South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-09
COURT ACQU|TS
JEROME ON THE
GAMING CHARGE
Says Every Canadian Feels
Humiliation Because of the
Arrest of the Counsel For
New York State.

lam Travers Jerome was acquitted
Monday night OF the charge OF having
gambled on Thursday last on the sta
ton property Of the Grand Trunk
railway here while waiting for the i'm
migration authorities to pass on the
case OF Harry K. Thaw. In discharg
ing him the court apologized for the
humiliation TO which he had been
subjected.
The hearing before Magistrate
Henry Mulvena of Sherbrooke lasted
less than an hour. 1t began at 1885
O'Clock and at 500 the court said
Sir, you are honorably discharged"
An attempt TO hold an afternoon
session failed because the magistrate
held he had no authority to take pre-
cedence over James Mckee the JUS
tice Of the peace who signed the war
| rant for Mr.. Jerome's arrest. Mon
| day night, however, the magistrate
said he was convinced of his authority
TO act and the hearing moved with
! dispatch.
Joseph Bealne. a Coaticook law
yer, who said he variously represent
| ed justice. the people and the criminal
code, INTERRUPTED the afternoon ses-
sion but when he endeavored to renew
similar tactics this evening he was
ruled out of court
jerome Thanks Court.
| When acquitted Mr.. Jerome thank
ed the court. spoke fatteringly Of his
| reception in Canada and added that
! he did not attribute his arrest and
| brief Imprisonment last week to the
| thinking people of the dominion. He
| took late train from Coaticook Mon
| day night in order to be in New York
| Tuesday and will return to Montreal
for the arguments on the latest Thaw
habeas corpus writ to be held before
the kings bench, Montreal Sept. 10.
Townspeople packed the court room
like sardines when the hearing was
opened Monday night. Every bench
twas taken, every inch Of standing
! room was occupied and the bold
| among the auditors advanced in a
| ragged semi-circle about the counsel
table and perched at the sides of dais
upon which the magistrate sat. Je-
rome looked straight at the court and
did not once glance at the throng
which in looks, grimaces and submit
ted remarks, was plainly hostile.
A. G. Hanson, crown prosecutor,
| opened the case with the reading of
the complaint Of Milford Aldrich, a
mill hand who swOre he had seen
the defendant playing cards for
money at the railway station.
4
was an indictable offense punishable
with a years Imprisonment.
Calls For Witnesses.
Samuel Jacobs of Montreal, who has
| been retained by New York state in
its effort TO return Thaw To Mattea-
wan contended that the statute ap-
! plies only to gambling on a public
| conveyance proper. The court took
this question under advisement and
called for witnesses.
Michael Knight, white haired, aged
65, leaning on a blackthorn stick, took
the stand-that is, the witness box
| being full of spectators, he stood in
defendant playing "a little game of
draw" in the station yard. he said.
The defendant had been pointed out
to him as Jerome Of New York.
Did you see him win any money!"
asked the joint prosecutor.
81 saw a bill changed" arNHered
the witness. II could not say who
won it."
The cross examination conducted
by Mr.. Jacobs was very short.
why did you stop TO watch the
game" he asked.
because it was in an automobile
and a man in front had a little type
writer in his lap a-writing, and L was
interested
This was a New York newspaper
man writing his story under difficult
ties.
Fred Chesley, a younger man than
knight. testified on direct examina-
ton that he had seen the defendant
playing cards for money.
Didn't See Him Win.
Did you see him win any," asked
Jacobs. on cross examination.
Il saw him take it, replied the
witness.
Summing UP, the prosecution point
ed out that a Dominion law had been
eXacted to protect the public from
card sharps on trains, steamships and
other public cOnveyances and that ac-
cording to the evidence VIM. TraverS
Jerome. late district attorney of New
York. had violated this law. Though
vague, he continued, the statute un-
doubtedly applied TO railroad yards
aid stations. and he asked for a con
viction.
Mr.. Jacobs did not even sum up fol-
i the defense.
ITO save the courts time" he said
I'VE should make no statement"
Magistrate Mulyena leaned back
and pondered for not more than fifty
seconds. In rendering Judgment
lieve every right minded man in Can
ada regrets and feels humiliation a
the indignity which has been placed
upon you. 1t is excusable neither il
law nor in fact. The evidence ad
duced at this hearing gives no reason
Z for the charge which was laid agains
: you. nor for the indignities which yol
have suffered