New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-24
PRlVATFHELP FOR JEROME
WEALTHY MEN OFFER TO GIVE HIN
MONEY TO SPEND FOR GEL
TING EVIDENCE.

District Attorney Jerome announced yesterday
that ne would not be compelled to abandon ms
work of purifying the Police Department anu
closing I'D gambling houses and dens OF VICE
Wealthy and public spirited men, whose names
he would not make public. he said had VoIuh-
teered 20 supply the money needed for expenses
AN offer was made TO last night, ne
said ''of any sum of money in reason that !
desired for carrying on the work OF obtaining
evidence This offer came from private sources
ms did an offer to put UP bond to protect the
Controller in any expense bills paid by MIN
should be disputed and not sustained ny the
Court of Appeals. / can get all the money
want"
In letter to Controller Grout yesterday MI
Jerome wrote in urging the Controller TO pay
the expense bills:
fcer OF the city you under great responsibility
Snd obligation. and would not urge upon you ti1e
danger Of financial loss. Several gentlemen OF the
highest standing in the hnancaI + @9rlu o bond Of
Indemnity in such amount as you In1snt ueen ~
PIespponsiSity that might devolve upon you from
p agiiis IL 50 high in the world of finance that
there is which you may mention that tneiI
names not entirely adequate security Ior'
Mr. Jerorne's letter to the Controller was
formal reply TO the letter sent by Mr. Orout Oh
Tuesday in reference to the bill Of County De-
dence Of Sunday violations Of the law in saloons
Sin Police Captain Foody's precinct. Some per-
SONS have expressed surprise that one detective
could spend S54 for drinks in saloons on 1ouf
Sundays in March, but it has been explained aI
the District Attorneys office that Mcclellan
bill included the spent by all the olhef oe-
receives who were getting evidence IN roouE
precinct In his letter yesterday MI. Jerome
kaid the evidence obtained might be USED against
Foody before the grand jury, as Wen as peio1e
sne Police Commissioner. He declared that the
only way TO get evidence was 10 spenu iiioA1''
and he quoted several decisions of the courts TO
~hou, that detectives who got evidence in that
NAV WERE not making themselves acconphces or
tmpairing the value of their testimony as VII
nesses His letter continued:
As vou are doubtless aware, the racing season IN
the East has Just begun The result OF TINS Is t4a
Eew-York This is one OF the most pernicious forms
OF gambling with which am aGqqaI ber am in the
community. In my experience as d HuoSG 1a 90
nave of criminal business in the Court of General
sessions / find that many OF the petty oelaIcalotts
Commercial houses due to the employees Play Play
ing the races in The p0oTo1s oonv is os be
had against the keeper of poolroom, except ps
Inc ,pa borseraces in these rooms. Also, at this
of the year and through me sqs bo f'1r
,lish large patronage 10 the gamollhs houses oi
the city. - sd
From reports that have received l am satisned
that many if not all of the principal garnbllng
houses In The city are now open and doing business
j know of no way in which evidence may oe pro
cured against these except by persons getting IN
who can make bets the gambling games ana
SO obtain the evidence which it is essential to have
in order to secure convictions
has charged for many years IN the puphc
prints of this city that the police were leVylng
blackrnal upon keepers Of poolrooms. gamblns
houses and disorderly houses, and the present ad-
uinistrafion has pledged itself through It's ON.
GERS 10 do all in its power for the destruction OF
This inouitous system. These allegations OF the
public prints ! believe TO be true L have, from
time to time, had much evidence in my pos
eession on this subject that my belief is founded
on more than mere newspaper allegations and yet.
unless evidence be obtained in the way have
indicated against these places It will be Impossible
10 uroceed against any captain for neglect OF duty
IN SURPRISING them. for if /. District Attorney
of the county, may not spend money out of my con-
tingenr fund 10 obtain this evidence, surely sub
ordinate officers OF the Police Department cannot
be vested with more power.