The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-27
WARRANTS ASKED
Supposed TO Be for Arrest of
COrteIyOu and Bliss.
On Account of Insurance Gifts
to Campaign Funds.
PERKINS is INCLUDED.
AS a Representative of the New
York Life.
Jerome Prodded to Action by
Justice O'SulIiyan.

New York. March 27.-Dfstrict At
torney Jerome today applied to Magis-
trate Moss for warrants against several
persons in connection with the recent
life insurance investigation. The war
rants were not issued. the magistrate
taking the ground that it would be
necessary first for the district attorney
to present evidence that a crime had
been committed. Mr.. Jerome there
upon agreed to the depostions
upon the question to the magistrate
later, and it was reported late this
afternon that this would be done to-
morrow.
When news that the warrants had
been asked for became public it was
recalled that the names of Postmaster
General Cortelyou. chairman of the
Republican national committee: Cor
nelius n. Bliss, treasurer of the or
ganizatiOn, and George ". 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 conversa-
t1on with the district attorney.
As result of Mr.. JerOme's CONVEX
sation with the magistrate, subpoenas
In 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
Up to o'clock this afternoon no
Official statement as to the insurance
warrants could be obtained At that
time it was reported that a decision
had been reached to make a test of the
case against George W. Perkins The
programme was said to be that Perkins
VIII appear in court tomorrow when a
warrant will be served on him and the
legal points involved Will be passed on
by the court.
According to this report, if the case
against Perkins holds, others connect
ed with the insurance contributions to
campaign funds win be prosecuted.
1t was reported In the criminal courts
building that the warrants asked for
sEene for the arrest Of Postmaster
General George B. CorteIyou, chair
man of the Republican national com
mittee. Cornelius n. Bliss, treasurer of
that committee and George W. Per
kins, formerly vice president of the
New York Life Insurance company
After he had obtained the warrants
District Attorney Jerome declined to
say for whom they had been issued.
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 whether officers
Of the insurance companies would be
prosecuted for making contributions to
political parties.
A few weeks ago Nr. Jerome pre-
sented to the grand jury certain evil
dence bearing upon such contributions
which was brought out in the legisla-
tive insurance investigation. Follow
ing this the grand jury presented to
Judge O'Sullivan a long series of hypo-
thetfcal questions as to whether under
certain circumstances the insurance
officials had committed larceny in
making the political contributions.
formed the jury that the officers were
not guilty of larceny unless intent to
defraud were shown and expressed
the opinion that it was not shown In
these cases. Last week. however
Judge O'SulIivan notified the jury that
it was not for the jury to say whether
or not intent to defraud were shown
by the insurance men, and that If the
jury found out that it was shown the
crime of larceny would have been
committed.
When Judge O'Sullivan so charged
the jury. Mr.. Jerome declared the
Judge had misconstrued the case. and
that If his ruling was correct WarTa nts
should issue for Messrs COrtelyou
Z Bliss and Perkins. Mr. Jerome offered
I
1 O'Sullivan would grant them and hear
the cases Judge O'Sullivan declined
to go about the case in that way and
/ instructed the jury later to secure the
/ evidence from the district attorney
! office and investigate fearlessly the en-
tire matter of political contributions
i by insurance officials. The foreman
I Of the grand jury yesterday made ap-
/ plication a Mr.. Jerome's Office for the
I evidence but the assistant district at
I torneys declined to give 1t to him. Mr..
Jerome was not then at his office.
Assistant District Attorney KrezeL
accompanied by Vice President Oar
win P. Kingsley Of the New York Life
I Insurance company, appeared before
/ Magistrate Moss today and Mr.. Kings
. ley made deposition. Several sub
/ poenas in blank were then issued by
the magistrate for John Doe pro
/ ceeding- None Of the court officials
] concerned in the proceedings would
say what the proceedings were.
Afterward MT Kingsley and Ed
mund Randolph, treasurer of the New
Y York Life Insurance company, went tC
Mr. Jerome's Office at his request tc
make an affidavit. it was reported. as
to the payment of political contrfbu-
hons by the officers of that company
4 Seattle Made n Reserve City.
Washington, March 27=An OF the
national banks located in Seattle