New-York tribune., 1908-06-17
JEROME MAKES REPLY
EXPLAINS DICE ROLLING.
Eaus He Committed No Crime Play
ing srith Ryan Boys.

ThroTiur dice in Pontin's restaurant with the
Ryan boys"-sons OF Thomas f. Ryan-for drinks
md a dollar TO boot crime, considering the
circumstances. said District Attorney Jerome yes
erday in his reply the three additional charges
made against him by the King committee In TACT
lNr Jerone when he rolled the cubes the con-
Acitions were such that apparently Pontins was as
,private as ones club" and there was nothlns
'o offend impair the peace and order OF the COM
rnunity" Mr.. Jerome sets forth that on the oas
when he shock the dice he exceedingly wearleo'
land hence went Pontin's TO ''eat and drink :
that there he the Ryan BOYS and joined 1hein,
and some one suggested appealing TO the COO Oh
Chance to decide who should pay for the refresh
,nents Of which partook.
All Of this is set forth in the forty typewriter
rases which constitute the District Attorneys reply
70 The last charges The reply was sent by special
messenger 10 Governor Hughes yesterday The
two other additional charges are based on MI
t.Jerornes dining with i. r. Thomas at the CITY
ic1uh when the latter under Indictment, ana
1dvisnc him as TO the selection Of his counsel ana
his conduct in relation to Nathan Nidaver and the
marked money episode.
At the end Of his reply Mr.. Jerome asks the
,,overnor either to dismiss the additional charges
i.'upon the charges themselves or my answer
trhereto' or TO grant him hearing on them IL
seened TO be general opinion yesterday tla' tne
lCovernor would adopt the latter course, in "hch
lease in all proba bility, Commissioner Hand VIII
mot report his findings before the middle OF July
1f the Governor should decide to dismiss the addi-
-ional charges it is considered probable that Com
missioner Hand viii report his findings TO the Gov
fernor within days.
The dice throwing discussed at length ny
Mr. Jerome and there many yesterday
-bo xa.5 they discerned a trace of satire in the
district Attorneys wording of his reply. Speaking
IF the Thaw trial. Mr. Jerome said he was eX-
ttremely weary with the work and strain OF long
snd difficult trial. and from his offices went TO
trestaurant commonly known as Pontn's for some
thing TO eat and drink. While there respondent s
assistant and the Messrs. Ryan came in and sat
down with him. The said Pontin's is a place long
established and OF the highest respectabiiity AT
-be hour that respondent was there there are very
seldom more than one two persons there. and
the pJace was not q public saloon or barrooIn as
i,bese terms are generally understood"
The District Attorney insisted that he did not
Violate the law in throwing dice under the crcull-
stances On this point he referred to various stat
mes and argued that IL the law was reasonably
construed no such charge could be entertained
pecause" he said. 'It IS well known that such per-
Sons Judges. lawyers and citizens Of hish chaT-
scter great Intelligence and distinguished position
engage in games Of cards such as bridge whist ana
Others for stakes and such people are of such high
character that they cannot be presumed 10 pc
knowingly committing felony
In reply 20 the charge IN regard 10 the Thomas
dinner incident Mr. Jerome said that the statement
Of facts in the charge itself was not fair and the
conclusions drawn as his motives were not Justl-
fed by the facts. He said he believed that Charies
w Mcrsc had been guilty of grave crimes ano that
+ r. Thomas was merely his TOOL ana consequently
he was anxious get Thomas TO testify against
Morse He said that he had explained this TO the
grand Jury in advising him to change his counsel
Mr. Jerome said he had intention of giving Mr.
Thomas ANY advantage favor except such as
might accrue TO him through being Wisely ana uil-
selfishlv advised
Regarding the third additional charge. Mr.
Jerome denied that he had placed himself under
any obligation 10 William r. Montgomery, the IN
sic+ed banker and said that the latter distinctly
ar
IN him He said he believed that Mr.. Montgomerys
efforts TO get Mr. Vidaver into trouble prompt
ed hv "the spirit of revenge, which he endeaTored
70 take advantage Of prosecute public officers
s,,iIt, as respondent believes. of crimes In doing
1bis Mr. Jerome said he simply doing his
whole duty in a proper manner