New-York tribune., 1907-10-18
TALESMEN APPROACHED
SPY IN GILLETTE CASE.
Defence VIII Produce Young Nan
Who "BungIed."

Practically every talesman in the special
panel drawn Cor the jury to try DR.. William X.
Gillette, cX-vice- president of the Mutual LIE
Insurance Company, for perjury, was ap-
preached by man and carefully examined con-
cerning all his business and social affiliations.
This information came near causing mistrlai
right then and there and the calling of another
panel. but Justice Dowling said yesterday that
no criminal intent had been shown the Sc
lection of the jury would continue
When the questions of the District Attorney
and his special assistant William Rand, jr,
showed that the prospective jurors had peen
approached for some mysterious purpose by an
equally mysterious person, eX-Judge IatcH
counsel for the defence said he had no knoWI-
edge that any one had been employed by the
defence to call on the talesmen OF tho special
panel. After the sitting of the court was over
however, it was said the District Attorney $
office that both Judge Hatch and Mr.. Hantord'
his associate admitted that they had sent a
young man TO each talesman to investigate the
standing of those summoned for jury duty.
This Is a task generally performed by the Dis
trict Attorneys office. By going to each OF the
talesmen personally the young man employed
by the defence bunged things badly Judge
Hatch told the District Attorney that they would
have the young man II, court to-day to show
the court that no wrong had been intended.
Judge Hatch said that he would let him tell his
own story. but he would not reveal his name
last night The jury viii probably go as it
stands
only five Jurors were obtained yesterday. and
the trial itself will probably not begin before
Monday. The charge of perjury grew out Of DR..
GiIIette's testimony before the grand jury about
the yellow dog" fund in the Dobbs Ferry Bank,
IN which Andy Fields was interested. Besides
this charge there are five additional indictments
for perjury. all arising from the testimony
brought out by Mr. Hughes before the Arm
strong Insurance Investigation
District Attorney Jerome has retained ms lot
mcr first assistant. Mr. Rand. to conduct the
prosecution. 1t was Mr.. Rand VINO delehueu
George e. Burnham. vice president OF the Mu-
tual Reserve when he was convicted Oh s'i'H
larceny and sentenced to sing sing,
When the first talesman Conrad H. Lihde-
mann a cashier. Of No 1929 Fulton avenue
r7rooklvn. was called Mr.. Rand read a long list
or names which he asked the talcsman 10 listen
70 carefully to avoid repetition. The list in
cl,,dod tho names Of Richard a. McCurdy. ROD
or+ II McCurdy, Robert A. Grannis. Julian /.
Davies T. w Lawrence Louis Thebaud, Emory
NcrliDtocx and several minor officials.
Tho third talesInan. Edward a. Phil!lps' an
oeo,t Of No 52S West l24th street. became the
first Juror. Mr.. Hatch accepting him after con
shifting With DR. Gillette. The next talesman'
Albert 7 Dove A canvasser for a weekly news
paper. living In The Bronx, also proved accept
able After recess both sides found Fred Her
zig a manufacturer Of dolls at No. III Broad
way acceptable and he became the third juror.
II was found that he and the next talesman
had been visited by young man who had
failed 10 give his name, and who had asked
n NJ
fraternal organization, their ages and a few
other questions He said he came from the
Commissioner OF Jurors. From then on the
talcsrncn were asked II they had been visited by
ANYBODY Most of them had. by the same young
man, apparently, representing himself as com
ing from the Commissioner Of Jurors or as an
election inspector After several Of the talesmen
had said they had been visited by this stranger
Mr. Rand arose 10 say:
since five six of the prospective jurors
have been visited and questioned after rcceiv-
ing their jury notices whether this action Is
criminal or not. It is extremely dangerous from
the standpoint Of both the prosecution and
defence suggest in the interest of the admin
istratlon Of justice that this young man be pro
duced if he be found and I ask the CO.
operation Of the defence in locating him"
1t Is certainly a dangerous precedent" said
Justice Bowling, though nothing serious or
criminal has yet developed. There has been no
evidence yet who put i'm motion this inquiry
1 would suggest to the talesmen that they in
form the prosecutor of any effort made to in
huenCe them"
J. F. McAloon. retired of No 50 West 1lSth
street the fourth juror.
Edward K. A1gan, treasurer at so. 94q
Broadway. was the ffth Juror. He had been
visited by the young man. who said this time
that he was election inspector