The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-30
IN JOHN DOE, PROCEEDINGS
Subpoenas Obtained by Jerome TO be
Used in Testing the Legality of Cam
paign Contributions Made by Insur-
ance Companies.

New YORK, March ZG--DlsIrlcl Az
itorney Jerome today appeared before
Magistrate Moss in the Tombs police
Icourt. and applied for warrants to be
fused in testing the legality of he
contribution of insurance companies
funds to political campaign commit
tees. The name OF no person was
mentioned at the time. After listening
ito Mr.. Jerome. Magistrate Moss said
that before he would issue any war
rants in the matter, evidence would
have to be presented that a crime had
been committed.
To establish this evidence, Mr.. Jer-
lone asked for the issuance of a num-
der Of subpoenas in blank, to be used
lin John Doe proceedings before the
magistrate. Late in the day these
lsubpOenas We're issued. It is said, at
1.-The district attorneys office that every
Ieffort will be made to get the proceed
ling under way tOmOrrOy. All the evil
ldence at the disposal Of the district at
ItOrney, it was stated. will be presented
to the court. n then it will remain
with the magistrate as to whether or
warrants shall be issued.
In taking this action today Mr.. Jer-
tOnle is carrying out the policy he an
InOunced before Justice O'Sullivan in
1.-THE court of special sessions last Fri
day. when he defended the opinion he
had previously rendered that there a
been no crime committed in cOnnec-
itiOn with the campaign contributions.
Justice O'Sullivan ruled. however. that
If it could be shown there was an in
tent to defraud The rightful owners of
1.-THE property it was for the
lgrand jury to say whether or
the case was one of larceny. He
SO instructed the grand jury. and urg-
led the grand jurors to fearlessly inves-
jtigate the matter and not to seek shell
tier in the face Of an unpleasant duty.
Mr.. Jerome asked Justice O'Sulli-
Ivan if he would not, sitting as a magis-
ltrate, issue a warrant for the arrest
OF George w. Perkins, former vice
president Of the New York Life In
l%surance Company. in order that a
writ of habeas corpus might be OBJ
ltaned and the matter k at once to
1.-THE highest court. Mr.. Jerome also
suggested that if contributing to cam
lpaign committees, by officers of the
insurance companies constituted lar
lceny, the matter involved Chairman
George B. Cortelyou N Treasurer
cornelius n. Bliss of the republican
national campaign committee in mat
tier OF receiving stolen goods.
Justice O'SulIivan declined to act in
1.-THE case, saying there were plenty Of
magisterial courts before whom the
matter could be placed and the war
rants secured.
Before Magistrate Moss issued the
blank subpOenas requested by District
ATTORNEY Jerome today, he examined
Darwin P. Kingsley, vice president Of
the New York Life Insurance Com
pany. who appeared before him. Ed
Imund D.. Randolph, treasurer and sew
leral employees of the New York Life
were examined in the District Attor-
Iney's office this afternoon. 1t was
stated tonight that Mr.. Perkins has
agreed to appear at the proceedings
tomorrow.
Magistrate Moss said concerning
the matter:
Mr.. Jerome came to me and asked
for a warrant Or warrants for several
persons, n I told him very frankly
THAT if a crime had been committed he
would have to tell me about it. I told
him in my judgment that could be best
done by deposition and he agreed to
submit them to me. The names of no
Iperson or persons were mentioned at
the time"
It was learned today hat the grand
Jury has not asked District Attorney
Jerome for any more evidence in the
insurance cases beyond what he had
ialready furnished the jury several
days ago.