The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-27
UGLY CHARGES ARE PREFERRED Closing fguments in
 t.5me Case. sRIEy ARE SUBMITTED ? e.riet Attorney is Charged With Shaking Dice. One Brief Declares that Jeromc's Dis graceful Conduct Unnts Him
 for the High onice whieh
 He Holds.

Elizabethtown. N. T.. May 2e.-cloe- ing arguments in the charge of dsre- fiction preferred by committee head ed by wm.. F. Kling. against District Attorney Jerome of New York County, were heard today by Commissioner Hand. who was appointed by Governor Hughes to hear testimony on the charges.
 In addition to the oral arguments counsel for both sides submitted briefs to the commissioner. The brief sub mitted by Franklin Pierce. counseN 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 visis the people of New York than the con- tinuation of the example and the dis- graceful conduct of Wm. Travers Jer- ome in the office of public prosecutor of New York County.
 The brief is a document of nearly 200 printed pages. Mir. Pierce argued that even in the investigation of these charges, the District Attorney has con- ducted himself in a manner warrants ing his removal from office. He de- clared that Mir. Jerome all through the examination, threatened witnesses with CIlfQlndl pNOSt@uIAOh anu oGCd 1NA~@ methods of that kind"
 MT. Pierce takes the ground that the District Attorneys failure to investt- gate and prosecute the alleged jury fixing" in the Metropolitan Street Rail- way cases, was a case of neglect or duty which was wholly inexcusable,. Taking up the case of George W. Per- kins in the so-cailed political contribu- tion case, the brief says:
 .Tt ts undisputed that Mir. Jerome would not furnish any evidence to the March grand jury and we have his own sta tenent that If they had found an in- dictment against George W. Perkins he would have refused to sign it
 The brief concludes with reference 10 the allegation that MT Jerome ad- vised E R. Thomas to employ a eer- tain attorney when ThQFpaa was hsAt tn hA Indicted from che Do [ itfffH Cd 6s8s that he violated the law against garT1b- ling by shaking dice at dollar throw in restaurant of the sons of Thomas F. Ryan. and that he dined with Will liam Montgomery, a banker who was indicted and talked over the project trapping another man--an alleged public officer--into the commission of a crime and consented that this man under indictment shall go forth on such an errand as that, and the man goes forth and claims to have accomp- lished it.
 Jerome Presents Plea.
 On the oral arguments. Commission CT Hand decided to hear the District Attorney first.
 MT. Jerome launched into a lengthy analysis of the motives which. in his belief. animated those most active in bringing and pressing the charges against him. He supported his conten- ton that the proceedings were film sy and mendacious" by asking the Commissioner to note, for one thing. that the complaint had not been vert- fed mot even on information and be- lief.''
 T have lived all my life in the City of New York" said the District Attor- ney and the sixteen best years of my life there were given to the public ser vice, Twice have run for office in that city and have been elected. the last time against every political party and all alone: consider. sir. that I was elected to exercise my judgment in the discharge of the duties of that office and not the judgment of irresponsible editors of yellow journals and what they might say l ought to do.
 T consider" continued MT. Jerome. "that the duties that were laid down upon me in that office and which l have striven to discharge. were these: To be fair and just: to apply one law to all persons; never apply one law to the poor man and another to the rich man. have stood. sir. under great pressure. before that grand jury room as a Southern sheriff has often stood before a Southern jail when he knows that the prisoner within Is gull ty and worthy of punishment. but will only allow him to be punished as the law provides"
 When MT. Jerome concluded his sum ming I'D. Commissioner Hand declar- ed the hearing adjourned until tomor- row.