New-York tribune., 1908-05-06
JEROME EXHALES FIRE
REPLIES To SII CH1RGE,S
Defes RosaJsky's Order-Higgins
Letter Introduced

a
Jerome hearing in the Public Service commits
Sons hearing room in the Tribune Building.
for the District Attorney himself began his oA-n
defence. and his verbal volleys soon had the air
lEr1d- 'Jnmitigated scoundreI~ liars con
spira5ors~ and such like expressions were the
order Of the day. While expressions of I will go
70 jail before I obey the order Of the learned
Judge / offer this as impeaching your credi-
H.'irs.' served 20 entertain the auditors
NJ jerome replied to the first six Of the
teerty-three charges against him. In reply to
the charge that the law department of the Met
ropoltan Street Railway Company used money
n influence verdicts. Nj Jerome sought to show
that he had every reason. from sworn testi-
-oIv. % believe that the vouchers for such ex-
renditures had been destroyed. He said he did
10 consider that TIE testimony IN the insurance
t-resrisation about the Nylic funds showed
commission of q crime. he did believe Perkins
was an honest man. but despite this had done
rs best 70 have him indicted and he did not
consider that political campaign contributions
T. corporations or individuals in the period in
question constituted crime
HIGGINS FOR TILLINGHAsr PARDON.
Ee offered in evidence q letter he had received
from the late Governor Higgins in which the
vrice- asked why NJ. Jerome had had TilIing-
hast t7e jury briber indicted and convicted.
suE why he should not be nardoned. and in
which he told Mr.. Jerome that # the latter 50
desired he would consider his answer coufden-
risL Ny Jerome said much influence was being
brought 10 bear on Mr.. Higgins al that time
- get him 70 pardon Tillinghast. He said that
he hz6 offered 10 send Nr Higgins all the testi-
-renv in regard 70 the case
NIr- jerome put Franklin Pierce counsel for
The King committee the stand. and at once
began one Of his Enthusiastically quick. sharp
s-examins rions to ind cut about the origin
ana contents OF certain paper Mr. Pierce had
and had used in presenting his case. Mr- Pierce
said the paper was made Up Of extracts from
The minutes Of the January grand jury which in
resrigated the American Ice Company. \ Mr-
De Witt. clerk in Clarence J. Shearn's Office.
-a5 volunteered TO get him some information,
ri Pierce said. and he had supplied him with a
etenog-aphar. De Witt and the stenograPher
went 10 The Law Offices Of James ". Osborne.
who conducted the last ice investigation. while
The latter vas absent. the witness said. and were
ushered IL 10y an Office boy. got access 70 q copy
of The minutes. which we're not 10 have been
made PUBLIC. and took extracts from them At
this point NIr- Osborne entered. according TO Mr.
Pierce. --Astorished-' ne saw the two 'stran-
gers in possession Of the minutes. said the Wit
ress. and highly indignant ordered them out Of
h5s Office and soundIy thrashed MS Office boy for
letting them in But the .Uuwelcome visitors
carried with them tie excerpts they had made,
Mr Pierce said. NJ Jerome intimated that he
might cali The persons involved before a grand
jur7- and take steps-,a- have them punished for
mat he termed the misdemeanor committed in
making the minutes public.
WOULDN'T OBEY ROsALsKY.
-le first sensation y the day came of
when the hearing began M Pierce wanted
-He minutes Of the November grand jury. which
began an investigation Of the Metropolitan
street Railway Company. in evidence. and the
5sz before had got Judge Rosalsky TO sign an
order directing Nr. jerome TO file them He
again demanded them yesterday morning. and
NJ Jerome refused 10 obey the judges order
aT viii 20 to IaT~ ne exclaimed. before / VIII
obey the order Of Rosalsky. j Later Nj
Jerome explained that the order was defective
and added that # he obeyed L IN its defective
form he might have TO 90 10 jail sure enough
This refusal annoyed Nr Pierce, and al lunch
cor tine he said that unless the District Attor-
-1- did obey the order he would institute con-
-=--r.- proceedings against him. In the after
noon Judge Rosalsky had M jerome served
-.--r an amended order which directed him 10
=.- - -or,- Of The minutes by 1910 q. m this
morning and Nj jerome said that inasmuch
a. IL vas correct enough for him 10 obey II
without going 10 Jail he would do So
N- Jerome tried 20 get AIr. Pierce TO admit
--a- He knew his steuographer was going with
u WIN 10 make excerpts from the grand jury
minutes M Pierce objected.
Il win give you a chance 10 object. shouted
n Jerome Il offer this and I ask this CUES
-.cr- 7e rhunde-ed. -as impeaching your credl-
r-rs-r * = witness. offer II IS tending 10 sho"
mat --r might have committed crime
sru Nr Pierce refused TO withdraw his OBJ
.ec-scn. and NJ. Jerome smiled.
CHARGES BAD FAITH
--ev r vas that the District Attorney chaIge
r-e orroei-for wiki conspiring and lylhs 10 rull
rs reputation. saying they solicited money from
ne --,-sa--f7-lazy Of 4 murderer Patrick hice'
n assist -He:n IN prosecuting him Jerome
Is ne question Of whether or not they ac'eu
In good or had faith material IN any way mere
cgfe-.- asked Commissioner Hand
A. r=~or7e then gave long account OF MS
z--sr-- fn Connection with the Jury-hXins cases.
z-5 again criticised Justice Seabury VIII "a
IRENE hs-shness for his conduct OF me 'lil"i'
,---=+e case He explained that he could ho' /
.~55r- George 2 Bagg for perjury beca use
among other reasons. ne hed promised liii i
r-r5rv for turning states evidence
Turning 10 the insurance charges MI. 'ei '''''
Fad. 81 had several conferences with 1lle - ~"
strong committee and suggested the name -
counsel for them ] considered the OBJECT u .
tbs committee was 70 secure evidence on "hl1i'
n rsse -e,orlInenda lions for new insurance reg
ssrsrior and any premature action on my part /
would have defeated great extent tlelI e1
forts IN -t-ie respect. AFTER II was all over anu
rhe re.,,le u--rs excited and clamoring Tor &C
,fr, 7 ,si,5ar4d The testimony before that com
-,i.-.. -f.l, --ear care and divided il into three
efsese --e. might constitute criminal transac-
t.ars. Inn which l thought did not These were