New-York tribune., 1911-02-22
|ND|CT GEORGE B. COX
ON PERJURY CHARGES
Cincinnati Grand Jury Acts on
Testimony of Former HamlI-
ton County Treasurer.
"BANKS PAID cox $48,50C"
Ohio Political Leader Denied in
1906 Investigation That He
Received Gratuities from
-Countv DepositOries.
= County Depositories.

Cincinnati Feb. 21.-George B. Cox for
years head OF the Republican organiza-
tion in Cincinnati. prominent factor in
state and national politics. president Of
the Cincinnati Trust Company. and
known widely as an owner Of theatrical
property, was indicted by the Hamilton
County grand jury to-day on a charge
of perjury.
1t is charged that Cox testified falsely
before grand jury on March II, 1905.
In denying that he received any OF the
Interest money which several banks. ac-
cording TO disclosures before the Drake
investigating committee, paid to county
treasurers as recompense for the deposit
of county funds.
The specific case on which the jury
acted occurred in the administration or
John r. Gibson, who served two terms
as county treasurer from 1900 to 1904.
Gibson testified before the grand jury
Yesterday that Cox had received S4S,5O0
of the s97.064, which the banks gave Glib
son as "gratuities" during the latter's
service.
Treasurers Made Restitution.
Gibson paid s97064 into the county
treasury in 1906, following an investiga-
tion by the grand jury Of the Drake dis
closures. Two other treasurers, Tilden
r. French and Rudolph II. Hynick. re-
spectively, paid s59,450 and s5S440 10
the county.
Prosecuting Attorney Henry T.. Hunt
recommended to Judge German that bail
be fixed at $1,000. The required bond
was given by Cox at the courthouse,
with Abraham Furst as surety. No
cate for his appearance in court was set.
Although this is the first time that
any formal accusation has ever been
placed against Mr. Cox, there was
nothing in his attitude to indicate that
he was perturbed by the indictment.
"Why, this looks like a Republican
convention" he exclaimed when he en-
tered Judge Gorman's courtroom to give
bond.
Mr.. Cox. in speaking OF the indict-
ment, said: Il do not regard this as an
Indictment in the true sense OF such
action. 1t was purely a political move
ard was brought about by political con-
ditions. The jury which brought the
indictment was selected by a Democratic
Judge, who drew the names of the grand
Jurors from his inside pocket, instead
NJ from the Jury wheel, as the law re-
quircs.
Outrageous, Says Mr.. Cox.
The people irrespective of politics,
know. / believe, that never I'm my career
have I been accused of telling false
hood. I regard the action OF the grand
irrv as one OF the most serious attacks
and one Of the most outrageous pro-
cedures emanating from a body connect
ed with court. will leave my side Of
rhis affair TO the facts. as brought out
In the trial In the mean time | ask
The public to suspend Judgment
The law under which the grand jury
returned the indictment provides that, in
case of conviction for perjury. the
penalty shall be Imprisonment for not
more than ten years nor for less than
three.
When the bills against Mr. Cox and
few other men for ordinary criminal
cases were returned in court Judge
German directed that the usual formali-
ties proceed. While the clerk was copy
ing the indictments for the sheriff Judge
German addressed the jury
He said he had heard that prospective
Continued on second PAGE.