New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-23
BRIBERY FUND $4,000
GRAND JURY SO FINDS.
Spent in albany in Shocking" Way
to Bride Legislators.

District Attorney Jerone's investigation Of the
| bribery fund Of about $4,000 which was raised
| by the liquor dealers of this city last winter
resulted yesterday in a presentment by the
grand jury, declaring that most of the fund was
spent at Albany in AN appalling and shocking
way to corrupt members Of the legislature and
officials Of a State department As the bribery
was not committed in New-York County. the
grand jury declares that it cannot indict any
BODY, but IT asks to have its prese1.tment and
the evidence on which 1t is based sent to the
Governor and the legislature at the beginning
Of the coming session.
Liquor dealers who contributed to the fund
to influence excise legislation and wanted TO get
their money back later will have to wait awhile
Tor information as to how the fund was spent
The evidence-175 pages of it-taken by the
grand jury is not to be made public by Mr. Je-
rome, and It will rest with the authorities at
Albany to determine II there shall be a pubIica-
ton Of the record before the grand Jury After
the presentment was received yesterday by Judge
Cowing. in the Court Of General Sessions. Mr..
Jerome said TO the court:
As legal adviser Of the grand jury know that
this presentment has not overstated the matter in
saving that the evidence disclosed is shocking |
think the knowledge Of the evidence would he saIu-
tary to the public, but official I will not take
Ihe responsibility that the evidence be given TO
It is a new procedure to attach the evidence Of
se Saq Jury to Presentnent but in this case
take cognizaHce Of this presentment
AS far as I understand it." Judge Cowing re-
piled, there is no evidence here. believe It
would be better to send the copies Of the testi-
mony 70 the branches Of the legislature and the
Governor and let them make it public if they
see fit"
AN OATHBOUND ORGANIZATION
The grand jury's presentment begins with the
declaration that there is in this county an
oathbound organization, known as the Liquor
Dealers Association, which is part Of an or
ganIzation Of the same name extending through
out the State" adding:
That it appears from testimony before US that
the oath and its construction by members of the
association are such that the members of the
association consider themselves bound not to
give any information concerning its affairs even
70 the officers OF the law TO the court, and
that to do so is violation of their Oaths.
The present ment declares that the association
Of liquor dealers has a local in every police
precinct in the city, that 1t has been accustomed
to raise money for political purposes. and that
early this year. when the legislature was In
session, it raised a large fund by assessment and
turned it over to a committee known as the
Legislation committee" The presentment con-
tinues;
quently to the city of Albany while the legisIat-
ure OF the State was in session, and took with
il suoh money in cash.. That this legislation
committee allowed its disbursing officer 10 give
a considerable part Of this money to ono of its
members to be used in influencing the official
action OF one of the State departments of this
State in seemingly an unlawful way,
That large part Of this money was, by this
legislation committee, expended upon various
members of the then Assembly and Senate OF
the State of New-Nor< and their friends in an
appalling and shocking way with the intention
of influencing such members OF the then Assem-
bly, and Senate of the State Of New-York in the
thu Assembly or Senate.
Among the witnesses who were called by Mr..
Jerome at the secret investigation Of the bribery
fund were Fritz Lindinger. former president OF
the Liquor Dealers Association. and Michael
Farley president Of the State Liquor Dealers
Association. A Tribune reporter who sought
the two men at thei. homes and places Of bust
ness last evening was told that they had left
town for a few days. Other liquor dealers who
vera supposed to know about the composition Of
the Legislative committee" refused to talk about
the presentment. They appeared to be fearful
that the Governor or legislature might cause the
publication of the evidence before the grand
Jury, with the names of the witnesses.
Il don't believe" one apparently we'll informed
liquor dealer said, that the legislature will
allow the appointment Of an investigating COM
mtttee to come down here and stir up trouble
that some Of the members OF the legislature took
our money. II they want to investigate. let
them investigate in Albany. where the money
went"