New-York tribune., 1903-02-11
PLOT TO KILL JEROME.
BY Il CITIZEN.
Ouerheard Hen Telling of "Chance
to DO HIM at Labor Neefing.

A plot against the life of District Attorney
Jerome indicated in conversation over
heard a recent night near hotel in Broad
way not far from Forty-Gecond-st. The man
who overheard the conversation lives at the
hotel. He standing i'll the shadow of one OF
the entrances at tate hour, getting some of
the night air into his lungs, in the hope that It
would cure his insomnia Four or five men who
had been walking in Broadway passed into the
shadow without Sc aing the man standing there.
and paused to talk in low tones about something
which seemed to be interesting all of them
They were so close the silent man that he
could hear what they said distinctly, but he did
not look at them closely enough to distinguish
their faces. The name of Jerome, coupled with
inlprecati tions and profanity. drew his attention
to the conversation and held him listener for a
minute.
"I wish the -- would fall off the
Brooklyn Bridge and drown himself" remarked
of the men who were talking.
'ThereT he a good chance to do him when
he goes to that labor meeting in Clarendon
Hail. said another. Hes sure to say some
thing to make a few labor leaders Wild ana
if something nasty is flung at him he'll be fool
enough talk out to make the trouble
worse and it will be easy to stir UP riot in
that push. In the excitement there will be
accident and Jerome viii be the man who is
hit. He'll be out of the way in minute, ard
not a gambler policeman will be in sight at
the windup.''
The man who getting night air in his
lungs did not care to listen longer in such
company. He quietly stepped to the hotel en-
trance and walked TO his room without look
ing back. He did not believe at the time
that he had heard anything of Importance.
Later he began think that there might be
2 plot against the District Attorney, who has
been actively engaged in the work of closing
up gambling houses and prosecuting dishonest
policemen He made inquiries and learned that
Mr. Jerome had offered TO attend meeting
of the Central Federated Union at Clarendon
Hall some Sunday and tell some things he knew
about certain labor leaders. Last Sunday at
the regular meeting of the union delegate
from the cigarmakers arose and demanded to
be Informed why Mr.. Jerome had not kept his
promise to appear at a meeting
Three weeks ago added the delegate, ''Mr
Jerome said he would come some Sunday in the
naar future. We want to know how soon We
want to know what ne means by raiding only
the private gambling houses and letting the
public ones alone"
IF Jerome doesn't look out his name will be
on our bulletin board said another delegate.
The mention of the District Attorneys name
seemed TO arouse belligerent feeling at the meet
ing and wrangling among some of the delegates
led one TO threaten to punch the nose of another
It was decided to ask Mr.. Jerome when he would
be able TO attend a meeting of the Central Fed
Grated Union and explain why he said some
labor leaders corrupt
Half q dozen men who looked like walking
delegates and were understood to be committee
of the Central Federated Union, waited awhile
outside the District Attorneys Office yesterday
and then went away, being advised that Mr.
Jerome was too busy to see them before to-day.
Before the delega ton appeared at the District
Attorneys Office, however, Mr. Jerome had been
induced to have a talk with the man who had
overheard the conversation near the hotel in
Broadway The man said he had decided that
if was his duty to tell what he had heard. 1t
might prevent Mr. Jerome from going blindly
into an ambush He knew some gamblers and
was bitter feeling against the official who was
driving some out of business and putting others
out of office or into prison. 1t would be per-
fectly natural he added, for desperate
gamblers or for some policemen who feared
houses. to want to put Mr.. Jerome out of the
way He stipulated that his name should not
be used publicly in letting the plotters know
that their scheme for disposng of Mr Jerome
had been overheard.
Mr. Jerome would not talk about the mans
story last evening, although he did not deny
that ne had listened 20 it. He said he intended
to go a Sunday meeting of the Central
Federated Union he could, and did
not expect TO be attacked a. the meeting.
THE fact is that kept so busy on week
days that ! pretty tired when Sunday
comes" Mr.. Jerome continued "and that is the
ninth