The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-19
TRACTION STOCKHOLDERS
DISTRUST JEROME
Offer to Relieve Him of the Trou-
BILE of Getting at Looiers.
MANY CHARGES ARE FILED
The Suggestion of William T. Hing,
Of the Protective Committee,
That He Be Permitted to Provide
Special Prosecutor Refused.

New York City. - Seemingly be-
tieving District Attorney Jerome was
pither unable or unwilling to prose
tutc the Metropolitan traction graft
crs and looters, William F. King, for
ncr president of the Merchants AS
sociation and head Of the firm OF
Calhoun, Robbins & Co., and
his associates on the Metropolitan
Stockholders Protective Committee
went before the Grand Jury and made
the proposition that they be author
lied to conduct the traction investi-
cation through their own lawyers,
backed by the powers of the Grand
Jury and the District Attorneys s
pfice. Jerome rejected this unprece-
dented proposition, the makers Of
which were led by a man who had
been as prominent as any other In re-
electing Jerome. King has said
openly Jerome was not making
good" on his ante-election promises.
If rumor be true, he told Jerome
practically the same thing in the pres
encc Of the Grand Jurors. One ele-
ment which makes King feel so keen
Iy the failure of Jerome to bring the
traction looters to book Is that King
collected from friends when Jerome
was running for reelection large
amounts for Jerome's campaign fund.
He assured those friends Jerome
would make good" The under
standing is that it was to make King
put up or shut up" that Jerome had
him and his associates before the
Grand Jury. They admitted frankly
they had no positive proof crime hao
been committed. They insisted, how
ever, it existed, and it was Jerome.s
duty to get it and to prosecute the Of
tenders.
King was before tho Grand Jury
ninety minutes. When he emerged
he was agitated and seemed on the
verge Of collapse. 1t had been his
Intention to tell outside everything
he had said to the Grand Jurors.
They warned him not to do so, and
he needed the warning. Neither he
nor his associates were sworn before
they were questioned. Jerome was
present. He had with him several
assistants. The District Attorney
deemed the situation so important he
even broke away from the Thaw trial.
It was only after spirited discussion
that Franklin Pierce, OF counsel. for
the committee, was permitted to enter
the Grand Jury room. Eugene S.
Kramer, another lawyer. was exclud-
ed. Besides King, the witnesses ex-
amined were George L. Degenerm,
William Mas. Nathan H. Hyman and
isaac Blum.
Before any of the men were called
the Special Grand Jury had before it
q communication sent to the body
and to Mr.. Jerome by the committee.
In this the committee offered to pro-
cure, at its own expense, evidence of
crimes connected with the manage
ment of the Metropolitan system.
The proposition made in letter by
the Stockholders Protective Commit
tee to take charge Of the prosecution
of the traction looters reviewed much
testimony already made public.
The committee said rejection OF the
proposition would be construed to
mean the District Attorney had no
heart in such a prosecution and that
Iuo Woulu mCCI Will oG-
structions. The letter also criticised
Jerome severely for compelling the
committee to appear. Assertion was
made that millions of persons in New
York and vicinity believed the officers
and directors of the Metropolitan
have wrecked the railway to their
own advantage, and that such men Of
great wealth could not be punished
for their crimes.
The King committee asserts the
crimes of forgery in the third degree,
conspiracy, the crime of paying divi-
dends out of capital, grand larceny
and false statements have been COM
mitted.
Mr.. King was armed with a care
fully prepared statement from which
he read to the Grand Jury that the
funds of the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company had been wasted
and stolen and the accounts falsified
to conceal the operations of some Of
its dishonest directors and officers.
He read that Mr.. Jerome was in
possession of statements of expert ac-
countants, showing, as he admitted
at the time, irregularities and
crimes. Yet no one was prosecuted
and the books were returned to the
company.
The Grand Jury, It Is understood,
after Mr.. King had been subjected to