The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-27
SECRECY SHROUDS
DELAYED ARRESTS
New York's District Attorney
Believed to Be Testing
Laws Power.
Campaign Fund Contributions by
Insurance Companies
Involved.

new 1OrK, MaTCn Wv drTduIS LUZ
the arrest Of three prominent life in
surance officials were obtained by Dis
trict Attorney Jerome today from
It was said at the time the warrants
were issued that the men named in
them were in the criminal courts build
ings, and that their attorneys at the
same time were in the supreme court
arranging for writs of habeas. corpus
in connection with the proceedings.
It was reported in the criminal courts
building that the warrants asked for
were for the arrest Of Postmaster Gen
eral George B. Cortelyou, chairman Of
the republican national committee; Cor
nelius N. Bliss, treasurer of that com
mittee, and George W. Perkins, for
merly vice president Of the New York
Life Insurance company. -. .
Test on Perkins.
Up to $3.50 clock this afternoon no
official statement as to the insurance
warrants could be obtained. At that
time it was reported that decision had
been reached to make test of the case
against George W. Perkins. The pro.
gram was said to be that Perkins will
appear in court tomorrow, when war
rant will be served on him and the legal
court. According to this report if the
case against Perkins holds, others con-
nected with the insurance contributions
to campaign funds will be prosecuted.
Jerome Close Mouthed.
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 'Sulli,
himself last week over the question
whether officers Of the insurance COM
panies would be prosecuted for making
Contributions to political parties.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Jerome present
ed to the grand jury evidence bearing
upon such contributions, which was
brought out in thl9 legislative insurance
investigation. Following this the grand
jury presented to Judge 01Sulliyan a
long series of hypothetical questions as
to whether, under certain circumstances,
the insurance officials had committed
larceny in making the political contri-
buttons. $685..
49, - Jerome's Opinion.
Several days later Mr.. jerome in
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'Sullivan notified the jury that it was
for the jury to say whether or not In
tent to defraud were shown by the in
suranee men and if the jury found out
that it was shown the crime of larceny
would have been committed. :
When Judge O'Sullivan 50 charged
| the jury, Mr.. Jerome declared the judge
had misconstrued the case, and that il
his ruling was correct, warrants should
issue for Messrs. Cortelyou, Bliss ant
| Perkins. Mr.. Jerome offered to asl
| for the warrants if Judge O 'Sul1iva1
would grant them and hear the cases.
| Judge O Sullivan declined to 60 abou
| the case in that way, and instructed
the jury later to secure the evidenc,
! from the district attorneys office ant
| investigate fearlessly the entire matte
of political contributions by insurance
officials. ...-....
Asked for the Evidence.
| The foreman of: the grand jury yes
terday made. application at Mr.. Je
rome 8 office, but the assistant distric
attorney declined to give it to him
Mr.. Jerome was not then at his office.
Assistant District Attorney Kressel
accompanied by Vice President Darwin
H. Kingsley Of the New York Life
appeared before Magistrate Moss to
day and Mr.. Kingsley made a depSsi
ton. Several subpenas in blank wer
then issued by the magistrate for
John Doe proceedings. None Of tn
court officials concerned in the pro
ceedings would say what the proceed
ings were. '-- ~ .s- y ~ 80.
Afterward Mr.. Kingsley and Edmund
D: Randolph, treasurer Of the New Yorl
Life, went to Mr.. Jerome's office tt
make an affidavit, it was reported, as tt
the payment Of political contribution
by the officers of that company.
! After the conference at Mr.. Jerome =
office, near MI. Kingsley, Mr.. Ran
dolph. nor Mr.. Jerome would disclose
what had transpired.
It was reported that the warrant
against the insurance officials would no
/ be served until tomorrow.