The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-10
Through Counsel Ha Prefers
Charges Against Dist. Atty.
ASKS GOVERNOR TO REMOVE,
Oppression and the Unlawful Use sf Z Gen.
sral Sessions Court Subpoena Alleged.
Jerome Not DISTURBED

New York. April 10-charges against
District Attorney Jerome and prayer
for bis removal from office were sent 10
Governor Odell last night by Lawyer
Frederick y. Randolph. counsel for ''Sus-
pender Jack" Niece. against whom he
has preferred charges at police head
quarters OF conduct nnbecoming an officer.
Mr. Jerome is charged with abuse OF
process, oppression and intimidation by
use of his official position. The charges
arose because Mr.. Jerome tried TO get
MeGee, who says he is the original
Rough Rider to pay his wife Sc
week alimony. imposed by mandate of
the supreme court
Mrs. McGee went 20 Mr.. Jerome sew
eral times and complained that she could
not get he money. Mr.. Jerome sent out
"a subpoena for MCGEE, who said that he
would not pay it and would rather give
sl2 "A week to some charity.
Lawyer Randolph appears as the COM
plainant against Mr.. Jerome because
patrolman may not take such action with
out permission OF the police commissioners.
Lawyer Randolph is represented by Law
yer Hyacinthe Ringrose.
Mr. Ringrose says Mr.. Randolph was
brought TO his office at 27l Broadway to-
day by a prominent politician, who had
been a well known city official Mr. Ring
rose would not say whether or not this
man was Tammany man.
Nevertheless IL the facts related in
the complaint were correct. Mr.. Jerome
had used his office to the limit and had
made unlawful use of a general sessions
court subpoena and could be removed for
Ii If the governor so willed.
The charges say that on March 81 Mr..
Jerome 'unlawfully and In violation OF
his oath OF office caused TO be issued "A
subpoena for a witness TO attend the court
OF general sessions In fictitious action.
entitled in the subpoena. The People
against John Doe" That he caused the
subpoena to be served upon John G. Nc
Gee. That no such cause was pending.
That the subpoena was used and served
with the unlawful and oppressive motive
and purpose OF Mr.. Jerome TO 'coerce
and intimidate McGee TO obey an order of
the supreme court entered In civil case
therein and concerning which Mr..
Jerome had no official connection, either
as party or an attorney.
That on April l McGee responded and
was taken to the office OF Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Sanford, where he was
insulted by said assistant and ordered to
obey the order OF the supreme court in
said civil case IN a manner pleasing TO
said William Travers Jerome"
That on April 3 Mr.. Jerome unlaw-
position i'm an unlawful attempt to inter
fere In McGee's affairs. On that date
Lawyer Randolph called upon Mr.. Jerome
10 inquire into the matter. "whereupon
the said William Travers Jerome said TO
the complainant In substance treferring
to said John c. McGee) that unless the
said John c. MCGEE paid his wife her ali
mony he would find some way TO secure
McGee's dismissal from the police force"
That MIR. Jerome on divers occasions
between March 81 and April 10 has "un-
lawfully and oppressively attempted to
secure the dismissal of the said John c.
MCGEE from the police force and has un-
lawfully used his official position as a
means 10 that end"
Wherefore the complainant respect
fully prays that your excellency Will duly
consider said charges and remove said
William Travers Jerome from office"
'The supreme court has ample power
to enforce it's own mandates" said Law
yer Ringrose tonight, "and | am Informed
that Justice Gidersleeve himself denied
motion to punish MCGEE for contempt
of court made by Rosalie Loew, the wom
an lawyer. am also informed that still
another application was dended. do not
know these things but have been credi-
bly, informed. This alimony matter is a
civil proceeding, and IL Jerome is going
to interfere in our civil matrimonial af
come to-
Mr.. Jerome was informed this after
noon that the charges were 10 be sent.
He did not appear TO be seriously dis
turbed He said "McGee's wife came
to me with a complaint that her hus-
band had not complied with the order of
the court directing him to- pay her 81 n
week I sent for him. lie came up here
and told meaall about himself and wanted
to tell me about Mrs. McGce. l told him
II he didn't pay. charges would be pre-
ferred against him and that was done. |
understand that this afternoon he accused
me OF oppression, alleging that he had
been brought TO my Office by a subpoena
as witness I'm criminal case. Wen,
IL Is a crime 20 disobey an order from the
supreme court | think policemen ought
to respect orders of the supreme court"
Suspender Jack was before Deputy Police
Commissioner Thurston today TO explain
why he had not paid the alimony. Assist
ant District Attorney Sanford advised Mr..
Thurston McGees counsel complained
that District Attorney Jerome had told
McGee that he would have TO pay or get
off the force. Mr. Sanfords presence
counsel said, was evidence that the dis
trict attorney was pushing the case. Mr.
Thurston said that he himself had asked
Mr. Sanford To come up.
McGee, after much hedging. promised
to begin payments on May and the case
was put over To May y