New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-27
PROBES BALLOT CASE.
INSURANCE VOTE FRAUD.
jerome Investigating Both Adminis-
frafiOn and international Methods.

District Attorney Jerome. it learned yester-
day through outside the Criminal Courts
Building. has begun investigation a. the bal
lots deposited by the international committee in the
New York Life election. Should he consider that
AIRY evidence Of fraud and forgery by pro-nterna-
ztonal interests warrants such action Ny. Jerome.
81 Is understood viii 80 before the grand jury and
ASK iCf indictments against she person or persons
concerned The evidence against pro-internatiOnal
Interests includes. II is said. the opening, perfect
ing and careful rescalinE Of hundreds Of prO-in-
ernational ballots; clumsy attempts at envelope
fofgefles m a peculiar blue or green INK as wen
general tasnpering with the ballots before their
deposit AT the company's Offices on election day.
II Is Of common knowledge in the New York Life
Pudding that Mt least two occasions this week
most recently. ycsterday-one or another or MI.
JerOmes assistants has visited the building and
spent several hours examining the pro-internatonal
votes cast ia the election.
Because the District Attorneys Office IS investi-
eating the cOmaittee's charges OF forgery against
the companys agents il has been assumed gen
orally that Mr.. Jeromes assistants while I'm the
building have been examining only evidence
against pro-admnistration interests. It is now
learned however. that at the same time the as
Eistants asked 10 see some Of tho disputed pro-
International ballots and proxies ana that in view
of the palpable nature Of these the District At
tOrney's office. its own initiative began once,
but quietly, investigation which is going to-
day. with indications that international commit
teemen may thus he hoist by their own petard."
Mr.. Jerome's assistants found evidence il is said
that thousands OF envelopes before delivery to the
inspectors. had been trimmed" at the side and
Tesealed so carefully that only almost micro
scopic examination would show that they had been
sampered with.
The assistants also found # is said. that
more protectors" had initiated" the envelope
a policyholder's ballot signature in the pc
.culiar ink and had otherwise perfected" the
lveIope address
In more than one case. it is said. the same man
witnessed pro-internationa ballots on the same
day in states scattered many thousands Of miles
apart.
No one could be found at the District Attorneys
Icface yesterday who willing TO discuss the
new Investigation or admit that IL was being
made. In view OF the non-partsan nature Of their
office and the possibility Of their testfyng wit
nesses. neither would the New York Life election
inspectors discuss il. 1t is not believed that any
OF the men on the international committee had
knowledge Of the peculiar methods of some Of the
committees adherents representatives. and ri-
Tnors are revived Of a difference of opinion among
she committeeman this point.
At the recent Insurance hearing, at Albany, i is
said the international committees representatives.
reports 20 the contrary Notwithstanding, made no
attempt 10 explain Il reply 10 the 'perfecting
charges made behalf Of the company. In con
nection with charges against the internaton3l com
watchers at the recent election in that company.
has now issued a report, in which he says
/ The international committee persistently begged
pocyhOlders 10 send their ballots directly them.
properly deposited and counted as cast. There is
evidence 20 show that when ballots cast Tor the
administration ticket were thus intrusted, mad
vertentIy OF otherwise the international com
Tnittee 10 be deposited at the polling place desig
mated by law. the same were generally, II not al
ways, suppressed.
Mr.. Wootton says that very many Of The proxies
voted by she international committee had written
across their face 81 she peculiar shade OF ink used
a. the International headquarters the memorandum,
ballot o. k"