New-York tribune., 1903-05-28
JUDGE LETS WILSON OFF.
JEROME OBJECTS T-4TNLT.
Don't JuggIe mith Justice. He
.Saus to Judge Foster.

There was 2 clash between District Attorney
Jerome and Judge Foster in the Court OF cen
ersl Sessions yesterday when Henry { WILSON,
>,-,-ic+e5 five weeks ago Of attempted extor-
lion was arraigned for sentence wilson for-
r-7erlv was chief clerk in the engineering oe-
ps---7ent in the ArIny Building. and was caught
ing ~ extor1 81. 500 from contractor for the
,,.. Of government boats which had been lent TO
-. cttv 10 convey ashes TO RikeT's Island
.@-.- ,,. conviction his counsel moved for a
nan -riz1 or the ground that the Court Of Cen
e-z1 Sessions did not have jurisdiction IN case
q, which the alleged offender was federal ON
-fzr The motion was argued before Judge Fos-
ter Instead Of giving decision on the motion
yesterday. Judge Foster said he would near
counsel Oh the question Of sentence lntl111ar'hs
-hs- : happv solution Of the question would De
q suspension Of sentence
District Attorney Jerome opposed the ioea OF
x-antinc clemency TO the prisoner. He said
wilson was au the worse CRATER" because ne
had held an official position and was man O.
good education and position
Jndsa Foster thought Wilson morally guilty,
r,,+ i,ssrruch as he would not have been able to
.x1o-4 money II he had not held a government
r,osi-iou there was grave doubt # his CONVICTION
An env court except federal court would stand
L think" he continued, that the best tnns
can do Is 10 suspend sentence.
This strikes me as z most extraordinary prop
osjttor" said Mr. Jerome The prisoner staaos
AZ the bar as a convicted felon. yet you say Ne
t.z committed no crime that this court should
punish him for. and yet you proceed to pass
Judgment in the form of a suspended sentence
You are mistaken" said Judge Foster l
believe that he has violated both the laws OF the
state and ot the federal government but he has
lost his reputation and his position, ana has
leen punished severely IN suffering a severe
humiliation It IS best &c suspend sentence -
Nr. Jerome interrupted Judge Foster TO gay
that there had been 10 decision or the lroloh
,,7-5e l71y wilson's counsel and the District At
+o-1sv Ta6 1be right 20 knoz what the decision
Of rhe motion was. Judge Foster SAID that ne
understood that the motion was EFIthoraHn MI
Beck. OF Wilson'S counsel salo thaL s IN t.ew @
Of the intiuaation that sentence ~ouio oe sus-
r,spded the motion was withdrawn M. jerome
then asked Wilson's counsel:
Are you willing 70 let your cien1 90 . 1oIIn 70
-hA world IS a convicted felon- after declaring
IN support Of your motion that his conFlctlon
vas ilegal2 . .. .
-orney for our professional conduct said Nj
Beck -. 80
fronts YOU" said Mr. Jerome. turning again 10
Judge Foster This defendant now stands BE-
fore y-ou as q man willing TO leo the stigma OF
> thief rest upon him II is plain that ne oe-
.-1-ge e1,1s+sr+ia1 T1IIuishuaert To suspend sen
ter1ce would be q travesty OF justice Can "S
monkey with law and order? II you oeLeVe @ tn-S
way would be to dismiss the Indictment Don't
5uEgle with Justice
Judge Foster said he did not like TO diner with with
the District Atfornev but he would suspend
sentence and parole the prisoner in the CUSTODY
of the Prison Aid Association Nj jerome
walked cut of court without another word. VIII
son viii have 70 report regularly 10 Nj Rim
ball. the agent Of the association, but ne Il
practically a free man in spite OF his cohFlc-
ton
We can DO nothing mora in the case, Nj
Jerome said last evening 7 differ from Judge
Foster first. because his expressed bellef that
+he court did not have jurisdiction Is II conrl,ct
with passing Judgment in the form Of a sus-
pended sentence. He should have either heio
that the court had jurisdiction or he shoulC
T7--a ,sse--s-s-u the in1lCLI-1or7-. differ with
slfII, secondly. because I believe II q mis-
carriage Of justice TO let mean thief like WI
son 20 without severe punishment There Is no
rreaner form CT theft than blackr11iL W ny
should z government official wlo tried TO ex-
tort money from a contractor 90 free when &
Policeman who EFFORTS money from a fallen
woman IS sent 70 prison2 The government Of
fetal is IS bad as the policeman when he stoops
10 blacEmai.