The Washington herald., 1907-10-11
WAITING ON JEROME
Board May Take Traction
Facts to Governor.
AFTER WIDENER AND DOLAN
Attorney for Commissioner would
Like to Question Them Regarding
Ferry Deals and Whitney Checks,
Leading Lawyers Declaring Prose-
tion Net Altogether Uncertain.

New York, Oct 10.-If District Attorney
Jerome does not act on recent disclosures
In the investigation of the traction lines
the Public Service Commission may set
the facts as they found them before Gov
ernor Hughes. It is understood that the
advisability Of such course had been
discussed by some of the commissioners.
Any communication which the commits
sion might send to the governor would.
in any event. be merely statement Of
facts II would be up to the governor to
decide whether there was any need for
the appointment of a special district at
tOrney.
William NJ. WINS, the commissions coun-
sci, practically challenges p. A. B. Wild
ener and Thomas Dolan, of Philadelphia
to appear before the commission and give
their explanations of the checks which
went 10 them in the Wall and Cortlandt
Streets ferry deal.
Mr. WINS challenge was inspired by the
statement which came from Widener,
Dolan. and the executors Of the estate Of
w. l. Elllins in regard to the Anthony
Brady checks for Sill. .6527S which went
10 them. The Philadelphia explanations
were that the checks were in payment of
loans made by them to William c. Whit
ney, with interest.
Didn't Know Source.
Each of them had loaned Mr.. Whitney
$4,000. and they knew nothing Of the
source OF the checks which he sent in
payment.
Mr.. Dolan and Mr.. Widener." said
Mr.. WINS, have written letters ex-
planning that the money was received
in payment of an Indebtedness Of Will.
lam c. Whitney. That is interesting.
but not nearly so much so as II would
be If Mr.. Dolan and Mr.. Widener would
come here and let me examine them
in regard TO the history of the Metro
politan Street Railway and the Metro
politan Traction Company from 1892 to
1902.
The period referred TO by Mr.. Wins
was the one in which the consolidation
and reorganization of the Surface lines
took place The Philadelphia expIana-
uon was the chief topic of conversation
in Wall street to-day.
Some persons recalled that back in
January. 1900, when Dolan and Wild
ener say they made their loans it was
common talk that Mr.. Whitney had
been in Third avenue and other Metro
politan ventures, and had borrowed
funds from every available source.
On the other hand. attention was
called to the fact that Mr.. Whitney had
apparently loaned himself $1,000 at
the same time that he got acCommoda-
tions from Dolan and Widener, and
from that he had paid himself interest
at the same rate that the Philadel-
phians got
This check which Mr. Whitney got I'm
the Wall and Cortlandt street ferries deal
was identical in amount with the ones
that went 10 Philadelphia. The Metro
p0litau Securities COmpany's check for
S96500O was sent to Mr.. Brady in payment
for his S-50,GG0 paper road on May %
1892
Lawyers who are interested in the trac-
ton situation have been looking up the
law in regard TO the statute of limita-
tons, and they said to-day that IL was
not altogether certain, in their opinion.
that the statute would prevent the deal
from being brought before the grand
jury.
These lawyers called attention 10 section
143 Of the Code Of Criminal Procedure. If
when the crime is committed. the defend
ant be out of the State, the Indictment
may be found within the term herein
limited after his coming within the State;
and no time during which the defendant
Is not an inhabitant Of, or usually resi-
dent within, the State. or usually in per
sonal attendance upon business or en-
ployment within the State, is part Of the
limitation"
Penalty Five Years.
Limit for any felony other than muir
der is five years.
August Belmont refused to-day to com
ment on the $1,000 which ne received
as president Of the National Civic Fedora
ton from the Metropolitan Securities
Company. He said that he preferred that
any statement 10 be made should come
from some one else connected with the
Federation.
President Vreeland, OF the Metropolitan
Company, has not been at the company's
office since last Saturday, when his resig-
nation as manager for the receivers was
announced.
He has closed his country place at
Brewsters. and is not at his city home.
At the receivers offices it was said to-
day that Mr. Nreelands exact where
abOuts was not known but that he had
only gone away for a rest It was ex-
pected that he would be back in town
next week