New-York tribune., 1908-03-07
JACKSON ON VIDAVER.
VONT JUDGE HIN YET.
Attorney General Speaks of Po'rer-
fuI Interests at W ORR.

deputy Attorney General, charged Will a'ISii'A'
ing to extort 81 500 from William r Montgom-
| CRY, ex-president of the Hamilton Bank. took
new twist yesterday afternoon. when Attorney
ce,aral Jackson announced in signed statement
that the powerful interests he is attacking IN
| A dozen suits never fail" to try to discredlt
! members of his office. For this reason MI
! Jackson said. he would not pass judgment Oh
! Mr. vidaver at present, although he wished the
/ case to he investi gated thoroughly with a vie"
| to rigorous prosecution" if guilt was proved.
| Mr Jackson's statement followed closely on
the adjournment Of the first hearing of Vida
ver's case before Magistrate Herman in the
private examination of the Centre street
court The only witness to be heard was MI
| Montgomery. who repeated with slight varia-
tions the statement made in his affidavit. pub
/ lished in The Tribune yesterday. He rehearsed
! his alleged conversations with VidaVer ana
! Vidaver's counsel. Moses II. Grossnan, regard
ing Vidaver's alleged promise that if paid s1.ooo
he could cause the Attorney General to stop his
| attacks" Montgomery and the Hamilton
Bank through The newspapers.
! The hearing was enlivened. though. by the
attempts Of Frank Moss who, with ". NJ. K
Oicott. represented Vidaver, 10 persuade Magis-
| trate Herman exclude certain evidence As
sistant District Attorney Kresel acted for the
prosecution, while at his side sat Howard s.
Cans. counsel for Mr. Montgomery. The nagis-
| tTate overruIed most of Mr.. Mosss objections.
and the latter, after a rather warm argument.
| said. This record will bristle with exceptions"
/ With the close of the direct examination Of MI
Montgomery. the hearing adjourned 20
| o'clock on Wednesday
| The prosecution entered as exhibits Yesterday
a check for $500 and a receipt that Mr.. Mont
/ gomery identified as having been shown him by
| Mr.. Grossman as proof that he had advanced
| $500 to Vidaver on Mr.. Montgornery's promise
| that he would advance the 81 800. The check
was drawn on the National Park Bank. bearing
! the firm name Of House. Grossulan & Vorhaus
| and the Endorsement Of Nathan vidaver. The
receipt from Vidaver to the firm was dated No
venber -. 1907 and had the statement $500
| retainer in Re Hamilton Bank There mucn
| interest in the crowded room when the two
| pieces of paper were produced by MI Kresel.
who remarked that he supposed their identity
! would not be questioned
Mr.. Montgomery in low voice answered Mr.
| kresel's questions briefly and only occasionally
showed excitement when he repeated alleged
! threats his own objections to them. He out
lined as in his affidavit, his connection with the
| Hamilton Bank and his attempts after its sus-
! pension 10 raise 81 500 600 to start It going
/ again. He referred TO the two technical viola
| tons of the law" the knowledge Of which he
! had confded only to Vidaver and 10 James NJ.
heCeiTer
he said, called UP on the telephone by At
! torney General Jackson and told 10 look over
| the books for two months past and search for
! these violations. Mr. Montgomery said he had
| told Grossman he was surprised that this
! knowledge should come TO the Attorney General.
| This led finally TO the arrangements for the
! meeting with Vidaver at the Astor House and
| Vidavers arrest with $500 in marked bills on
| his person.
| Mr.. Montgomery testified that previously
| With Mr Cans. his counsel. he laid the mat
| ter before District Attorney Jerome and had
| taken the later steps with the consent Of that
| official. He said no immunity had been promised
| to him in the indictments pending against
| him.
| Following the hearing the statement from
MIR. Jackson was given out at his Office and II
| was said there that none of his representatives
| had been at the hearing. In his statement, Mr..
| Jackson began by saying that he had appointed
Mr.. Eidaver a special Deputy Attorney Gen
eral on January %. 1908, TO conduct the inyes-
! tigaIion into the Kissena Park scandal before
| the Queens Co1Ry grand jury. and that his
appointment ceased with the close Of the in
| vestigation on February % This has been
the only connection of Mr.. Vidaver with his
| office, except for "a day or so" assistant 10
| Mr.. Limburg. Continuing, the statement runs:
| II IS charged that Mr.. Yidaver has represented
/
off1ce ana his personal influence with me growing
! Of that connection. he could influence my Off
| cial acts and that he has accepted money from
| such influence in their behalf. l have personal
knowledge that Mr. Nidaver has made such repre-
| sentauons- l do know that he has not attempted
charges against him will be thoroughly tnvestigat-
! ID and that if he shall be proven guilty Of any
vigorously prosecuted therefor. VIII he glad TO
render any assistance III my power 10 any public
officer whose duty it is 10 ascertain the ruth Of
; any person the employment of my office:
The public clearly understand that zne sue
cessful issue OF actions and proceedings begun
nv me enforce the civil and criminal laws against
| powerful corporations who have violated them,
must of necessity be endangered py atIhCks unon
4f1e integrity of men connected with my nff.e The
tendency Of such attacks is TO deprive net in the
/ of such litigation. Whetrar cfNh cr!rll-
7aI whether in the courts or before EreDC 1uries.
cF the support OF active public sentiment 50
essential 70 success The powerful interests against
| s.r - rss any means within their power. any
+bcn1 They know the value OF dlverting public at
| fentinu from themselves and their wrnngooing by
a-reu7Dtire to enforce the laws against them.
| I therefore. viii not pass judgment upon NJ
! Tidavor untu his guilt shall nc established as the
| law provides
| Tho reference At the end IF the statement tn
| .,,,-arr,I corpora tons and their interest IN
i1t,7rinr tho standing of Ny Jackson's Office
| raused 2 great deal Of comment. but Deputy
| Attorney General De Ford said his chief would
| nor eIa anrate on his typewritten words.
| Let them said Nj De Ford, be taken as
they stand
| The Attorney General has actions against the
/ Consolidated Gas Coupany the marlborough
| METROPOLITAN. the Western Union Telegraph
| ard se7eraI other -0-T,orariops