The sun., 1908-05-10
WINDUP OF JEROME EVIDENCE
SEABURY EXPRESSES CONTEMPT
FOR JEROMES OPINION

Jerome ended yesterday. Mr.. Jerome and
Lawyer Franklin Pierce will begin their
summing up probably in ElizabethtoWn,
Easex county, the home Of Commissioner
Hand on May a. Mr.. jerome himself
suggested Elizabethtown for the final act,
remark ing that he understood II was open
season for trout up there now. Commits
,loner Hand smiled and glanoing toward a
great pile Of railroad reports, Metropolitan
contracts and kindred literature that had
reen introduced for his perusal, remarked
YES, and don't worry about tackle, we
tan use some Of these exhibits as sinkers.'
The real reason that shift to Elizabeth
town appealed 10 the Commissioner was,
however. that a member Of his family is
H.. and he felt that he ought TO be at home
II possible.
Mr.. Jerome closed the hearings here with
= Characteristic bit Of testimony about the
development Of his field Of knowledge since
he became District Attorney. Mr.. Pierce
was cross-eNamining him.
What did you tell ps about William C.
Whitney the other day2' he asked
Il don't know, | have told you 80 many
things said Mr. jerome.
But didn't you tell us he was one Of the
most honest men you ever knew
Mo-
Didn't you tell us William G.. Whitney
was a man Of great honor and a man that
you wouldn't accuse Of wrongdoing''
NO my recollection is that ! said that
any one that knew Mr.. Whitney would not
Lelieve him thief
But in your first campaign continued
MIR Pierce, picking up a newspaper clipping,
didn't you say Whitney had been very
corrupt-that he had been a more corrupt
influence in public life in the United States
than any other man on Gods green foot
stooll'
Il don't know. as | said many things in
that campaign and made great many
speeches.
will you say you didn't say just thatf'
"Iwon I say did and won't say 1 didn't
] did say up at Lyric Hall that they were
endeavoring to defeat my election and
that Mr.. Whitney and Mr., Ryan were cor
Iupt persons in the public life Of our city
And did you then speak Of one Ryan Of
unsavory State Trust Company iame''
Il think did"
We'll, what changed your relations with
Thomas F Ryan since that time?'
Nothing at all; my relations are just
the same
Then what has changed your opinion
Of Thomas F Ryan since that time?'
Wider knowledge. You know there is a
saying that wide knowledge is a great
hindrance to vigorous statements. In those
DAYS didn't have as wide knowledge az
have now
80 you know more about the practices
and affairs of life to-day than you did then,
You we're an innocent fellow then; is this
the wider field Of life you found?"
DO you want me to answer that Well
sir | know more about actresses actors,
ramblers bOOtblacks. ignorant lawyers,
crooks ministers Of the gospel. upright men
end 30 on through the whole category in
the directory than did when | made that
statement
Mr.. Jerome volunteered his revised
opinion OF Thomas +. Ryan. but Mr.. Pierce
said they had that on the record So often
that II was needless TO repeat it.
Mr.. Jerome admitted that he had advised
the last Grand Jury Whlch investigated
'etropolltan anars 10 prlhE III the pre-
sentiment which rected that they had been
unable to find any evidence Of crime upon
which indictments could be found Mr..
Jerome went further. He admitted he
drew the presentment at the request Of the
Grand Jury,
Mr.. Pierce wanted to know il the Dis
trict Attorney didn't realize that there is
no authority in law for the bringing in Of
such presentment by a Grand Jury MIR.
Pierce declared that the Grand Jury legally
had the right to make presentments only
in regard to the conditions OF hospitals,
poor houses and other public buildings.
Nr. jerome acknowledged that there was
no authority in law for such presentment
in q constitutional sense, but it was COM
mon practice he declared, for the Grand
Jury TO communicate with the Court, and
that was in effect what this Grand Jury
had done
Mr.. Pierce charged that the investigation
by the last Grand Jury was taken up after
the King charges had been filed, that II
was Mr. Jeromes purpose from the start
Of this second Grand Jury investigation
10 get a presentment which he might USE
In discreditng the King committee charges
and that this desire accounted for the
difference in the character Of the investi
CATION before the November Grand Jury
and the one before the January Grand
Jury.
Il did want that ,presentement, | wanted
IL very much, said Mr.. jerome. i eN-
pected il would have a profound influence
on these proceedings. But | nevertheless
submitted all the evidence TO that Grand
Jury and haven't heard anybody suggest
since these proceedings began where |
could have got any other evidence"
Mr.. Jerome has testified that when he