New-York tribune., 1910-09-06
JEROME SCENTS PERJURY.
Skene'S Counsel Asks for Arrest
of Charles H. 0'NeiI.
STATES PRINCIPAL WITNESS
Court Declines to Act, and Ac-
cuser VIII Take Case to
Another Judge.

Albany. Sept 5.-A dramatic climax came
to-day in the trial Of former State Engineer
Frederick Skene on charges of grand lar
ceny in connection with the award Of good
roads contracts, when William T Jerome,
chief counsel for the defence, asked Justice
Conan for warrant for the arrest OF
Charles H O'Neil- for perjury Mr., Jerome
said that he had in court ready TO testify
witnesses who he believed would sustain
his contention. and that II would De
dangerous to permit O'NeiI. whose tesu-
rnonv had been ended, an opportunity to
leave the Jurisdiction Of the court
Justice Conan declined TO act on the
ground that he was presiding at an eX-
rrsordinary. term invoked for a particular
purpose. He said, however. in response 70
counseTs inquiry. that he would consider
It no disc0urtesy If he were TO apply 10 an
other Judge or magistrate for such a war
rant AIr Jerome announced that such a
step would be taken Immediately
Omen was confidential assistant TO
Skene. having obtained his place, according
to his statement on the witness stand,
through the backing Of Charles f Murphy
and. other prominent Tammany leaders. He
IS considered the main witness for the state
not II the proceeding now being tried but
IN sixteen others, upon which indictments
have been found It IS supposed that he VIII
ocr11pv. the same relation 10 similar pro
ceedings before the special grand jury,
which will resume its deliberations to
morrow.
Mr.. Jeron1e's application was made in
connection with the testimony Of o'NeiI
regarding the cashin5 Of a state check Tor
81. .a6o g drawn 10 the order Of the Clinton
Peclzwith Engineering and Contracting
Oo~7sr- Al the Hotel Albany. New York.
on March Is. 1aoS- O'Neil testified that the
-7-arl- was czshed to enable Frederick y.
Lewis. q member Of the firm. 10 nay for 4
s7dA midnight supper. IN which he parrici-
rated. Although he said a number Of others
were At the supper he could not name a
single person other than Lewis. who was
present in court
lewis Informed lIr. jerome he was ready
- testify that ne had never been in the
Hotel Albany IN his life, and that the
CHECK. had been turned over TO O'NAil per
zonallv IN Albany on January 6, the date
II was drawn. The defence declares that It
has. evidence TO Corroborate that Of Lewis
and. can show that the check was actually
-aehz6 for OMEN upon the Endorsement Of
Robert P. Murphy
With q view TO showing discrepancies N
his testimony O'CSeu was cross-ezamined
ror several hours by M Jerome regarding
the testimony he gave before the grand
,r7r- and the story ne IS now tellinE
/ O.<A1 was questioned closely regarding
ire IS ono note which he svore he got from
rhe Russell Contracting Company, of New
/ York. and cashed n Troy for Skene. ne
admitted he svore before the grand jury
I thar after the note was Cashed and the
money given 70 him in an envelope by Alr-
GLEASON 2 good roads contractor of Troy.
! he gave the envelope TO Skene IN the pres
znre Of M Hills also a good roads con
tractor of Troy. who came to Albany with
him He would not swear positively that
/ Tfr7fs actually saw the transfer Of the
( money
asked nv AI-. Jerome if ne believed II
was dishonest for I1r. Skene to raise hi1s-
me witness replied that he was under the
Ifr1rresston that t-e state Engineer had
the right 70 alter the total, provided Il old
ROT exceed the appropriation allotted for
the Improvement Of q road He denied that
,,a changed the records which he took from
rfe state Engineers department
o.,-afu said ne had heard rumors 10 the
effect that Tom Costello. a friend OF the
-,+-raze had told John T. Clancy. a Long
Island City good roads contractor thaI ne
-,-a,,r,z mt the screws to him unless he
rut 7.r money"
r. r,tr7ess admitted he had talked with
-,--~,ae p Murphy and Winiam j con
- .<-.- he had received a letter rom
c.1,ar. aarlv in 1903. that he was going 70
&C him He denied that he had been
..-c.-r,.5 that Skene had agreed 70 keep
80 ,Trrt1 after election at Mr Nurphy's