Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-26

ELIZABETHTOWN. n. Y. May 20
This little village of 500 inhabitants. the
county seat of Essex is all astir over the
advent Of the district attorney of New
York county and his retinue who came
here to attend the final hearing on the
King committee charges before Commits
sDoner Richard L. Hand. native of the
town. Mr.. Jerome, accompanied by As
sistant District Attorney Garvan. arrived
last night. Franklin Pierce. counsel for
the King committee, was on the same
train.
The hearing today was held in the coun-
ty courthouse. AS soon as proceedings
opened Mr.. Pierce filed voluminous
brief. Mr.. Jerome then began to sum
UP. Mr.. Pierce.s brief in part follows:
Abstract Of Complaint.
The brief submitted by Franklin Pierce
counsel for the complainants declared
that every thoughtful man knows that
conditions in New York county are "a
hundred times more dangerous to the
welfare Of society than murder ITSELF and
that "a graver calamity could not visit
the people of New York than the contin-
uation Of the evil example and the dis
graceful conduct of William Travers Je-
rome In the Office of public prosecutor of
New York county.
The brief is voluminous document Of
nearly 2W printed pages. in which the
charges against the district attorney are
reviewed in "a most exhaustive way. In
addition TO that. Mr.. Pierce argued that
even in the investigation of these charges
the district attorney has conducted in a
manner warranting his removal from o.:
flee. He declared that Mr. Jerome, all
through the examination, threatened wit
nesses with criminal prosecution and
used other methods of that kind
Neglect in Jury Fixing Case.
On the first Of the eighteen charges Mr.
Pierce takes the ground that the district
attorneys failure TO investigate and
prosecute the alleged Jury fixing" in the
Metropolitan street railway cases was
case of neglect of duty which was Who'll
y inexcusa ble.
The extent OF the existence of bribery
of jurymen bribery of court officials, tam
pering with witnesses and controlling by
criminal methods the conduct of the
whole court. said he. lis of the highest
Importance. because a universal condition
OF crime of that sort is in and o. itself
notice To the district attorney. and its
continued prevalence over long period
of time. accompanied by great excesses,
showing criminal intent
Continuing. Mr.. Pierce quoted the testi
mony of Tiiinghast, who served as a
juror IN many cases and who was car
ileo over one term 10 another on many
occasions, and says. He tells US he re-
ceived money for every case In which he
sat as juror Tor the Metropolitan and
describes vtvidly the manner in which il
was received.
Not the Most Serious Matters.
But these are not the most serious
matters. About every officer in the cit y
court was manipulating jurymen in the
interest Of the Metropolitan and OF al
torneys for private parties " no would
pay them small sums Of money" BY
means OF vouchers. printed from the orisi-
nais which still exist. Mr. Pierce en-
ceavors 10 show how the attorneys man
aged 10 control the clerks of the court
hen these facts were disclosed 10
the district attorney. says Mr. Pierce If
he possessed any Of the true spirit of a
public prosecutor he would have gone
after the lawbreakers He did nothing OF
the kind. To show that Mr. Jerome knew
ot these corrupt conditions the brief gives
the story of the attempts of Mr.. Julian
Nho was employe OF the Metropolitan
FOR ten years and instrumental in the
alleged briberies of juries. To furnish The
office OF the district attorney with the
necessary evidence
'a-r. Smyth is the only assistant in the
district attorneys office who pretends tc
have Investigated this matter He had
the evidence Of both Tlllinghast and Bag
and he could have at once oceedcd be-
fore the December 1915. grand jury and
hundred corroborating circumstances
might have been added And vet this
young man Smyth tells he mad come [,
the conclusion that it was impossible fol
him TO secure sufficient evidence Of the
commission of one of these crimes
More Dangerous to Society.
Every thoughtful man knows that
such conditions hunored times
more dangerous to the welfare of society
than murder Itself but In spite OF this
Mr.. Pierce declared. Mr.. Jerome regarded
such a condition of affahs as scarcely ot
an serious importance II may he wrong
in my estimate. he continued but
Continued on Eighth PaseJ