New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-29
LEVY SOME PUMPKINS
AS LAWYER: ASK SKENE
Ranks rs Per Cent Ahead OF
Jerome, if Cash Is Any
Criterion, It's Said.
JUST LOOK WHAT LEVY DID
Got 16 Indictments Dismissed,
All at Once-Worth S., 600,
Wasn't It?-Skene Tells
Whitman He Thinks So.

Take II from Frederick Skene. a former
state engineer. Aaron j. Levy, Tammdny
leader OF the Assembly. is some pumpkins
as a lawyer. And if cash is any criterion,
the East Side politician outshines by %
per cent William Travers Jerome as
light at the bar.
Skene insisted yesterday that the sou"
he paid Levy was purely for professlo lal
services. So he told District Attorney
Whitman. who was investigating Inc
matter at the request of ex-Judge Lynn
J. Arnold. editor of The Knickerbocker
Press" OF Albany, and one OF the 'egaI
advisers Of Governor Sulzer.
Jerome got only $1,000 for his two
months work in defending Skene when
Skene was on trial on charges growing
out of some road contracts in Nassau
County. But Skene explained yesterday
that Levy had the remaining sixteen III
dictments against him dismissed, and re
thought the service well worth the money
Judge Arnold in previous talks with 'he
District Attorney said he thought ne coulu
show that Levy's services consisteu
largely in using his influence TO have IN
| troduced last May, at Skene's request the
bill authorizing the state to pay MN
sl6. 600 for legal expenses incurred at MS
trial two wears ago. Levy was a MEM
her. ex-oflcio. Of the Ways and Means
| Committee which reported Skene's Dill
out of committed
Skene said-and he was corrooorateu oy
| A. j. Bernstein who has an once AT NO
302 Broadway-that besides paying
Jerome and Levy. he gave 5000 10 jacob
I. Ten Evck and $500 to Bernstein. The
| balance he retained for himself TO cover
personal expenses.
Levy, in Skene's estimation Is als'
something OF philanthropist' for he per-
formed the legal service when Skene wa
broke" lust out Of pure friendship ana
with little hope Of fee. The phllan-
thropic Levy then. according TO SHehe'
said.
Don't let US talk about money now
Skene. Wait until you get some then
well discuss fee"
Commenting on this, Skene said ester
dav: There aren't many lawyers In Ne"
York who will do anything out of pure
friendship. as Levy did Which is PROP
ably true.
The pavment Of the s. on 10 Levy is NJ
deerced To be OF such nature as to war
rent a grand jury Investigation. at least
from the information now before the d.
trict Attorney. but any matter Governo'
sulzer requests Mr.. Whitman will lay
before the grand jury
J As result Of information laid before
District Attorney Whitman Yesterday by
| Judge Arnold. Whitman sent Assistant
District Attorney James O'Malley TO Al
| hany last night. II is believed that
| O. Malley's visit has 10 do with charges or
| corruption made against som Of Sulzer' S
foes in the Legislature. O'Malley's in
vestigation is expected to :ake week: on
IL will depend what further action will be
taken.
! BEFORE Judge Arnold left for Albany
Yesterday afternoon ne was told that
Levy threatened 10 sue him and his news
pqper for llhel. Judge Arnold declared
| ne would be glad 10 defend such an ac-
ton. He added that he would ask Dis
trict Attorney Sanford OF Albany County
! 70 indict for perjury Senator Robert Was-
ror. President pro TEN Of the Senate. and
| "A" Smith. Speaker OF the Assembly. lie
asserted that they falsely certified that
quorum was present in both houses when
what he termed a Tammany grab bilF'
vas damned through.