The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-20
JEROME AFTER The RIOTERS.
PRIMARY. DISTURBANCES NOT TO
PASS UNNOTED BIZ.
Letters TO the Contestants in tho Districts
where Violence or Fraud Was Charged
Summon Them to Present Evidence
some Evidence Of Felony Already.

where Violence or Fraud Was Charged
Summon Them to Present Evidence
Some Evidence Of Felony Already.
District Attorney jerome will make a
thorough investigation of the reports OF
violence, intimidation and violations of the
primary law, especially in the Harlem
districts. Mr.. Jerome was stirred to action
when he. read in the newspapers yesterday
that mems heads had been cracked, polling
places invaded and ballot boxes stuffed.
He got into telephone communication with
Acknowledgement Mayer, who has charge
under ne law of prosecuting all election
cases, and offered his aid in investigating
what had happened on primary day. Mr..
jerome said be would do the work IL Mr..
Mayer would authorize him to TAX charge
of the prosecutions. In a very short time
Mr.. Jerome got this letter from Mr.. Mayer:
DFAR SIR Confirming our conference Of
this morning and pursuant to Section 81
of the Executive law. l beg here with 10
authorize and request YOU TO render any and
all assistance which may he nee essary to
investigate and prosecute complaints OF viola
ton of the primary election law. You are
herewith empowered to act as fully as the
Attorney General has power TO act in relation
to prosecutions for violation of the primary
election law, Approaching the prompt and
hearty response that you have already made
to my request, | am, very truly yours.
JULICs MAYER. Acknowledgement
Mr.. Jerome sent out his detectives to
get evidence and then sent letters to Philip
Rosenthal and Jacob A. Newstead, Repub-
Leans. of the Fourth Assembly district,
John F. Cowan and Percival E.. Maggie,
Tammany. in the Thirtieth. and Roswell ID.
Williams and Matthew F. Donohue, Tam
many. in the Seventeenth. Rosenthal
charged fraud in the Fourth. and the fighting
in the Thirtieth and Seventeenth districts
reminded old timers OF primary days OF a
generation ago. This is a copy Of the letters
sent to Williams and Donohue:
From the reports published ibis morning it
would appear that gross and criminal irregu-
larities took place yesterday at the primaries
in a number Of the Assembly districts in this
city. There were acts done in the Seven
teenth Assembly district which constitute
crimes. il they were such as the press repre-
sent them 10 he.
K~nowingthat you had a personal interest 'nthe
contest in the Seventeenth Assembly district
and were in a position to obtain Information as
to these acts. ! would be very much pleased
If you would call on me at my Office tomorrow
morning. September 20. that ! may obtain
such information on the subject as you may
have. would say for your information that
I have been requested by the Attorney
General under Section 81 Of the executive law
to aid aim in the prosecution Of such criminal
of snces as mas have been committed. Re-
spectfully. VIM. TRAvERs JEROME.
g.. "Y' ~. ~ n. District Attorney.
IF the reports m the paners of this MORN
ing are correct" said Mr.. Jerome, ~the
primaries held yesterday in a number Of
districts in the city of New York were dis
graceful in the extreme. II is very difficult
49, a - -
the primaries and attend them, but il
scenet of violence and disorder are apt to
occur, such as are reported to have occurred
yesterday, it is going to be Increasingly
difficult to induce decent men to attend the
primaries: and vet in contemplation of
law and in reality the primaries are only
secondary in importance to the election
itself. Citizens do not seem TO realize that
upon the primaries depends the choice of
delegates who are to determine the candi-
dates of parties. l hope that all citizens,
irrespective of party, who ave any knowl-
edge Of criminal acts committed yesterday
will communicate at once with me, so that
we may he enabled to the extent that the
criminal law will permit to prevent occur
rences such as are reported TO have taken
place yesterday"
Mr.. Jerome has assigned several members
Of his staff to take charge of the investiga-
ton. IL il understood that he has the
names of several men who we're assaulted
and also g. instances where ballot boxes
were stuffed.
John F. Cowan, who was defeated for
the Tammsny leadership in the Thirtieth
Assembly district by Percival f. Maggie, said
Yesterday afternoon that he had abundant
evidence of fraud in many of the election
districts and that he had his men out gather
ing more evidence and getting IL into shape
to present il 10 the courts. Cowan said he
thought the task would be finished by FIJI
day or Saturday, and by that time he would
issue a statement for publication.
Maggie was confined to his bed all day
Yesterday and last night as n result Of the
injuries he received at the polling place at
Fifth avenue and l33d street.
Matthew +. Donohue, N Of the Murphy
old guard, who was defeated by Ross Will
Jams in. the Seventeenth, threatens 20 make
a contest. but the Mcclellan men say he
hasn't a leg to stand on, as he was fairly
and squarely beaten.