New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-02
PROBE In MUTUAL VOTE
BALLOT FRAUD SOUGHT.
District Ittormey's Office Pushes
International Investigation.


District Attorney Jerome. a Tribune reporter
learned last night. has begun an investigation
Of the votes which the international committee
as the united committees" cast in the recent
Mutual Life election. in addition to the com
mittee's charges against certain OF the Mutual
Lifes agents.
The news Of this investigation OF evidence
against the committee comes a complete sur
prise, 1t having been assumed generally. espe-
cially in view Of the fact that the election in
the Mutual Life over that Mr.. Jerome's
Office would confne the investigation OF any
evidence against the committee 10 the New
York Life election. This week however almost
simultaneously with the Issue OF warrants for
the arrest OF the three men, the reporter learned
three representatives of the District Attorneys
office, in charge of a fourth. who Is one Of Mr.
Jerume's assistants II Is said. visited the Mutual
Life Building, and under their Instructions
thousands Of votes, or tally sheets. were carried
UP from the safe deposit vaults below the level
Of the sidewalk. where the inspectors had placed
them. and examined for evidence similar TO that
which the arrests OF gorge r. Scrugham
Charles surrup and Charles F. Darlington on
Tuesday were based in connection with the
New York Life election.
EVIDENCE OF 'PERFECTING" FOUND.
Here. too. Il Is said. evidence against the com
mttees adherents includes opening perfect
ing" resendiug and otherwise tampering with
ballots and destroying administrative votes as
well as initiating poncyholders' signatures both
on ballots and ballot envelopes. Aside from the
question Of any further warrants the District
Attorneys Office. II IS said. expects to obtain in
the investigation evidence Of a nature cal
culated to strengthen Its case against the three
men who are now out on bail
1t was learned further that about two weeks
ago representatives OF Mr. Jeromes office had
made previous visit to the Mutual Life build
ing. spending several days on similar investl-
cation, but with such secrecy that the fact was
not known until now. Subpeuas were issued
yesterday for several of the committees former
men employees at No. so Broad street 10 appear
and testify at the District Attorneys office to-
Gay. From information said 10 have been OBJ
taned yesterday from the committees former
women employees. engaged in the New York
Life canvass the allegation made that
many pro-administrat0n ballots received at the
offices Of the committee before election day were
promptly destroyed. In at least one instance. 1t
is said indsputable evidence of this practice
has been discovered, and It is the belief of the
District Attorneys office that many ballots were
so destroyed Thirty former women employees
of the committee already have been subp@naed
by Mr.. Jerome's office, and Assistant District
Attorneys Smyth and Howe, who appear
plaintiffs in the case. took testimony from some
of them yesterday.
The examination OF the three men has been
set for Monday.
mo AFFIDAVIT FOUND"
In conversation with the reporter Inspector
Huse of the New York Life. said that he per-
sonally had witnessed tho opening of every
wooden box Of ballots deposited by the inter
national committee, and he could state posi-
lively that, Mr. Scrugham's statement to the
contrary, Notwithstanding. Of the boxes
contained any such affidavit that described
by Mr. Scrugham in statement made earlier
in the day.
Mr. Scrugham, whom Detective Fitzsmmons
of the District Attorneys Office, arrested at
Albany arrived in town early in the morning
with the other international men and
ragned later before Magistrate House in the
examination room behind the Tombs court
He had made q deposition previously before Mr.
Smyth.
James w Hyde, of No 10 Wall street, repre-
sented the three defendants. Bail in the case OF
Mr.. Scrugham was fixed at $2.5O0 while the
bail of $4,000 in the OF Mr.. Strrup and
that Of So 900 in the case OF Mr. Darlington was
continued.
Magistrate House refused TO parole Mr. Scrug-
ham in the custody OF counsel. saying that his
inspection OF the papers convinced him that
the offence charged a most serious one and
that not even with the consent OF the District
Attorney would he permit any parole.
JEROME SUPPORTS SMYTH
District Attorney Jerome said last night:
do not care to discuss the insurance matters
at any length. With regard to statement
made by Mr. Scrugham that his arrest ruins
he good effect of a number OF insurance bills.
propose 70 see to II that injustice is done
any one In connection with these cases. con-
slider that l am the last person to permit an
Injustice TO go without seeking TO right matters,
and as for Mr. Smyth acting in my absence he
simply did what l told him 70 do. measure up
L, any emergency. l consider Mir Smyth an
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