New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-11
MYSTERY IN SKENE CASE
Jerome Calls Engineers Assist
ants "SeIf- Confessed Thieves"
BLACKMAIL, HE CHARGES
Three More, Indicted by Good
Roads Grand Jury, Held in Bail
Demands Jury Minutes.

Albany. Aug. 10-William T. Jerome. for
mer District Attorney of New York
County, asked Supreme Court Justice Co
man this afternoon to dismiss the seven
teen indictments against Frederick f.
Skene. former State Engineer, who Is
charged with alleged irregularities in con-
nection with the awarding of state high
way contracts, on the ground that an un-
authorized person was present at the ses-
sions of the grand jury which reported
them. The regular grand jury stenograph-
eT. Charles ". Bentley was absent from
the city when the grand jury was con-
vened. and District Attorney Sanford, of
Albany, designated Clarence T. WEIGH TO
act in that capacity. This Mr.. Jerome ar
sued was contrary to law.
Mr.. Jerome also moved that counsel for
the defendant be permitted TO inspect the
minutes of the grand jury. citing partic-
ularly the case of the Joint indictment
found against Mr.. Skene and John B. Rus
sell, president of the Russell Contracting
Company of New York City, who are
charged with grand larceny, IL being al
legged that the bid OF the Russell company
on Road No. 437, in Nassau County, was
raised $1,000.
Mr.. Jerome declared that there was a
mystery about this case which he could
not fathom. and that certain of the wit
nesses named as having been called could
have known nothing about it.
He charged that John J. Allen and
Charles II. O'Neill, who were employed in
the State Engineers office under Skene,
and whom he styled as 'self-confessed
thieves were the only witnesses named
who could have known anything concern
ing any alleged irregularity in the con-
tract, and that none of the other witnesses
whose names were Endorsed on the back
of the indictment could have given evil
dence tending to connect Skene with the
crime charged.
If the testimony of Allen and O'Neill
concerning the Russell contract was true,
Mr.. Jerome contended. then they were &C
completes with the defendant Skene, but he
believed there was not a scintilla of evil
dence that could connect the defendant
WITH the crime charged.
Here is a man." continued Mr.. Jerome,
referring to Skene, who has been elected
to a high state office and TO whom this
case is one of life and death. An indict-
ment, whatever 1t may be, in the contem-
platfon of the law is an indelible stain, and
/ see no reason in fairness and justice why
he should not be permitted TO see what
these witnesses have said about him.
Men in public positions are imperilled
every day by corrupt subordinates and
false friends who are ready TO sell them
out. These two seIf-Confessed thieves are
the real basis of this indictment. These
two crooks took the substitute vouchers,
and were engaged in blackmail and got
away with it.
Il don't care to say anything about this
Political talk continued Mr.. Jerome. re-
ferring to Mr.. Skene's claim that Attor-
ney General OMalley was prosecuting the
charges for political reasons. II am law
yer. not statesman or a politician He
declared that the motions were not made
for the purpose of delay. and that he was
ready to proceed at once. Justice Conan
took the motions under Amusement.
Thomas P. Kelly, of Buffalo, former
western division engineer, stationed at
Rochester: John f. Clancy. Long Island
CITY contractor. and Thomas J. Gerhart,
Of the Robinson & Gerhart Contracting
COMPANY, of Brooklyn, who were indicted
with Skene, were arraigned and admitted
TO bail after pleas of not guilty had been
entered Kelly was represented by 'Eu-
gene Raines, of Rochester nephew of the
late Senator John Raines- His bail, and
that of Gerhart was fixed at 5000 Mr.
in S,n0o bail Court then adjourned until