New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-29
GRAND JURY IGNORED.
Warrant for Perkins Superseded By
Habeas Corpus Writ.

ANCCetY ~ (eeo ~ fe1'
By the arrest OF George ". Perkins, former
vice-president Of the New York Life Insurance
Company. on charge OF grand larceny IN the
first degree. District Attorney Jerome showed
entire disregard OF Judge O'Sullivan and the
grand jury. and a determination to have the
higher courts settle without delay the question
OF the criminality Of campaign contributions.
The grand jury huttered about like a beheadsd
chicken and finally appealed 70 Judge SuIi-
for Instructions He told 10 70 go ahead
with its Investigations and demand witnesses
and evidence from the District Attorney. The
grand jury stiu puzzled, and appealed 70
Mr.. Jerome, but with little satisfaction.
With apparent warning Of what was coming
Mr.. Perkins. through his attorney. Louis L.
Delaheld, made all arrangements to obtain a
writ Of habeas corpus from Justice Greenbaum.
Of the Supreme Court. He then waited for the
coming Of County Detective Reardon, OF Mr..
Jerome's staff. Reardon reached Mr.. Della
fields Office at No. 1 Nassau street about II
O'Clock and told his mission. He was asked TO
wait d few moments. which he spent talking TO
Mr.. Perkins. Then he served his warrant and
was answered with writ Of habeas corpus on
which the ink was hardly dry.
BROUGHT BEFORE JUSTICE GREENBAUAL
Obeying the order OF the higher court. he took
his newly made prisoner before Justice Green
baum. District Attorney Jerome had already
appeared. and it was arranged TO parole Mr..
Perkins in the custody OF Mr.. Delaheld until
tomorrow at 2:3O o'clock. There was no de-
mand for bail on the part Of the District Attor-
ney. Magistrate Moss expected that Mr.. Per-
kins would be brought before him. and waited
until after noon at the Tombs court
In the application for the writ OF habeas cor
pus Mr. Perkins declared that he was inpris-
oned and restrained OF his liberty by a police
III
that he was held on account OF a warrant issued
by Magistrate Moss, a copy Of which was at
tached to the petition. He alleged that his i'm
prisOnment and restraint were wholly illegal;
that the warrant was void in that no evidence
Of any crime or act justifying his arrest had
been submitted to the magistrate, and that the
magistrate was without jurisdiction TO Issue the
warrant.
The date OF the alleged crime named in the
warrant is December 80. 1904. 1t was on this
date, according to testimony brought out by the
Armstrong committee that the check was drawn
which reimbursed Mr.. Perkins for his payment
Of more than $4,000 to the Republican National
Committee.
After the writ was granted 1t was taken at
once to Mr.. Jerome, who returned to Justice
Greenbaums court with the messenger and one
Of his assistants. Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Della
field came in about five minutes later. and
declared that he was there TO reply to the writ
MR.. DELAFIELD STATES THE CASE
This brought forth statement IN some detail
on what Mr. DelaheId declared were the facts OF
the case. He said:
George W. Perkins a man OF uninpeachsd char
acJer. has been placed under arrest this morning.
pursuant 10 a warrant issued BY Joseph A Moss
as city magistrate, by which he is charged with
shall not ask at this time TO enter upon a long
legal argument on the technical question involved
olber counsel yba viii be retained for NfT Psri1s
I, however think it but fair at the present time
to present briefly the facts OF this case. as made
In the summer Of 1908 Cornelius y Bliss
who was the treasurer OF the Republican National
of J. P Morgan & Co. Of which firm Mr.. Perkins
NIrS,n ne Iara nresi5eTt M tts Wv VIZ - -
Insurance Company. had promised that that com
as Mr. Bliss might find necessary.
he had asked Mr. Bliss 70 call. and that he was
prepared 70 make payment Of S500o0 to the cam
S4eoOO was lal9 ~ Slr- FeIAlns I!oLn MS own re-
In December 1so4, the question Of the reimburse
Mr.. AicCaln Nlr. Mccall, under the bylaws and Gus
toms pTev2iliPg IN me NeW IVY YORK Life LIE Insurance
ments from the funds cf the company as he
the checks for such payments should be drawn
by Gerta1 onleers OF the company. and ne said he
not because its consent was necessary TO the pay
/
committee. but because the finance COMMITTEES dealt
with the general financial policy or the company
/ Mr. Mccall attended the meeting OF the finance
I committee. and informed It's members Of Whit had
been done and that Air. Perkins had made this
I advance Tor the company at his request
II is disclosed by the records OF whom the duanca
committee consisted. and III it be charged thqr
any offence has been committed by Mr. Perkins
then the nanes-the hOnored names-Of the men
who composed that committee equally Invol 81
with that OF m- client. for the finance corYlrtfas
at once consented 10 his reimbursement ans r,-
check drawn by the treasurer ant assistant f~.7-
urcr and 70 Mr.. Mccall the sums Advanced 80
Mr. Perkins were repaid him with interest -
WHY MR.. PERKINS PAID.
Justice Greenbaum here interposed and asked
Mr.. Delaheld by that course was pursued wiz,
regard TO the advancement OF the contrlbutfo-
TO the Republican committee Mr.. Delaheld re-
| piled:
Mr.. Mccall said. as arrears BY my papers. that
i he was being impOrtuned by all the political
parties for contributions. and thar he had refused
I 70 contribute 70 any OF them except the Repub-
/ Ican party whose policy he considered was ror
\ the best Interests OF the New York Life and Ia
i further informed Mr. Perkins that he had refused
I the lmpOrtunate demands OF the other parties
/ The check drawn IN the usual cofirse of
business OF the company. and entered upon its