New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
AFTER RICH CRIMINALS
STEPS BY GRAND JURY.
AdUised by District attorney, 1t
Asks for Information.

The New York County Grand Jury took steps yes
terday to start exhaustive investigation OF the
widespread belief in this community thar persons
now lately connected with financial institutions
or public corpora this city have been
guilty of serious crimes affecting such institutions.
To this end IL appointed a special committee 10
hear confidentally information of the supposed
commission of crimes such character, and appeals
the people of the city, the press and all others to
furnish it with all the information and even sug-
gestions which may be useful in the tracing down
of crimes.
This action is accord with the suggestion of
District Attorney Jerome who said the Board Of
Estimate had furnished him with adequate funds
TO investigate all complaints of supposed crimes.
Mr.. Jerome appeared before the grand jury for
about half hour yesterday, and afterward the
foreman of the jury made q long presentment on
the subject TO Justice Dowling in the Supreme
Court. The latter said that he approved of the
sentiment expressed, and that it the duty OF
every who had knowledge of the commission
of crime TO appear before the grand jury and
tell all he knew.
The presentment, after telling of the lack of con-
dence in corporation officials and the belief that
many of them have committed crimes states that
the welfare of all depends largely upon confidence
in the integrity of such persons and if belief
above referred TO is well founded much graver in
jury has been done than results from ordinary
criminal acts and the persons guilty should be dis
covered and punished if the law is adequate for
On the other hand. the grand jury asks why, if
the law is inadequate there not necessary
amendments made. Assuming that the belief is not
well founded the grand jury urges that the public
interest demands that this clear.
The communication to explain that the
power and authority of grand jury are perhaps
grossly misunderstood: that. while it has large
powers of inquisitorial nature, when apparently
reliable information comes it of specific crimes
committed within the county il has not the power
of invest eating body to investigate what Is
merely supposed to have been crime; that be-
fore IL exercise its powers II must have before
1t some information of apparently reliable char
acter Of the commission of specific crime
That the District Attorney does not intend to ap-
point any special assistants is made apparent.
What the grand jury wants. It says. is not neces-
sarily legal evidence of the commission Of crimes
but apparently reliable information to specific
crimes" With such information It says that it
can. with the aid OF the District Attorney, procure
and act upon legal evidence IL II exists.
The special committee. the statement says. will
be glad TO confer with all persons their coun-
sci whenever such persons think they have relia-
bic information TO impart or suggestions OF value
10 make" The grand jury saws that 1t feels that
the interests Of the public demand that IL sacrifice
itself for the public veal and that matter how
laborious and painstaking the investigation in1i-
Gated may prove 10 be IL stands prepared to make
any sacrifice of time and effort to make the IN
gury searching and thorough one