The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-31
JEROME'S INFLUENCE.
TOughs Make Haste to Move Out of
His NeishborhOOd.
( Commercial Advertiser

New York Commercial Advertiser.
Speaking of District Attorney Jerome and
the house which he has leased at Rutgers
street, one of the influential reformers of
the Fourth Assembly district told of a no
torious pickpocket resort which had been
in existence just around the corner from
Mr.. Jerome'S prospective branch Office, but
which disappeared directly the rumor was
set on foot that Mr. jeremiah" as some
East Siders persist in calling the district
attorney, was going TO live in that locality.
1T was characteristic of the general state
of lawlessness which prevailed here under
the wing Of Tammany's administration,
he said that this resort existed in the
very heart of Rutgers square, directly in
front of the Schiff fountain, and that peo-
pie were robbed in broad daylight without
ahyp0dy DARING so inuch as 10 complain OF
the place to the police The inmates OF the
resort were in politics, of course, and this
enabled them to strip little boys and girls
in the street, TO rob pedestrians of Jewelry,
money to snatch parcels, umbrellas and
even hats without fear of arrest. All that
the pickpccket needed to be sure Of his
safety was to reach the interior of that re-
sort. There he was beyond the reach of the
law.
mo sooner however, had it been stated
that Jerome was going to take up his
abode here than the gang made itself
scarce. | have inquired among the people
of Rutgers square and they all agree that
the bold rObbeTieS which used TO be
daily occurrence there are a thing Of the
lighthouse and gambler in the district
Another resort fourished in the vicinity
of Canal street and Eldrdge. 1t went In
for every phase of crookedness, gambling
speciality. But its proprietor is known in
his profession as a coward, and his conduct
during the last few weeks has borne out his
reputation. He got rid of his business as
fast as he could, but that was not enough
TO restore him to his former peace Of mind.
He saw the ghost of Jerome wherever he
turned. He was sure the district attorney
would have many old score to settle
with him. He talked nothing but Jerome
was continually inquiring about him, asking
questions about his sympathies. whether
he would take pity on a fello~ who prom
iSed to be good, and so forth until his
daughters began 10 feel uneasy about the
state of his mind and took him away to a
sanitarium.
Some of the lawyers Of the Eighth and
Fourth Assembly districts regard the COM
ing of Jerome as anything but windfall
TO their business.
He will settle many cases which would
otherwise drift into our hands, explained
one of these lawyers. "Our only consola-
ton is the hope that he will soon find he
has taken too big a contract His office
will be overcrowded every evening with
people with charges and complaints. The
residents of this section are the most de-
termined litigants on the face of the earth
1t is not without reason that Essex Market
Court is the busiest magistrates court In
town. The only fear they have is the law
yer's fee. Remove this, attend TO them
free of charge, as Jerome expects to do by
virtue of his office, and every man and
woman in the neighborhood will go to law
on the other hand, a private citizen ex-
pressed the opinion that Mr. Jerome's
branch office would prove a welcome safe
guard against the fleeing propensities of
a certain class of East Side lawyers.
THE people around here are so ignorant
and helpless that when they do feel com
PEELED to invoke the interference OF the law
they liable to fall a prey TO all sorts
of legal sharks, particularly those who
hang around the police courts and who
have enjoyed the active protection of Tam
many. Then, too, in many instances inno-
cent people are dragged TO court so as 10
give the Tammany shysters a chance All
this will be remedied by the district attor-
neys branch office.
1.-THE respectable citizens OF Rivington
street collecting evidence regarding a
modern Fagin, who runst a school, or a set
of schools. I'm that neighborhood
He teaches his pupils in broad daylight
said an eyewitness, who expects 10 turn
over his facts TO Mr.. Jerome. Most OF his
students former lighthouses but ne
gives instruction in all the branches OF the
pickpOcket science TO little boys and girls
'as well TO grown-up rogues. To be sure
the dislodged lighthouses form the bulk
OF his clientele, but these corrupt the chill
dren Of the neighboThood by trying TO make
thieves of them just they used TO corrupt
them by pressing them into service as dis
tributors of cards for disreputable houses
Mr.. Jerome will find plenty OF useful work
in the place. Allen street is a pretty clean
street now. but there is still plenty Of dirt
there. and the sooner the reform admins
tratiOn tackles il the better"