Evening star., 1909-05-27
JEROME REPLIES TO CRITICS
SUBMITS TO INQUIsITIoN AT
PUBLIC MEETING.
Defends Conduct Of Office, but Is De-
MED Vote Of Confidence-Re-
markable Gathering.

NEW YORK, May 27.-William TraGers
Jerome, district attorney Of New York,
took his seat at Cooper Union last night
after an evening unique in the political
annals of the city, during which he at
tempted to explain the administration of
his office, pursuant to his agreement to
give an account of his stewardship"
Hundreds of questions we're literally
hurled at him. After a turbulent meeting
the 1000 or more persons who packed
Cooper Union declined to register vote
Of confidence.
An attempt to bring about such vote
was made. 1t was Kissed down by Je-
rome's opponents.
What effect this will have on Jerome s
political ambitions is problematical. He
has been desirous for some time, 1t is
understood. of seeking 4 denomination
for district attorney on an Independent
ticket.
Amory Interrupts Jerome.
Charles Sprague Smith, director of the
Peoples Institute, outlined the rules of
the meeting. He said that Jerome would
make a statement first, to be followed
by answers to the written questions. and
finally by answers to the oral questions
coming from the floor
The district attorney took up the re-
cent investigation of his Office by
commissioner, which. he declared, was
unfair This brought William NJ. Amory,
who has been active in pushing charges
against Jerome and who was seated on
the platform. to his feet with a contra
diction.
A spirited controversy, mingled with
heated comments from persons In the
audience. followed. Quiet was eventu-
ally restored.
lor. James r. Keene's son-in-law, fur
nished Amory with the money for the
Metropolitan street railway investigation.
When Amory was verbally trapped into
admitting this Jerome smiled and the
crowd cheered.
The district attorney kept on with his
statement, dwelling mainly upon the Met
ropolitan investigation. during which he
said Thomas F. Ryan. who has been
traction manipulations, never committed
any crime.
No Evidence Against Mccall.
Referring to the life insurance investi-
cations. he said there was no evidence
whatsoever to warrant the indictment of
John A. Mccall, former president Of the
New York Life Insurance Company.
II have found" said Jerome. 'f1fty-six
indictments against insurance men. In
fact. 1 indicted every important insurance
man in New York except four-one dead,
one insane and two against whom there
was no evidence
Jerome next took up the so-called ice
| trust investigation. the anxiety to probe
| which, he said. became apparent only
after Democratic State Chairman William
]. Conners and Charles F. Murphy, lead
| er of Tammany Hail. lost $4,000.
Then said the district attorney.
'Fingy' Conners started after the Ice
people. but they couldn't get grand
| jury to find any indictment.
All the foregoing occurred before Je-
rome took up the written questions. Then
the district attorney put aside his care
| fully prepared memoranda and devoted
| his entire attention to making reply to
many questioners who arose In every part
| of the hall to demand why he had failed
| to do this or that particular thing.
| One individual wished to know If the
district attorney investigated the rumor
| long current that William c. Whitney
came to his death by being shot after a
quarrel over a woman. Jerome replied
| that he had traced this story to its foun-
dation and found 1t to be absolutely un-
| true