New-York tribune., 1912-03-22
MORE BRANDT CASE DELAY
Small Group Said To Be Hostile
to Fellow Members of Jury.
ADJOURNS UNTIL TUESDAY
Unusual Situation Considered To
Be One of Most Serious of the
Kind in Many Years.

II IS understood from the latest happen
ings i'm the Brandt case that situation has
developed in the grand jury room that Is
one Of the most serious that has confronted
the District Attorney office IN many years
The discussions Cf many members of tn"
Jury have turned, II Is understood from
the facts presented to them TO the persons
involved. Strong pressure from the outside
is said To have teen brought to Dear On
several members Of the jury. particularly
IN the last two weeks and from body
acting in practical unanimity to further
the ends of Justice they have changed 10 d
house divided with a small group mplaca-
bly, hostile 10 their fellow members Of the
jury
From the first there IS understood to have
been a minority. 50 small At that time as
10 have been almost a negligible quantity.
opposed To any action in the case. IN
grounds entirely UnConnccted with any of
the facts presented for their consideration
or with personal acquaintance with those
concerned This minority vas firm in It's
stand, and 10y argument gradually increased
In size from three t. six. SO that, II is un-
Gerstood. the District Attorney found him
self building up case of Increasing
strength and at the same time discovering
from day 10 dav a stronger opposition 10
any action.
Two weeks ago. II is reported indictments
could have been found with large major
ny in their favor. H. fact, the reports are
SO Circumstantial as to give tn" position
Of the grand Jury at that time as seven
teen to six i'm favor &c indictments. Mr..
Whitman however, was not willing for ac-
tion To he taken until the case was com
plctcd. Public interest had been 50 greatly
aroused and there had been 50 much bit
terneSs expressed by those opposed to
Brandt. that he considered Il essential TO
have every smallest bit Of evidence rrc.
sented and the case clnched beyond per-
advepture before the grand jury acted
The work Of presenting evidence was CON
tinued. and ct the same time, Il is said. the
work of proselytizing among tn" members
of the jury continued. \ solid body of ten
was formed. that stood defiant without ar
gument, and refused TO join in any action
against those on whom the weight Of evil
dence bore with ever increasing power
This Is understood to have been the sit
uatiOn that confronted the District Attorney
Yesterday. when John II. Iselin, the former
law partner Of Howard Cans. who was 10
have been the last witness before the grand
jury, was heard. The majority was in favor
of indictments. and indictments could have
been legally voted; but had the District
Attorney consented 20 have Indictments
found yesterday the whole troublcsom"
question would have famed ont at once
Under thcs" circumstances. instead Of
closing the case this week. an adjournment
was taken until next Tuesday, and some
Of the witnesses who have already been
heard will then ho recalled. while now ones
may also be heard. District Attoruey WHIT.
man and Assistant District Attorney Moss
held long consultation after the adjourn
ment az tho grand jury and mapped out
their plan Of action. There will he another
conference to-day. when II IS expected to
decide on the witnesses 10 be heard again.
IN the hope that a method Will be found
hv which the obiuratc members of the
grand jury can be Induced 10 consider ~"
case from some other point Of view than
that 10 which they now hold The officials
feel Il 10 he vitality necessary 10 win over
some of the ten who now stand out, I'm or
der 10 prevent bitter and frUitcss discus
sion entirely unrelated 20 the merits Of the
case