New-York tribune., 1908-05-07
JEROME ON BRIBERY.
Defends u. S. RS Pohcy-Attdc6s
.Seoburu IN Cross-EramlndtiOn.

District Attorney Jerome. at the hearing on tue
charges preferred against him by the hlhs eol
mittee yesterday characterized Justice oea ~
conduct Of the McCabe jury bribns case III 1'O''
when he was Judge the City Court, as q CHEAP
pontfcaI play TO gain a Hearst nornihat'on' an"
as cheap. false cAptrap' The whole thing
1Ir Jerome added moment later was Nne1p ~
John performance just Ike THESE proeoeuo
against ms are
Mr.. Jerome also emphasized that it was a aues--
tiop nf nolicv if not of necessity for the Metro
politan Street Railway Company TO stano IN l's"'
with the politicians" especially the Connss'oae'
of Water Supply, Gas and ELECTRICITY ana 'ii
Borough President and int!mated strongly tha& IL
money was expended for such purposes, such ex-
penditures were for the benefit OF the stocahoio
ers of the company. He said, however tha' ne iiau
become convinced tnat the Metropohtah street
Railway company done considerable jury
brbing
Mr. Jerome finished his defence before the
luncheon recess and Franklin Pierce at once began
his cross-examination. The District Attorney re-
peatedIy lodged the question put TO MIN anu Falso
uuibbIe after Quibble Frequently, too he lesofleu
TO the reply Il can't recollect-' on the whoie 1t
seemed to be the general opinion that Ar Plerce
had scored more heavily than at any ufne before
and for perhaps the first time since the Meanings
ogsn the District Attorneys friends left the hear
ing room in the Tribune Building somewhat de-
jccted.
Mr. Jerome upheld the character OF Allan Ryan
a son of Thomas F. Ryan. with heat 'one OF the
most dastardly things that has been done IN ths
citv' he exclaimed cxctedly, is this charge ny
innuendo Of A theft of nearly SJ00,oo0 by Allan
Rx-an from the treasury of the Metropolitan Securl-
ties Company. No would have had the nerve
no one would have dared to hint at Such cndfhe
against any one other than son of Thomas T.
Ryan I know he is an honest clean boy. and this
charge Is preposterous" Mr. Jerome tnen eh-
p,ained that the money had been paid Allan Ryan
brokerage firm for legitimate commissions for pur-
chasing stock.
At one point in the hearing Mr. Pierce caused
stir by asking Mr.. Jerome # he had ever appeared
az District Attorney in 4 case against official
of the Metropolitan except in effect as counsei for
the defendant had ever conducted sucn case
without doing his utmost to prevent an Indictment
being returned or If that was impossible. to pre-
vent conviction. Mr.. Jerome laosheo at 'H7 au'1
tion.
In answering the charge that millions Of dollars
had bnen stolen through the Fields ana McCn1oE
transactions in the Mutual Life, Mr. Jerome said
the facts in the case did not bear out the cnarse
In regard 70 the Andy" Hamilton charge. Mr.
Jerome said that Hamilton had had no direct deal
irrs 1fth l,gfFators aldermen and cou4d not IN
his opinion he iudlcted- As for Fields, as ne got
him to states evidence, nc couia nov PIosHIo
him. he said
The District Attorney defended political cam
naien contributions, saying they were maoe ny
companies which held from half q million 70 nve
hundred millions of securities and "nlcn oe4IeVeo
that these securities would depreciats in value II
4re Democratic ticket we're elected In fact, Mr.
Jerome could no crime in the transactions OF
tho insurance companies, though some' ne SAID
,rero open 10 severe criticism. He told OF con-
versstions he had had with Chairman Wilcox OF
tho Public Service Commission saying the latter
had promised TO cooperate with him and had
done so.
In compliance with Judge Rosalsky's amended
order Mr.. Jerome filed yesterday morning the
minutes of the November grand jury, which in
vesttgated the affairs Of the Metropolitan street
Railway Company. Mr. Jerome made lengthy
defence Of his action IN calling Thomas +. Ryan.
H IL Vrecland and others as sworn witnesses TO
testify before the grand jury. and said that In
the course Of the investigation he had occasion
alIv addressed Messrs Vreeland and Ryan with
more force than courtesy.
In reference to the Ice Trust Investigations
Mr.. Jerome said he believed indictments could be
"extorted'' from grand jury, and that he used
the word "cxtortcd' advisedly. They could he
got by suppressing OF the evidence. he
said but If all of It was honestly laid before
the jurors, and II is my duty 10 see that eNeI9
one gets square deal
Mr. Pierce spent the rest Of the day examining
Mr. Jerome in regard TO the metropolitan vouch-
ers lie went over and over this subject. exam
ined Mr.. jerome with great minuteness as 10
when and where he got his information that
they had been destroyed concerning his conduct
in +ha McCabe case his reasons for attempting
TO irnpeach the credibility OF Julian a witness
sor the people in that case. and his reasons for
saying that Justice Senburys conduct or the
Sure did" and II were" we're Mr. Jeromes IA
yorite affirmative replies Mt. Pierce wanted to
know If Re knew OF any crime worse than jury
briti,S Il do" said Jerome. Il consider arson.
murder and a number OF others worse"
Mr. Jerome explained that when lie had said in
his campaign speeches he would follow the trail
of the criminal even into the Offices Of the Metro
politan if II there, he had supposed that the
Metropolitan had been bribing aldermen and
stealing franchises and bribing Legislators" He
NJ Sr1NI-t Of IS a
received knowledge of the MetropoNtan's alleged
jury bribing several months before the latter
called his attention TO it Mr.. Pierce expressed
great astonishment at this. whereupon Jerome
exclaimed: Certainly he did not call my atten-
ton to this before Why should be bother
with it?'
MI Pierce laid great stress on his assertion
that Mr.. Jerome had worked for Ambrose F. Nc
Cabe" and attacked Mr.. Jerome hercely for his
criticism of Mr.. Seabury saying the latter acted
from the purest motives and Ito accomplish a
great good.
Then Mr. Pierce tried to show that Mr.. Jerome
had attempted TO ntimdate Julian at the hearing
of the charges against him before cx-Judge
Andrews. and also criticised him for warning
another witness in the present proceedings Of his
legal rights.
At one time Mr. Pierce seemed to question Mr..
Jerome's assertion that George r. Bagg had told
the District Attorney that of Julians afr
davts in relation to the NcCabe case was a
damned lie" Why didn't you tell that be-
fore?" he demanded
Because you did not ask me-" retorted the Dis
trict Attorney
Ceaseless wrangling characterized the rest Of
the hearing. Mr. Jeromes cross-examination will
be continued this morning.
OPERATION FOR AMELIA BINGHAM.
Miss Amelia Bingham was taken TO DR.. wye's
sanatoTium. in West 4ad street, from her home, in