The sun., 1906-12-27
SONE JURORS WISH TO NDICT
AVE SOME DON'T-TO DECIDE
". Y. LIFE CASES TO-DAF.
Ssremo Apparently Told Them They Had
Enough Evidence to Find Against
On1cials for Forgery -Perkins's 90 un-
sci C0nfers with District Attorney.

On1cials for Forgery 90 un-
sci COnfcrs with District Attorney.
All that remains for the Grand Jury to do
IN its investigation of the management OF
the New York Life Insurance. Company Is
10 decide whether indictments should be
returned against officials OF the company.
That will be decided to-day in all proba-
hility.
For nearly an hour yesterday afternoon
the Grand Jury discussed this question
without coming 10 a definite conclusion.
II is known pretty definitely that some OF
the Grand Jurors are opposed to fling in
dictments, although il is understood that
District Attorney Jerome has informed the
Grand Jury that there is enough evidence
on which to base indictments for forgery
in the third degree against men who have
been or are now officers of the New York
Life.
The session Of the Grand Jury took up all
the afternoon until after o'clock. good
part of that time Mr.. Jerome spent in MAX
ing a speech. 1t was said that he took par
ticular pains to sum up all the evidence that
the Grand Jury had heard
OF course nothing definite came out of the
Grand Jury room as to what happened,
persons familiar with the way things are
done around the Criminal Courts Building
that Mr.. Jerome did not talk at great length
for the purpose of informing the Grand Jury
that there was no evidence on which to
base indictments Mr. Jeromes speech,
It was said, lasted three hours. The in
vestigation has been a thorough one and
a number of witnesses We're examined,
- H.. IL.
Mr. Jerome could have summed up the
evidence in a convincing manner.
1t was about o'clock when District
Attorney Jerome got through. Then the
Grand Jury went into executive session.
Both Mr.. Jerome and Assistant District
Attorney Kresel, who has been assisting
him in all the insurance inquiry were ex-
cuded from the Grand Jury room. So was
the stenographer.
The executive session lasted abqat fifty
minutes. All the evidence bearing on the
one or more stock transactions of the New
York Life was discussed. IL could not he
learned whether or not any ballots were
taken on the question of determining in
dictments. In order to return indictments
1t would be necessary to have the votes Of
twelve jurors, or a majority of the jury.
The general impression seemed to be that
there was a deadlock. IL is certain that
finding indictments, but there are others
who cannot make up their minds that
officials of the New York Life should be
indicted for forgery on the evidence pre-
sented. Should the Grand Jury decide
to-day that there should be indictments, il is
expected, from the nature of the testimony
that has been presented and from the wit
nesses who have been examined, that they
will be against men who have been promi-
nent in the management of the company.
ha Gran nn nd
l.. Delafeld, who is counsel for George W.
PERKINS, who was vice. president OF the
New York Life. and for other officials Of
the company who have been questioned
before the Grand Jury, called on District
Attorney Jerome. He had talk with Mr..
Jerome that lasted until after 8 O'Clock.
Both he and Mr.. Jerome refused to say what
it was about.
The fact that Mr.. Delaf1eld called on Mr..
Jerome SO soon after the Grand Jury adj
iourned caused something of stir In the
District Attorneys Office and led TO a belief
that some indictments had been decided
upon by the Grand Jury. Il was said. how
ever, that the matter of indictments was
still in doubt A man who has seen many
District Attorneys and is in touch with
what has gone on around the Criminal
Courts Building for years said.
IF jerome talked for three hours before
she Grand Jury you can make up your
mind that he was not talking for the sake
of telling the Grand Jury that there was
no evidence on which to find indictments.
1t is an unusual thing for a District Attorney
20 sum mp a case 10 the Grand Jury, and
that, l should say, is what he has done in
this case; otherwise il would not have been
necessary for him to talk SO long.
The fact that after District Attorney
Jerome had made his argument the Grand |
Jury held an executive session and took
no action looks as if there is considerable
doubt in the minds OF some jurors as TO |
the advisability of finding indictments in |
this case. or course, the Grand Jury may |
have gone over the evidence and decided |
70 wait until to-day before taking ballot |
on whether or not indictments should be |
returned"
II was pointed out that the Grand Jury |
got through so late that il was decided TO |
postpone final action until to-day.
Among the witnesses examined yester- !
day were clerks from the Chicago and |
Northwestern Railroad and the Chicago, |
Milwaukee and st. Paul. They were asked !
about entries regarding certain stock trans
actions of the New York Life which were
referred TO in the investigation OF the Arm
strong committee.
Whatever action, II any, is taken by the
Grand jury will be reported to-day 10 Re
corder Goff in General Sessions.
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