New-York tribune., 1906-11-08
JEROME STOPS AGAIN.
MORE MUTUAL DELAY.
Action ia Coercion Cases Deferred
Until Ncrt Month.

District Attorney Jerome Tribune reporter
learned last night made written statement
yesterday announcing that he would be willing
after December is TO prosecute the Mutual Life
for alleged coercion. The announcement that Mr.
jerome would take immediate action excited
great interest in insurance circles representa-
tives Of the Mutual Life Policyholders' Assccia-
tion and other opposition" interests criticising
what they termed Mr.. Jerome's change Of
front At the eleventh hour.
It was asserted that not only had Mr. Jerome
intinlated that he would begin action forthwith
but that. The District Attorneys request. L. O
sutton the company's ex-manager had arranged
70 visit this city yesterday. the arrangement
being cancelled only at the last moment. SO late
as Friday II was said Mr. Jerome had instructed
Nathan A. Smyth. assistant district attorney,
90 go ahead and prepare your case"
II is understood that a wish mot to make the
District Attorneys office a party 10 insurance
electioneering' was the reason vouchsafed by
Mr.. Jerome for his proposed delay in taking
action
Following the news Of Nj Jerome's announce
nent came details % the line Of action which
Il said he had promised 10 take in i'm
mediate prosecution Of Mutual Life officials.
Mr.. Jerome il was asserted. had intirnated
plainly that either yesterday or to-day he would
go before a police magistrate and on the
strength Of a deposition by Nr sutton ask for
a warrant for the arrest OF at least one Mutual
Life Official on = charge of coercion. II was
even stated shat the recent conference between
Mr.. Jerome and James McKeen. the company :
general solicitor. and the associate Of Charles
f Hughes I'm the insurance investigation, was
10 arrange the final plan whereby the COM
panv was 70 Obtain a writ OF habeas corpus from
the Supreme count. as in the Perkins case. thus
obtaining release for tho Official before he
could he actually committed.
Late in October. after taking with him 10
IakeviUe and carefully inspecting the 'coer-
cion" afldayits and other evidence submitted 10
him Mr. Jerome. ii Is declared announced that
ne believed ne had q clear case against cer-
tain Mutual Life officials a coercion charge,
even fr a conspiracy charge would not lie. Ac-
cordinglv, criminal suits then pending We're
dropped or held IN allegiance. it is said, in or
der not to elnbarrass the District Attorney.
Mr.. Sutton's two visits 10 the Criminal Courts
Building and his instructions n hold himself IN
readiness 10 fcsJify FOR The people this week, fol-
lowed lending color 10 the belief. It is asserted,
that NJ. Jerome purposed 10 take immediate
action Late on Monday Mr. Jerome said he
would make his decision after the elections and
it vas in statement issued late Tuesday night
or early Wednesday morning that he announced
that he would take no action until next month.
IN opposition to Mr. Jerone's reasons for delay
it Is alleged that II Nr Jerome is convinced that
the Mutual Life violated the Penal Code by
coercion. such coercion was continuous. and that
not only the Coerced manager and poliCyholders,
but poIfcyholders in general, suffering an
injustice.