New-York tribune., 1908-05-27
MR.. JEROME SUMS UP
HIS AUDITORS STARTLED.
Calls King Committee Charges Clap
trap-CriticiSes Judiciary.
rBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.

rBy Telegraph Tribune
F-lizahethtown. y. Y. May 26.-Using the
oratorical weapons. repartee. Wit. humor, sar-
oasrn. ridicule and irony in his characteristic
manner. District Attorney Jerome summed up
his defence against the King committee
charges in the old Essex County Court House
here to-day in such aggressive fashion as to
stsrtle his auditors In voice vibrating from
emotion he declared that it indeed hard
that he who had devoted the sixteen best years
Of his life 10 the public veal should he forced
by Governor Hughes TO dignity the ''claptrap'
charges Of the King committee by spending
six weeks Of his time TO answer them Sar-
castically he said that he had no doubt that
the Governor thought it was better for him
that matters of this kind should be ventilated
Ironically he declared he appreciated this gift
Of the Governors. that he appreciated the fact
that in the height Of the labors that are cast
upon him by the duties of his difficult position
he should be forced TO give so much Of his time
10 clear himself of charges similar 10 ones which
former Governor Odel, one Of his greatest pup
lie enemies. ignored
Once again MIR. Jerome criticised the judiciary
of New York CITY He told Commissioner
Hand that he could have no idea what a cow
srdIv lot they were. He charged them with
being afraid TO act fearlessly and said they were
dominated by the yellow journals Of New York
City.
Why only recently a Justice Of the Supreme
Court crumped up like sick cat because he
was attacked by the yellow press" Mr. Jerome
exclaimed.
AGAIN the District Attorney gave his opinion
Of Judge Cnow .Justice) Seabury's conduct OF the
Ambrose z. McCabe case
4 withdrew from the case because thought
he was acting like cad, and he was. SAID the
District Attorney. There no reason why
should stay there and see the humiliating spec
tacle of a court playing so openly and brazenly
10 the yellow journals
Justice Goff and Judges O'Sullivan and no
salsky were the other members Of the judiciary
that Mr Jerome paid his respects TO- James W.
Osborne William F. King and Franklin Pierce
were the marks for particularly bitter attacks ny
Nr Jerome He charged Mr.. Osborne with
violating his oath as Deputy Attorney General
70 attack him tJerome1. the man who had be
1-iended him Mr King he styled "a nlilker
Of corporations" and in reference TO MI Pierce
among many other things he remarked. You
cant make a silk purse out Of q cows ear"
Defending himself against the King charges.
Jerome said. was like fighting with jelly fish"
William Randolph Hearst was also an object
for the District Attorneys attack, and on more
than one occasion he made merry with the
leader Of the so-called third party.
Mr. Jerome then took up at great length the
matter Of the investigation into the methods OF
the American Ice Company.
"At the most. your honor" said Mr. Jerome.
-if it trauspires that I erred in the Ice Trust
matter. il can only be an error of Judgment on
nv part. II every time an official makes an
error Of Judgment he is 10 be removed. think,
your honor. how rapidly the ranks Of Supreme
Court justices would be decimated, for is it not
true that there are no justices Of any experience
who have not been reversed again and again?"
Regarding the fourth charge, which relates to
TIE prGt,a bility Of Indictment and conviction of
Ambrose F MoCabe for a felony in the Eichner
case Mr.. Jerome said Il hope this fourth
charge won't be regarded as serious. as it would
in that case require the immediate removal Of
Governor Hughes's present legal adviser, who
as my assistant at that time. had charge Of this
matter
Regarding the charge that he had refused to
advise the grand jury 10 indict George ". Per-
kins in the so-called $4,000 political contribu-
ton case Mr. Jerome spoke at length.
Il tried to get a judicial decision in the mat
ter" said Mr.. Jerome. Judge O'Sullivan re-
fused 10 take it up and decide it. He said, Go
see Justice Goff' I did not want to go before
Justice Golf for reasons which irrevelant
here. but If called upon l quickly give
them. The judiciary of New York City was as
scared as anybody in New York because it was
on one hand. J. 2. Morgan's partner. and. the
other hand. the yellow journals were yamrning
and yowling. I say. your honor. that there has
been no more humiliating spectacle in the his
tory Of this country since the days Of the Doodle
aldermen Of 1854
Mr.. Jerome said there was rule of law by
which he could have brought John a. McCalls
evidence before the Armstrong committee to
the attention Of q grand jury. Il have been
called liar and charged with not being Hood
hound and many other awful things, but there
has never been even an insinuation that l have
dollar in the world except what I have re
ceived as salary
NJ. Jerome finished his direct summing up
this afternoon. and. following the line Of pro
cedure recommended by Commissioner Hand,
NJ. Pierce will sum UP tomorrow. Then Mr..
Jerome will sum up in rebuttal. after which Mr..
Pierce viii follow suit Each side will then have
ter DAYS IN which to file finding Of facts"
which viii close the case.
The summing up event IN the history
r zsbethtown, picturesque village nesting
= the lofty green clad hills Of the Adirondacks.
Jerome is here" the remark every ones
lips. There was evidently magic in the name.
Tor every one appeared anxious 10 and hear
The New York District Attorney. Several shops
We're closed for the day. that their proprietors
might hear the arguments.