Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-28
JEROME FILES TEST CASES
Move to Determine Legal Status of Cam.
paign Contributions by Corporations,
WARRANTS IN JOHN DOE PROCEEDINGS
Purpose IL TO Get an Issue Before
the Supreme Court - Perkins
VIII Appear az Todays
Proceedings.

NEW YORK, March 2T.-District Attorney
Jerome today appeared before Magistrate
Moss In the Tombs police court and ap-
piled for warrants to be used in testing the
legality OF the contribution of insurance
companies funds to political sommittec
funds The name of no person was men
toned at the time. After listening To Mr..
Jerome, Magistrate Moss said that before
he would issue any warrants in the matter
evidence would have to be presented that
crime had been committed. To establish
this evidence Mr.. jerome asked for the is
suance Of a number Of subpoenas in blank
to be used in John Doe" proceedings be-
fore the magistrate Late in the day these
subpoenas were issued II was said at
the district attorneys office that every ef-
fort will be made to get the proceedings
under way tomorrow. All the evidence at
the disposal Of the district attorney. it was
stated. will be presented to the court. and
then it will remain with the magistrate as
to whether or not warrants shall be issued
Purpose of Mr.. jerome.
In taking this action today Mr. Jerome
is carrying out the policy he announced
before Justice O'Sullvan i'm the court Of
special sessions last Friday. when he de-
Tended the opinion he had previously rem
dered that there had been no crime COM
mitted in connection with the campaign
contribution. Justice O'sullivan ruled. how
ever, that il it could be shown there was
an intent to defraud the rightful owners
Of the property, it was for the jury to say
whether or not the case was one of larceny
lie so instructed the grand jury and urged
the grand jurors fearlessly to investigate
the matter and not to seek shelter in the
face Of an unpleasant duty
Mr. jerome asked Justice O'Sullivan II he
would not sitting as a magistrate. issue II
warrant for the arrest Of George w. Per-
kins. former vice president of the New
York Life company. i'm order that a writ Of
habeas corpus might be obtained and the
matter be taken at once to the highest
court. Mr.. Jerome also suggested that if
contributing to campaign committees by
officers of the insurance companies consti-
tuted larceny, the matter involved Chair
man George b. Cortelyou and Treasurer
Cornelius n. Bliss of the republican ma
tional campaign committee in matter Of
receiving stolen goods.
Justice OSullvan declined to act in the
case. saying there were plenty of magls-
terial courts before whom the matter could
be placed and the warrants secured.
Perkins VIE Appear Today.
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 company. who appeared be-
fore him. Edmund ID. Randolph treasurer.
and several employees Of the New York
Life were examined in the district at
torney's Office this afternoon. II was stated
tonight that Mr.. Perkins has agreed to
appear al the proceedings tomorrow.
Magistrate Moss said concerning the
matter:
Mr.. jerome came to me and asked
warrant or warrants for several persons
and l told him very frankly that II a crime
had been committed he would have to tell
me about it.. l told him I'm my Judgment
that could be the best done by deposition,
and he agreed 10 submit them to me. The
names Of no person or persons We're mem
toned at the time"
1t was learned today that the grand jury
has not asked District Attorney Jerome for
any evidence in the insurance cases beyond
what he had already furnished the jury
several days ago.