The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-10

Albany. n. Y. March 9.-District Attor-
ney Jerome arrived here to-day and
handed Gov. Hughes. in person. vo-
luminous reply to the charges filed agsi inst
him by Charles F. King, charging him
with falling 70 fulfill the duties devolving
upon him as district attorney of New
York.
Jerome made a sweeping denial Of all
the charges and denounced them as false
He also produced evidence from the rec
ords Of the grand jury 10 substantiate
his assertions. The answer covers 100
pages. The district attorney goes into
details in each case. He also explains at
some length his actions.
AccuserS Have More Powder.
King and his attorney. Franklin
Pierce, were on hand when Jerome pre-
sented his reply. They intlmated they
had further charges up their sleeves
Jerome announced TO the governor he
was ready 20 proceed with a hearing
either before the governor or a commits
sioner at any time the governor might
suggest. Pierce stated II the taking of
evidence was TO be sent 10 a referee or
commissioner. his clients would probably
desire to file five additional charges
I against the district attorney.
/ Jerome's answer consisted Of one vol
Ume OF direct reply and two volumes Of
exceptions. In explanation of the volumi-
nousness of the brief, Jerome said in his
address TO the governor:
! Coming. as they did under your privy
seal gave the charges certain standing
which has led me to dignity them with
fun and complete answer. have drawn
| up a reply as lawyer and have adhered
to legal form throughout g."
JerOme'S Answer To Charges.
Jerome. in answer first takes up the
alleged failure 10 properly prosecute the
alleged bribing of jurymen in the inter-
ests Of the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company. on this point Jerome files
! over twenty pages OF court and grand
jury records. together with his letter 10
Gov. Higgns or the subject. Wri,ten on
March 5. 1906 BY these Jerome intends to
/ show there was no evidence Obtainable.
in spite OF diligence on his part. by which
the charges Of bribery could be proved.
! As for the claim that he prosecuted
Tillinghast. who brought the charges. .Je-
rome calls attention TO the fact that the
prosecution Of TiIlinghast originated not
with the district attorney. but with Judge
oDwyer.
Taking up the second charge. the dis
missal of the Indictment against Charles
Winters. Jerome files documents and dep
ositions to prove there was not enough
| evidence 20 warrant the bringing OF the
case 10 trial.
As To the charge that he failed TO prose
cute Hecht, accused OF attempting TO in
| fluence a juror in favor Of the MetropoIi-
tan Street Railway Company. Jerome
says this case was investigated by Ed
win Sanford, now the governors legal
! adviser, and was abandoned only when
Abraham Gruber. who brought the case
| to Jerome's attention, failed to produce
evidence Sanford's report forms part Of
the exhibit
About Andrew Hamilton.
In regard 10 the dealings OF Andrew
| Hamilton and others with the funds OF
the Mutual Life. Jerome says the King
charges refer TO them as practical
larceny To this he retorts that the
business OF the district attorneys Office
is TO deal with actual larceny.
After detailing the indictments secured
against w. r. Gillette. Robert a. Gran
mis-, George A. Perkins, Charles S. Fur
child. and others, Jerome adds:
ITO the charge that 1 have failed 10
accede to the clamor Of the newspapers
and the public make no answer"
As TO sne criminal conspiracy charge
regarding the Metropolitan Securities
Company Jerome says he put the Armory
charges in the hands OF George w. Schur-
man. who reported after an exhaustive
Investigation, there was no basis for
CT minal proceedings.
There are twenty-three charges, each
Of which is denied by the diarict attor-
ney. As 10 appointments made in his
Office he declares he investigated the
character. education. and experience IS
lawyers OF all those whom he placed in
Office and that no appointments were
made for personal or political reasons.
Life Insurance investigation.
At the close of the Armstrong investiga-
ton into the insurance company matter
Jerome says he began an investigation of
matters disclosed in the testimony before
the committee, with a view of ascertain
ing whether any acts of criminal na-
ture had been committed by persons con-
nected with insurance companies
From the investigation Of these matters
he groups the questions presenting them
| selves into four classes: First. contribu-
! tons Of money for political purposes; sec
ond. syndicate transactions; third, Joint
stock transactions. and fourth, all other
transactions of a questionable nature.
He states that the question as TO
whether campaign contributions by life
insurance companies constituted a crime
was submitted 70 the grand jury.
In regard to the George w. Perkins
matte. Jerome says there was nothing to
show Perkins had committed any crime
He is still of the opinion no crime was
committed.
The answer also refers TO the charge
that Cornelius N Bliss. treasurer of the
Republican National Committee. received
contributions of $4,000 and $4,000 from
the Equitable and Mutual Life Insurance
Companies. Jerome says the Court of
Appeals held that under the old law these
acts did not constitute larceny.
RoIffuorc and Ohio po,-.r M