The sun., 1908-05-27
JEROME HITS OUT FIERCELY
Ar Observation-Disclosures
AND PIERCE, "MUDDLE HEAD"
seabury "Cad" and One Justice ''sick
Cat"--Even Makes Himself Weep On
Answ ering Charges That He's Incom.
pctent at Ehzabethtown Hearing.

ELlzABETHTowN, N. Y, May 2e.-Dis-
trict Attorney Jerome summed up his
defence in the King committee proceedings
before Commissioner Richard l.. Hand
here to-day.
1t was a novel hearing, the District At
torney OF the great county Of New York
appearing in the little old fashioned court
house in this hamlet OF 500 and delivering
speech with an intensity OF feeling that
at times brought tears to his own eyes
and held the attention Of the audience
Of villagers.
1t wasn't that the people OF Elizabeth
town were interested particularly in the
financing OF the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way system or in the alleged monopoly
Of the American Ice Company. Most
ef them probably had forgotten long ago
that there ever had been such a deal as the
Wall and Cortlandt street ferries trans
action, and some had never heard OF it.
They were curious, but more than that
they we're deeply impressed by Mr.. Jeromes
earnestness.
Mr. Jerome hit out hard at his critics
and enemies. A few minutes before he
entered the court room he had seen the
brief prepared against him by Lawyer
Franklin Pierce Of the King committee.
In this he was characterized as a base in
competent, a oorrupter Of the youth Of the
city and fit subject not only to be removed
from Office but to be disbarred from the
legal profession.
Mr.. Jerome's blood was up. He pictured
Lawyer Pierce practically as a muddle-
head, jellyflsh. who in the investigation
had attempted to set up man Of straw
that didn't have enough stuffing in it to
stand up for a blow. William F. King.
head Of the prosecuting comm mittee, was n
mixer of corporations, Justice. Seabury
in his Metropolitan jury fixing inquiry
had acted like a cad and the judiciary Of
New York county. when 1t came to acting
toward big men. was nerveless. Mr.
Jerome had himself seen one Justice within
the last six weeks orumple up like Q sick
cat because the newspapers had attacked
him. MIR. Jerome paid his compliments
along other lines to Judge Rosalsky and to
Judge OSullivan.
Elizabethtown Is the county seat OF Es-
sex and the home Of Commissioner Hand.
The nearest railroad is seven miles away.
and you bump into a mountain any way
you turn. The court room in which the
hearing was held contains two perfectly
good wood stoves with yards and yards Of
stovepipe leading from them and fes-
tooning the ceiling. An old fashioned red
and white carpet on the floor. an ancient
engraving Of the national Capitol. above
the Judges desk, about ten rows OF wooden
benches and a little white gallery in the
rear complete the room.
From the gallery the high school students
viewed MIR. Jerome and in the front row Of
Hapc in
Franks, members Of the January Grand
Jury, which investigated Metropolitan af-
fairs. They happened to be in the noun
tains on an automobiling trip.
to the fact that the complaint Of the King
committee had not even been verified on
information and belief. Then he said:
| suppose In my personal relations there
has been no man in public life more antago-
nistic to me than Gov. Odell, and justly So
and yet when charges Of a similar character
were laid before him 1t impressed him as
preposterous that a sworn elective consti-
tutional officer should be put on trial upon
involved charges made by irresponsible
people. not backed up by any aff1davts.
l was not called upon to answer them
then. / mean to make no comments upon
the present Governors g action. 1 have no
doubt after the many years that have known
him personally. some twenty-seven now.
lndt ne tnOuEuJ tnat ~ WIS DetteT LOT me tnaC
matters OF this kind should be ventilated
and sworn testimony adduced. and so in
that spirit have no doubt that he ordered
this reference to your Honor.
! accept the gift in the spirit in which 1t
is given. l appreciate it very much. i
appreciate the fact that In the height Of my
labors l should be compelled to take from
five to six weeks to clear this air at the soci-
tation Of persons who have shown such an
interest in the public veal as Is indicated
by this committee.
Mr.. Jerome added that ii was pleasant
to see running all through the proceedings
the evidences Of such great desire to serve
the public. 1t was delightful particularly
to think Of Mr.. Osborne, MIR. Jerome's for
mer assistant and now Deputy Attorney
General, allowing the learned counsel of
the defendant to send a stenographer to
his. Osborne's, Office and make copies of
the Grand Jury minutes, supposed to be
secret. He added:
1t is pleasant, too. to consider that the
attorney for a newspaper against whom you
have had libel suit should send his clerk 10 The
office along with Mr.. Pierce's stenogra pher
to copy these minutes. 1t is pleasant to con
template that wild indignation with which
Mr.. Osborne. as We have been told. rushed
into the ONCE after the min utes were copied
am not sure that I am not derelict in my
duty and subject to removal for not pursuin z
tndt indIter DeiOre tne STanu Jury
1t was interesting to Mr.. Jerome also
to see a member OF the bar, Mr.. Pierce
building up his principal charge upon the
testimony Of man whom he had fire.
quently denounced as perjurer and whose
character he was unwilling to vouch for
Mr.. Jerome referred to Louis +. Julian. the
Metropolitan Street Railway investigator
MIR. Jerome went on:
1t Is pleasant to see the righteous indlgna-
ton OF Mr. King. this non-stookholding presi-
dent Of stookholders' committee; 1t Is pleas
ant to see his righteous indignation over he
taking Of funds Of the widows and orphans
to defeat Bryan. when he himself. as presi.
dent OF the Merchants Association. was
milking the New York Life to the tune OF
some $4,000 or $4,000. These things might
well be commented upon II we were dealing
with facts before jury. that these two men
whom had whipped politically. Shearn and
Osborne. should be found together with this
mixer OF corporations. MIR. King.
i have lived all my life in the city Of New
York. he exclaimed. "and the sixteen best
years OF my life have been given to the pub
lie service 1t was here that Mr.. jerome q
voice broke and tears came into his eyes.
He added: .'
Twice have run for office In that city and
.A-.r ~