New-York tribune., 1905-07-07
JURY INFLUENCE CHARGED
IN THE 4LDERDICE CASE.
Laseyer Gets Eighteen Yeqrs-Dis-
trict attorney Investigating.

James s Aldendice. the lawyer convicted Of
forgery in the first degree was sentenced yester-
day by Recorder GoT 10 eighteen years in Sing
Sing. The forgeries Of which Alderdice was
convicted were committed in the lawyers efforts
10 get the estate Of Mary J. Oliver. Harlem
recluse who died on November 9, 1903.
Mr.. Byrne of Al6erdice's counsel. moved for
Jew trial BE said errors had been committed
by the court IN the trial. and also asserted that
the verdict hal been reached by improper
means He declared the jury had been kept
without food while celebrating on the case
In support Of the allegations that the jury had
been guilty OF misconduct Mr.. Byrne submitted
an affidavit by George w. Lyon one of the
jurors. Lyon in this affidavit states that when
be held out for acquittal Mr.. Arnold the fore
laaE. showed him newspaper clipping brought
into the jury room by H. c. Shackman another
Juryman. Lyon said the newspaper clipping
stated that Alderdice had been guilty of a sim
liar offence and had jumped his bail When
he saw the paper Lyon swore Arnold asked him
if the clipping did not convince him of Alder
oice's guilt. On this. Lyon said he yielded and
voted guilty.
Deputy Assistant District Attorneys Garvan
and Krotel summoned before them Juror No. 2
H c. Shackman. who is a business man at No.
Sl2 Broadway. and examined him on the allega-
'ion that he had shown the clipping referred to
by Lyon.
Shackman denied absolutely that anv sucb
newspaper clipping Lyon had described had
heen produced in the jury room. He said Lyon
had held out for acquittal on the ground that tho
papers did not indicate that forgery had been
committed Foreman Arnold, according TO
Shackman. thereupon asked that they be sent in
and that an examination be made. The papers
were sent for. and Lyon examined them under a
microscope. whereupon he changed his mind and
withdrew his opposition TO the verdict for con-
Viction
shacknan admitted he had seen a clipping
like the one referred 10, but said he did not
know whether it was before after going to
the jury room.
AS a result Of this statement all of those who
composed the jury will be summoned to appear
and be examined by the District Attorney who
does not intend to let the matter drop Those
on the jury were William E. Arnold, foreman;
II. c. Shackman, j. S. Macmillan. Leonard H.
Lang, Isador Blank Philip Mendes. Albert E.
Osborn, Milton S Herzog Edward Hengshau.
Robert Whiteside. George W. Lyons and David
Littlejohn.
Recorder Goff denied the motion for a new
trial. In passing sentence he said
The evidence clearly shows that you COM
mitted perjury well forgery. Notwith-
standing your professional standing you violat-
ed trust and sought by criminal means to
the punishment given you Will serve as an ex-
ample and deterrent to other lawyers possessing
criminal tendencies.
Mr.. Byrne obtained an order from Justice
Blanchard in the Supreme Court. directing the
District Attorney TO show cause July 20 why
a certificate Of reasonable doubt should not be
granted in Alderdice's case. This order acts as
B. stay OF the execution Of sentence until the
10th. at least.
Alderdice forged not only Mrs. divers name,
but also that OF his father, James Alderdice,
whose signature Commissioner of Deeds
necessary 20 make the action legal James AL
derdice died on the same day Mary oliver, SO
removing the principal witnesses against the
young lawyer.
Most Of the property that Alderdice obtained
he transferred 10 either his sister Miss Mary E.
Alderdice, TO his client Mrs. Lydia B. Koch
Mrs Koch acted as dummy for the lawyer with
out knowing il. In a year after Mrs divers
death Alderdca had acquired the whole estate
The forged deeds were cleverly done that
they deceived even handwriting experts. His one
mistake was in using acids 10 erase a sigma
ture that did not suit him. This eradication was
only temporary, and the signature reappeared.