New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-15
JURY FIXING CHARGED.
Albert f. Woodruff Produces Af-
daUit against NJ. S. r.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune ]


Albany. Feb. 14.-More charges OF alleged
Company were made by Albert Edward Wood
ruff, of New-York City. when, the Hoffman reso-
luton asking for legislative investigation of the
relations between the corporations and the ju-
dietary came up. Mr.. Woodruff submitted an
affidavit accusing the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way of jury fixing and subornation OF perjury.
Mr.. Woodruff also submitted a letter from Dis
trict Attorney Jerome. in which Mr.. Jerome said
that while he believed the charges true. it was
impossible TO institute prosecutions because the
charges weren OF corroborated. The affidavit
submitted by Mr.. Woodruff was made by the
ex-chief detective Of the Metropolitan system.
II recites that the signer in the employ Of
the company chief detective from January.
1894, until he resigned, in August, 19o4.
Learning in July. 1905" the affidavit says.
that effort was being made by representa-
tives of the company TO make scapegoat of me,
I determined to lay certain facts which have
come to my knowledge before the District At
torney Of New-York County"
The detective says that he went OF Mr.. Hen
neberry Mr.. Jerones clerk, at the Gilsey House.
and told him that conspiracy existed between
attorneys Of the company. court clerks and de-
tectives to put employees OF the company on
juries to influence verdicts in favor OF the COM
TO him eight days later that he had laid
the information before the District Attorney
and asked him to Mr.. jerome. At the Dis
trict Attorneys Office he was referred to Deputy
Assistant District Attorney Nathan N Smythe.
VINO asked his assistance in running down the
culprit
i did So" the affidavit continues, with the
result that former employe of the company.
William II. Tllinghast. was sent for. by Mr..
Smythe. from whom Mr.. Smythe obtained
complete confession, showing that conspiracy
had existed between this man Tillinghast and
attorneys and investigators for the company.
and court clerks for period of four or five
years. and that this man Tillinghast had been
improperly placed in the jury box. according TO
his own confession, in a large number of cases,
month after month
Mr.. Smythe asked the detective TO get a state
ment from Stanley S. Bagg. brother OF George
II. Bagg, one of the chief investigators of the
company. Stanley S. Bagg made confession
70 Mr.. Smythe. corroborating Tilllnghast's con-
fession and naming Ambrose F. McNabe and
Daniel ". Patterson, attorneys for the Metro
politan, men who had paid Tillinghast from
$40 10 S1OO for each case in which he had acted
as a fake" juror in damage suits.
Since the District Attorneys office continued
inactive, the detective says that he laid the
entire matter before Mr.. Woodruff. In January
Bagg 10 him. he says, and asked him TO
let the matter drop, as the Metropolitan at
torneys had just settled a case for him for S1750
and he expected 10 be able to settle other cases
He charges that he knows vast sums of money
are expended by the company every year TO
defeat claimants in damage suits. and that the
company has in its employ men who have bribed
Jurors and who have received employment in
return for appearing witnesses in damage
cases In other instances large sums, he says
have been paid to induce material witnesses in
important cases 10 remain out of the State. He
adds that he has been warned that unless he
ceases his efforts 10 bring the criminals to JUS
tice he would he prevented from doing business
in New York City.