New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-07
GRUBER ACCUSES JEROME.
Pardon offered for Bloc al
NatheScs, He Says.

ton Of the confession made by David Roth
schid. ex-president II the Federal Bank, who
recently was brought down from Sing Sing.
Abraham Gruber was among those who were
summoned before the grand jury. He did not
like the call and showed It plainly. Nearly
everybody whose name has been mentioned in
Rothschild's confession was summoned. Mar
tin Conlan. a lawyer serving a sentence at
Sing Sing for grand larceny, and Rothschild
were not called TO the jury room, but C. v. Col
Inns, State Superintendent Of Prisons, and Mr..
Powers, superintendent Of shops at Sing Sing,
were examined.
Mrs. ROthschild conferred with Mr.. Jerome
and Mr. Rand preparatory to being called
witness. Rothschild was taken to the Criminal
Courts Building from the Tombs and was in
Mr.. Rand's Office for a long time.
Mr.. Gruber was before the grand jury only
a few minutes. When he came out he said:
This is job the part Of the District Ate
torneys Office to implicate my client Armitage
Mathews. They want to pardon Rothschild, to
get back at a man the District Attorney does
not like. Why. Assistant District Attorney Kre-
sci went to Sing Sing three times to promise
pardon to ROthschild If he would make a con-
fession.
Il understand the confession Of this man
Rothschd who robbed the poor Of the East
Side, which is in the possession of the District
Attorney. is at variance with the confession in
my possession. This is corrupt bargain
the part of Jerome, to make such overtures. and
/ propose TO follow up the matter. 1 learned Of
this by accident, but I am in possession of the
facts TO prove that such bargain made.
Last February I got a letter from Martin
Conlan who working at the same bench
with Rothschild, saying he had evidence Of such
a conspiracy between Rothschild and Jerome.
I placed this letter in the hands of Mr.. Mathews.
After some correspondence. this confession
was obtained from the warden by Mr.. Math-
ewson and turned over to Mr.. jerome by me.
Rothschild 1 learn. now has another batch Of
papers, which will show that Mr.. Mathews is
entirely innocent of any charges which may be
brought. 1 have the original letter from Con-
Ian I'm regard to these confessions Of Rothschild.
and it viii be placed before the grand jury on
Monday"
Mr.. Mathews was in the Criminal Courts
Building for about two hours. but did not meet
Mr.. Gruber, who was kept under cover in Mr..
Rand's Office. RumOrs which could not be
down developed while the grand jury was in
session TO the effect that Rothschild and Con-
Ian had refused to be witnesses. Lewis Stuy
vesant Chanler, counsel for Conlan, tried to see
his client but was unable to get near him.
Mr.. jerome was seen shortly after Mr.. Gruber
leII the Dulluing. he repned 10 the latJef state
ment with energy saying:
Amy statement that this Office has promised
a pardon to ROthschild is unequivocally false.
This is what was done. He was seen in Sing
Sing, and there he was told if he made a state
ment that would be of service in a case about
TO be presented to the grand jury and if par
don asked for him the facts concerning his
evidence would be certified to the Governor. l
do not know what difference there is between
these two confessions, but / do know / in
possession of one made by Rothschd in Sing
Sing and which as turned over to Mr. Gruber."
The confession. he said, was taken by another
prisoner in Sing Sing and turned over to the
warden, who gave it to Superintendent Collins.
from whom Mr.. Gruber secured it. EX-GOv-
ernor Black, now OF the law firm of Black
Olcott Gruber & Bonynge, appointed Collins as
Superintendent of Prisons.
Albany, April Ex-Governor Higgins was asked
by The Associated Press tonight If District At
torney Jerome had brought his attention any
matters concerned in the case of David Roths-
child. formerly president of the Federal Bank
OF New York, who was brought before the New
York County Jury to-day from Sing Sing Prison.
The Governor declined to discuss any aspect OF
the matter. II is known that Mr.. Jerome saw
the Governor yesterday, but the latter would
not admit even that the Rothschild case was
mentioned between them.