New-York tribune., 1908-09-29
JEROME CALLED IN.
ASKED to Help Decide Whether
Cleveland 4rticLe Vas Forgery.

So that it may obtain the evidence which F. S
Hastings, executor of Grover Cleveland's estate
and John G. Carlisle say they have to prove the
article published in THE Times August 80 over
Mr. CIeveland's signature was not authentic that
paper has placed the matter in the District Attor-
ney's hands. According to THE Times" Mr.. Hast
ings first vouched for the genuineness of this arti
cIe and then declared it the work of Mr.. Ceve-
land. 1t says in editorial this morning:
The Times" has called the attention of the Dis
trict Attorney to the charge, publicly made, that
crime committed in offering for sale and
paign purporting have been written by ex-Presi-
dent Grover CeXea9d 1t being D now asserted 1naf
So was NOT written by Mr.. Cleveland, and that the
signature thereto APPENDED was t 1Grggr detail the
attending the publication ts & Of the III Iet
literary agent, who said that it was one OF three
articles which Mr.. Cleveland had undertaken to
were prepared The agent exhibited contract or
bill OF sale signed by F. S; Hastings, executor Io
ings accepted in behalf of the estate the terms OF
the money payment for the letter ofered I'd oy ins
which he had under way with Mr.. Cleveland prior
to his sickness and death.
THE Times then summarizes the correspond
ence regarding the article, and continues:
An expression of Mr. CIevelands views upon
rent politics. published soon after his death. was
necessarily an utterance of great weight and mo-
numbers of his fellow -countrymen. His Judgment
upon public affairs eommanded E vide respect fsf ana m
Incumbent upon itself to great diligence be-
fore publication in determining the genuineness
of the article When it had procured the attesta-
ton of the executor of Mr.. C1evelands estate. who
declared that he was cognizant of such an article
and that as he had assigned it to the lit
erary agent The Times felt that the authenticity
Of the article was established. and that it had
done all that any newspaper could or would have
done under like circumstances 49, -.
Since Mr.. Hastings announced his change OF
mind The Times has in vain sought from him
and from those in his counsel some statement OF
the facts upon which they base their conclusion
that the article was not written nor signed BY
Grover Cleveland and is. therefore, no longer
entitled to credit as his production The Times
is not supporting defending the genuneness OF
the letter or of Mr.. Cleveland's signature It's sole
aim is the ascertanment of the truth, and that II
seeks impartialy. In that search It gets no aid
from those who. in its judgment, should not be
only willing but eager to offer assistance / does
not assert the genuneness of the article for that
has been called in question. On the other hand It
cannot pronounce it a forgery, for the evidence
upon which Mr. Hastings acted has been wlthheid
from it, though its production has been repeatedly
requested. s /. .
The charge that the article was forgery Is a
charge that crime has heen committed. punish
able under the laws of the State OF New YORK
Determination of the matter, therefore, Is one OF
grave concern to the people. AS The Times Is
Unable TO ascertain the facts il has informed the
District Attorney cf the criminal charge IN ques-
ton in the hone and expectation that with the re-
sources at his command he may be more success
fJ1