The Washburn leader., 1906-03-30
DISTRICT ATTORNEY JEROME BE.
GINS PROCEEDINGS IN THE
INSURANCE SCANDALS.
MAGISTRATE MOSS DECLINES TO ACT
EVIDENCE MUST FIRST BE IN.
TRoDUcEp SHOWING CRIME
HAS BEEN COMMITTED.

torney Jerome has applied to Mag
istrate Moss for warrants against sew
eral persons in connection with the
recent life insurance investigation.
The warrants were not issued, the
magistrate taking the ground that it
would be necessary first for the dis
trict attorney to present evidence that
a crime had been committed. Mr.. Je-
rome thereupon agreed to present
depositions upon the question to. the
magistrate later.
When news that the warrants had
been asked for became public 1t was
recalled that the names OF Postmaster
General Cortelyou, chairman of the
Republican national committee; Cor
nelius M. Bliss, treasurer of that or
ganiEation, and George w. Perkins,
formerly vice president of the New
York Life Insurance company, had
been mentioned by Mr.. Jerome before
Judge O'Sullivan in connection with
the warrants. Magistrate Moss, how
ever, said that no names whatever
were mentioned during his converse
ton with the district attorney. AS
result of Mr.. JerOme's conversation
with the magistrate subpoenaes en-
blanc were issued and it was an
nounced that John Doe proceedings
would be begun at once in an effort to
procure evidence upon which the war
rants might be issued.
After he had requested the warrants
District Attorney Jerome declined to
say for whom they had been asked.
His action in asking for the warrants
is believed to be an outgrowth of the
sharp discussion between Judge O'Sul.
livan of the court Of general sessions
and himself last week over the ques-
tion whether officers of the insurance
companies would be prosecuted for
making contributions to political par
ties.
-, Jury Questions the Court.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Jerome pre-.
sented to the grand jury certain evil
dence bearing upon such contribu-
,tions which was brought out in the
legislative Insurance investigation.
Following this the grand jury pre-
sented to Judge O'Sullivan a long
series of hypothetical questions as to
whether under certain circumstances
the insurance officials had committed
larceny in making the political con-
tributions. Several days later Mr..
Jerome informed the jury that the Off
GERS were not guilty of larceny unless
intent to defraud was shown and ex-
pressed the opinion that it was not
shown in these cases. Last week.
however, Judge O'Sullivan notified the
jury that it was for the jury to say
whether or not intent to defraud were
shown by the insurance men and il
the jury found out that 1t was shown
the crime OF larceny would have been
committed. saaxtsssss~s---'
N,Wb6n Judge O'Sullivan so charged
the jury Mr.. Jerome declared the
Judge had misconstrued the case and
that If his ruling was correct warrants
should issue for Messrs. Cortelyou,
Bliss and Perkins Mr.. Jerome Of
fered to ask for the warrants If Judge
O'Sullivan would grant him them and
hear the cases. Judge O'Sullivan de-
elined to 90 about the case in that
Way and Instructed the jury later to
secure the evidence from the district
attorneys Office and investigate fear
lessly the entire matter of political
contributions by insurance officials.
The foreman of the grand jury made
application at Mr.. Jerome's Office for
the evidence, but assistant district
attorneys declined to give it to him.