New-York tribune., 1908-08-25
JEROME EXONERATED
NOT ONE CHARGE PROVED.
Report Says He Has Sho7cn No
Incapacity or Neglect of Duty.

Albany. Aug. 24.-Rchard l. Hand of Eliza
bethtown n. Y. who appointed by Gov
ernor Hughes to take testimony and report his
findings upon the charges filed against District
Attorney William Travers jerome of New York
County by a minority stockholders committee
of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company
in report submitted to the Governor to-day
finds that not of the series of charges is
proved but that all disproved upon the evi-
dence. He recommends the dismissal cf the
charges. request made for Mr. Jerome's
removal.
MY conviction upon the whole case, says the
report. as that the respondent has been shown
to have discharged the onerous duties of his
office with zeal and ability, having the public
good as his motive, and that no incapacity, in
difference or neglect of duty has been shown in
any case"
Twentythree charges were filed against Dis
trict Attorney Jerome on April 16 last. and three
additional charges on June 16 Later ten of the
charges were withdrawn.
SUSTAINS DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Commissioner Hand reports that ne examined
forty witnesses and received in evidence the tes-
timony taken by Commissioner Andrews, who
was first appointed to hear the charges and later
resigned; examined the proceedings of the So
called Armstrong Legislative insurance commit
tee, the investigation of the Public Service Com
mission. 1st District: the members Of grand
iuries of New York County, and contracts and
leases entered into by the American Ice Com
pany.
The commissioner sustained the contentious
Of District Attorney Jerome every charge
stating at the conclusion of many of them that
he could find neglect the part of the Dis
trict Attorney or any good reason for other or
further action than that which was taken by
him.
The charges in the main accused the District
Attorney of alleged neglect of duty in not suf-
ficiently prosecuting alleged fraudulent acts of
the Metropolitan Street and other railway com
panies OF New York. and also of the insurance
companies, as developed by the so-Called Arm
strong legislative insurance investigation.
One Of the charges alleged misconduct the
part of the District Attorney in shaking dice in
a restaurant in New York City. On this charge
the. commissioner says that. although the
act itself is cromina.. permitting it on the
part of the persons licensed-that is. the pro-
prietor of the restaurants crime. The COM
missioner holds that there evidence that
the proprietor knew the act was committed and
that to hold him criminaIly liable would be
absurd perverson of the object of the taW
and straining of its language
IGNORANCE OF VERIFY OF CHARGES
says. in part:
What Information this committee may claim to
have as to the conduct Of the District Attorney.
upon which they have assumed 10 make these SER,
charges Of improper motive. ab1Sct Neneratlon
OF mere money and the possessors OF money. neg; neg
rrf,9as 0 tSr,1ln nrnseC1tions and efeang jus
tce only infer rom the fact that ITS chair
man and secretary conCede their utter ignorance
and seem 10 have signed such charges az the coun-
sci saw fit to prepare without real know edge even
their truth or falseho"d and the
greater knowledge or information than they.
1t Is unnecessary t' point out or TO comment
upon the wide gulf fixed between the action OF noii
who are chosen by the people IN proper way anu
under proper responsibility and by proper authorlty
rit o,tnrney as Iessiati,e committees or counsel
for legislative committees and the volunteered. II
I ibt, n,sSH with no responsbility
thei truth falsehood made in this case;
examination either of the facts or the law
QUALITIES OF MR.. JEROME.
i seems probable to me that the temperamentaI
qualities OF MI. Jerome have tended bring upon
MIN h n5 m Of ihe opinion Of other
men; certain rasEness Of expression to the verge
of recklessn"ss; certain delight in the exercise
his acuteness of mind and vigor OF eXprfs;sloi'
certain impatence OF criticism nave colnniIed @
think. to MAKE men FAR more eager 10 'tytiSn mn, i
than they otherwise would have been But these
qualities of mind not Il lust occasion Tor such
rharges AS have been presented here. and have no
real materially in this investigation. while the fa"t
franKness not 10 say inlprudence of his sef-ex
preston perfectly familiar to the people "t
that in him which commanded their admiration ana
confidence. Certainly, In no ignorance as L" tnein
hu fiIIy eocnizant thereof their choice of hm for
another term IN the important position OF District
A9fney IN 5Ia, eTitnce fhsf these were not
their desire that he should Ge iheir prosecuting o
Ger for four years more
referring to the reelection of District-Attor-
nov Jerome Commissioner Hand says in part:
The unreasonable expectation Of the crowd has
been impossible of eradication ana. therefore, as
ie too common to excite surprise w any student Oh
human nature, many who shouted loudtSt LOT NJ
Ier.nme are now full cf bitterness toward him be
cause ne 7 maj '% I LIE 70 do With this feeling
regard is had what he has done; no appteeG;ii-
.irr olom "r their minds has been that ali which they
bave desired and hoped for has not been accom- accom-,
fate o idol of the Ie"p'e-
Governor Hughes will examine the testimony
and Commissioner Hands report before tax
ing any action on H.
Efforts made in the city last night to hnd DIS
trct Attorney Jerome 20 ascertain what comment II
40 he had To make about the report filed by COM
missioner Hand proved fruitless. He was not at
r. Of his clubs or usual haunts. and his house IN
Rutgers street appeared to be vacant Assistant
District Attorney Garvan was the only person VINO
,nuaarad to know anything about Where MI Je-
,o,na was and he said that the prosecuting at
,orne,, was out of city. He said he knew wlere
Mr. Jerome was but that he would not tell
ANYWAY" said Mr.. Garvan. 'Mr Jerome w'ulo
have no comment to make about the hhuihss II
would not be proper for him to do so at tiis 'iiiie
/ not until they have been approved by the Gov
ernor.'
GIANTS NOW IN LEdD.
I