Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-03
ACTION IS BEGUN
IN Insurance Case
JEROME SEEKS WARRANTS IN
CONNECTION WITH RECENT
INVESTIGATION.
JUDGE DENIES PAPERS,;
CRIME MUST BE SHOWN
"John Doe" subpoenas Issued and
Effort Will Be Made to Secure Evil
dence = Proceedings Result of
Judges Charge to Grand Jury.

New York, March 28.-District At
torney Jerome Tuesday applied to
Magistrate Moss for warrants against
several persons in connection with the
recent life insurance investigation. The
warrants were not issued, the magis-
trate taking the ground that it would
be necessary first for the district at
torney to present evidence that
crime had been committed. Mr.. Jerome
thereupon agreed to present deposit
lions upon the question to the magis-
trate later and it was reported late in
the afternoon that this would be done
Wednesday.
When news that the warrants had
been asked for became public it was
recalled that the names of Postmaster
General Cortelyou, chairman of the Re
publican national committee; Cornelius
N. Bliss, treasurer of that organiza-
ton, and George w. Perkins, formerly
vice president Of the New York life
Insurance company, had been men
toned by Mr.. Jerome before Judge
O'Sullivan in connection with the war
that no names whatever were neil
toned during his conversation with
the district attorney. AS result of
Mr. Jeromes conversation with the
magistrate, subpoenaS in blanc were
issued and it was announced that John
Doe proceedings would be begun at
once in an effort to procure evidence
upon which the warrants might be
issued.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Jerome present
ed to the grand jury certain evidence
bearing upon such contributions which
was brought out in the legislative in
surance Investigation. Following this
the grand jury presented to Judge
O'Sullivan long series of hypothetical
questions as to whether under certain
circumstances the insurance officials
had committed larceny in making the
political contributions.
Held Men Not Guilty.
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
surance 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 II
his ruling were correct warrants
should issue for Messrs. Cortelyou
Bliss and Perkins. Mr.. Jerome Offered
to ask for the warrants if Judge O'Sul
1ivan 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 attorneys Office and
investigate fearlessly the entire mat.
ter of political contributions by insur-
ance officials. The foreman Of the
grand jury Monday made application
at Mr.. Jerome's Office for the evidence
but assistant district attorneys de-
clined to give it to him. Mr.. Jerome
was not then at his Office.
Blank Subpoenas Issued.
Assistant District Attorney Kresel,
accompanied by Vice President Darwin
p. Kingsley, Of the New York Life In
surance company, appeared before
Magistrate Moss and Mr.. Kingsley
made deposition. Several subpoenas,
in blank, were then issued by the mag
istrate for John Doe proceedings.
None of the court officials concerned
in the proceedings would say what
their proceedings were. Later Mr.
Kingsley and Edmund D. Randolph
treasurer of the New York Life Insur-
ance company, went to Mr.. Jerome's
Office at his request to make an aft
davit, it was reported, as to the pay
ment Of political contributions by the
NA9 cf @ha%