene
fetal teaching of q conviction, if secured, is
diminished by lapse of time.
The District Attorneys office has not since
January been busy with other more impor
tant cases as to warrant forgetfuness of this.
Mr. Jerome has found time to devote much at
tention TO assisting Governor Odell. Mayor Low
and Police Commissioner Partridge in the per-
Torrance of their duties He is now acting
q volunteer prosecutor in trials before the Po-
lice Commissioner, Just If there We're no in
dictments pending which 1t was his own proper
and peculiar function to dispose OF. The Dis
trict Attorneys aid may be highly useful for
good works outside his Office, but his first duty
is in it. 1t is. of course. true that jail cases
must commonly take precedence of bail cases,
but matters involving the conduct of public Of
fee are always entitled to precedence. and
though the inferior staff may be fully employed
on routine business It seems as if Mr.. Jerome
might find a court in which he himself could
bring Scannell to trial. In that way he would
establish his character efficient District
Attorney better than by any amount of activity
as general reformer