New-York tribune., 1910-09-09
Jury ACQU|TS SKENE
Former State Engineer Not
Guilty of Grand Larceny.
OTHER INDICTMENTS REST
w. T. Jerome Bitterly Attacks
Two Witnesses Who Gave
Evidence for State.

! Albany. Sept S-Frederick Skene, of
/ Queens Borough. former State Engineer.
| Supreme Court of the charge Of grand
larceny in connection with the award of
a good roads contract in Nassau County,
it being alleged that the bid submitted
! by the Russell Contracting Company
had been raised $4,000. The state con-
tended that there was an agreement be-
/ tween Skene and the company whereby
the former State Engineer was to re-
ceive 5000 and the company $1,000.
The case was submitted to the jury
shortly before o'clock this afternoon
after a trial lasting eleven days. and a
verdict Of not guilty was rendered
shortly before Q o'clock. It was re-
ported that the jury stood to 3 for ac-
nutttal on the first three ballots ten to
! two on the fourth ballot, and that a
unanimous agreement was reached on
the fifth.
: Mrs Skene and her sister were in
court for the first time. When the YER
! dict was announced friends surrounded
the former State Engineer and his wife
and congratulated them.
! There are sixteen other indictments
pending against Skene in connection
with charges of grand larceny in the
award of good roads contracts during
! his administration. It is understood
that the extraordinary term of the Su-
preme Court which Justice Henry B.
! Conan. of Oneida. has been holding will
adjourn tomorrow, to permit the jus
| tice to return to his own district, and
| that the remaining indictments against
! Skene will take the usua! course at the
regular term of the Supreme Court in
! Albany next month. The special grand
| jury which returned the indictments re-
convened this week to continue its in
vestigation of charges of fraud in the
State Engineers office under Skene.
To-day was devoted to summing up
/ by William T. Jerome, for Skene, and
Attorney General O'MaIley for the state.
| followed by the charge to the jury by
Justice Conan. Justice Conan said that
the vital question was whether or not
Skene was a party to the raising of the
bid as claimed by the state. He told the
jury that if the direct testimony given
by Charles H. O'Neil, former confidential
assistant TO Skene and the main witness
for the prosecution. was true, he was an
accomplice and could be indicted for
larceny.
Attorney General O'Malley Contended
that the evidence in his opinion proved
that Skene was guilty as charged. IF
men in public life" said he, in closing,
cannot remain honest, our Institutions
are sure to suffer. 1t is our duty. if the
facts warrant i, to give blow to cor
ruption in public life. no matter who it
may hit. Do YOU wonder about this talk
Of hysteria and that the people are be
coming insurgents? It is all due to the
fact that men in public life are not
faithful to their public trust
Mr.. Jerome bitterly denounced O'Neil
and John ]. Allen. whom he persistently
stigmatized as ..informers'' and not
worthy Of belief. When you find two
Irishmen like these informers." he thun- |
dered, 1T means a great deal more than
it would from those of another race who |
Of informers.'
Then, turning around and shaking his |
finger drama tically at O'Neil. who sat in |
a back corner of the courtroom. he con- |
tinued:
Look at the face of that man sitting
in the dark, where he belongs. for that is
Exhibit No. / for the defence. God Gre
ated man. but He never created a face |
like that except as a danger signal for |
other men"
Mr.. Jerome declared that Skene had |
no knowledge of the raising of the bid |
and that he did not send O'NeiI to John |
b. Russell for the $1,000 note He de- |
MED that Skene had received any of the |
proceeds Of the note.
There is no evidence on these dis |
puted points" said Mr.. Jerome. except |
from the two infOTmers, the rum soaked |
O'Neil the collector for Tammany, and |
Allen, and you must judge, as between |
them and Skene. who should be be- |
lieved."
Mr.. Jerome also attacked William X |
Hearst who first preferred the charges |
against Skene Before closing the case |
he called Mr.. Skene 20 testify that he