The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-03
GRAND JURY FOR EQUITABLE.
JEROME TALKS OF SPECIAL ONE
TO DE CALLED IN SEPTEMBER.

| SWltluVc Iuuu Srpt. IL WHEN tuV Wv
| trict Attorney viii Ask for the Extra
Jury--He Is still on Hunt for Crime.
| District Attorney Jerome indicated very
plainly yesterday that there will be an
inquiry by a special Grand Jury into the
past management OF the Equitable Life
Assurance Society. There is no prospect,
| however, that the special Grand Jury will
be drawn much before the middle OF Sep
| TENDER.
Mr.. Jeromes remarks about a special
Grand Jury were made to Justice Davy
yesterday. when he asked that the term
Of the Supreme Court, Criminal Branch.
be continued until Sept. II. Mr.. Jerome
said:
in the early part OF the summer, as q
result Of an investigation made by the
committee OF great insurance company
in this city and also, as a result Of the in
vestlgation made by the Superintendent
OF Insurance, attention was called In a
very marked and pointed way to the con-
duct Of the affairs of that company. There
was disclosed as a result Of the investiga-
ton by the Commissioner of Insurance and
of the committee Of directors OF the COM
pany itself what was, to say the least,
most extraordinary condition of affairs
affecting the interests of great many
people in this community and all over the
United States and other parts Of the world.
The transactions we're OF a character
on their face at least that required an in
vestigation by the District Attorney Of this
county received a communication from
the Governor at that time calling my at
tention to this situation and stating that
~ in raI that tho frop mi
such as to come within the jurisdiction Of
the District Attorney OF New York county
and l desired to look into it he would
cause to be furnished me the evidence taken
before the Superintendent of Insurance IN
his investigation. ] replied that I should
like to examine that testimony, and, pur-
suant to the directions Of the Governor, 1t
was placed in my hands, I have gone
over 1t with very great care.
while the investigation OF the Com
missioner of Insurance covered wide field,
there were not q few points where, for
the purpose of prosecuting officer. 1t was
inadequate.
Il have, since the reading of the testi-
mony. made some inquiries and investi-
cations of my own, the result Of which leads
me to believe that further inquiry into
the facts and CIRCUMSTANCES surrounding
the management of the Equitable com
pany are important and necessary, and it
is my duty to make them.
There has been appointed committee
to investigate generally the conduct and
management OF insurance companies in
this State Such an investigation of course
the way in which the Superintendent of
Insurance approached It, And yet it ia
apparent that an investigation such as they
are about to conduct may lead to the dis
closure Of matters that would be highly
important to District Attorney in deter
mining whether pr not ofTpnspS n ON at the
criminal law have been committed.
1T would therefore, at this time especi-
ally, when we are in the summer months,
when witnesses are more or less unavail-
certain hardship upon the part OF Grand
Jurors to have to serve. this coupled with
the tendency Of the investigation by the
legislative committee would render 1t i'm |
proper at this time it seems to me, that l |
should ask your honor to direct the en-
parchment of a special Grand Jury To in
vestigate the matters and circumstances |
connected with the management Of the |
Equitable Life Assurance Society. But
by the early autumn the Legislative COM
progress that it will be apparent whether |
or not what they are ascertaining would be !
of value in criminal prosecution. Pend
ing such examination by the legislative |
committee and the, further examination
missioner is making ! cannot definitely
state that special Grand Jury will be
necessary but am impressed that it will |
be by no means improbable.
Il would suggest therefore, if it meets
with your honor's concurrence. that when !
this court adjourns to-day it adjourn until
Sept. H."
Justice Davy said:
Do you ask for an order empancling a
Grand Jury?"
Il am not asking for it at this time"
said Mr.. Jerome. because If it shall APP |
pear to be essential the order can. think |
under the law, be made by any Judge Of |
the Supreme Court in the First Department. |
And in any event. unless it were an ex-
traordnary term that should be convened, |
my impression is that an order would have |
to be made by Judge elected in the First !
Department although your Honor might |
hear what would come before it. My i'm |
preston of the statute is that the order |
itself would have to be made by Judge |
elected in the First Department.
Justice Davy agreed to Mr. Jerome's |
request.
MURDERER LONG EASILY TAKEN. |