New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-08
FIGHT FOR CONFESSIONS.
HOW GRUBER GOT THEM.
Jerome Hunts Big Republicans 5cith
RothschiId Gun.

District Attorney Jerome is cunning expedi-
ton for Ex-Governor Frank s. Black Colonel
Abraham Gruber. Mr.. Blacks law partner; Cor
nelus V. Collins State Superintendent Of Prisons;
Warden Johnson of Sing Sing. and last, but not
least Arfnitage Mathews secretary Of the Repun-
lican County Committee MIR. Jerome has one con-
fession from David Rothschild the wrecker of the
Federal Bank ROthschild IS temporarily in the
Tombs. He was in Sing Sing. serving long term.
Mr.. GTuber says he has six different confessions by
Rothschild. and that he will turn them over 10
Jerome. He says he will lay them before the grand
jury but that Mr.. jerome cannot have them.
The confession of Rothschild in Mr.. Jeromes
hands is supposed to put in bad light Mr. Mathews.
who represented a bonding company which accept
ed certain securities in bonding Mr. Rothsehild
temporary receiver OF the Weisel estate The
ROthschid confessions in the hands OF Mr.
Gruber supposed to exonerate Mr. Mathews
that is, If he needs any eXOneratiOn.
According to the story that came out yesterday.
the estate of William Weisel. who died in 1903.
fell into the hands of Rothschild. and 1t became
necessary that he be bonded in the Of 100000.
He applied to the Bankers Surety Company, or
Cleveland, Of which Armitage Mathews Is the local
counsel for bonds The company at first refused
to bond Rothschild unless it had joint control OF
the estate. but finally agreement was reached.
and it is alleged that the entire estate amounting
to about $4,000, dissipated.
But 1t not the Confessions that interested
the people around the Criminal Courts Building
yesterday SO much the manner IN which Mr..
Gruber got certain papers from RothschiId's cell
which wanted by District Attorney Jerome
and Assistant District Attorney KreseI. This fur
nishes tale described by Mr. Jerone's friends as
1.-The thing that ever came down the pike
Mr.. Gruber's Characterization of the District At
torney's office is much more picturesque than this.
Assistant District Attorney Kresel went Sing
Sing several times to obtain from ROthschild in
formation about the alleged misuse OF trust funds
in connection with the weisel estate Rothschfd
In Sing Sing got into the habit Of writing the
backs of scraps of paper an alleged confession"
Martin COnlOn. former Tammany lawyer. was
a prison mate and got the confidence of Roth
schiId ConlOn heard all about Assistant District
Attorney Kresel Mr.. Mathews and other things.
He told Mr.. Kresel about the confession of Roth
schild and Mr. Kresel at tried TO get IT, Then
Rothschild got scared and let his counsel Mr..
Gruber. know that he had been writing 'confes-
sOns' which had been turned over to COnlon.
An order to search Rothschid's and COnlon's
Rothschid confession was found in the posses
sion OF CGnloT5 Inc paper was sent by special
Cornelius v Collins State Superintendent OF
Prisons. at Troy. Ex-Governor Black appointed
Collins to office. and 1t is the assumption at the
District Attorneys office that Mr., Collins consulted
70 Mr. Gruoer. When Mr.. kresel tried TO get it
he traced it TO Mr. Gruber's office.
special trip Albany and told Governor Higgins
that he was likely to take action against Mr. Col
over to him. The same night there informal
conference at the Manhattan Hotel, those present
tendent Collins Warden Johnson and Mr. Powers
superintendent of the industrial department in the
prison where Rothschild and ConlOn worked 1t is
said at the District Attorneys office that as a
result OF the conference Mr.. Gruber turned over
10 Warden johnson the Rothschild confession"
and Mr.. Johnson, in obedience to subpoena sent
the papers to the grand jury.
This confession alone does not satisfy Mr.
Jerome. who has subpRnaed Mr.. Gruber to pro
duce before the grand jury the six other comics
sions" from the hapless Rothschild Mr. Ciru6er
was asked yesterday If the ROthschild papers were
turned over TO Mr.. Jerome, and he replied: YES
l believe SO. I've got in ROthschilds own hand
writing six different confessions. Jerome win not
get hold OF them. shall turn them over to the
grand jury
Did you know OF any sudden raid on Roth
seniors or COnlons cell for the purpose of obtain
ing written confeSSiOns?" Mr.. Gruber was asked
All that 1 am certain about Is that the papers
IN Rothschild's handwriting came from his cell
,Conlon was before the grand jury yesterday for
about two hours. Messrs Jerome and Rand were
with him and took copious statements from him
Il never saw FtOJhschild but once, and that was
when went TO see II he was a proper person 10
oe bonded by company l represented" Mr.
my clients went on his bond. / do not know of
any reason why Jerome should attempt 20 use
Rothsehild against me. have not seen the Roth
schtd confession but understand an attenlDt 10
made 70 implcate me in the Weisel estate brsi-
OF course. / brand as absOlufelVr FaIeo
insinuation OF that character '