Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-09
JEROME ACQU|TTA[
MEETS APPROVAL
Even His Opponents Admit
That a Possibly Embarrassing
Situation Has Been Averted.
COURTS VERDICT GREETED
WITH Kisses AND CHEERS
Following Decision, Lawyer Leaves
for Mem York-Will Attend
Thaw Hearing Monday.

COATICpOk. Que. September D.
Ire acq1ittal OF William Travers jerome
last :ii-hI on u charge of gambling was
the chief topic Of discussion today, among
the 1900 odd residents of Coat:cook,
Though opinion was divided as 10 the YER
dict.
The scatning remarks of Magistrate
Mulvena. who apclogized to Jerome for
the indignity offered him and declared
the charge had been justified by neither
lay nor fact. had a SOLDERING effect and
even those who had been most bitterly
opposed to Jerome in his efforts to get
Harry K Thaw back to Matteawan were
inclined to admit that the court action
had cleared the air and Strengthened out
a situation which might have grown en-
barrassing.
Accompanied by Deputy Attorney Cen
eral Franklin Kennedy, Jerome was on
his way to Albany n. Y. by motor to-
day. He Will return to Montreal by rail-
on Sunday next preparatory to ThaWS
production Monday before the king s
bench on a writ of habeas corpus. The
arguments on the writ may mark the
beginning of a legal battle Of many
weeks and even months duration. Thaw
is bid;ng his time patiently in the i'm
migration pen here. apparently contented
in the thought that his lawyers are doing
all in their power to block his return to
the asylum.
His stenographer sees him every day.
but Thaw seems to have dropped his
'pr nlcity campaign The need of
spreading sentiment in Vermont. for one
few days ago. and it is understood that
Thaw's lawyers lcld him he must desist
Charge Against Jerome.
Mr.. Jerome was acquitte. last night on
the charge of having s,anbied on Thurs
day last on the station property of the
Grand Trunk railway here while waiting
for the immigration authorities to pass
on the case of Harry K. Thaw.
A country lawyer, Joseph Beaulne. and
an eighty-year-old justice Of the peace.
James Mckee. SO mixed up the hearing
In the case against Jerome yesterday
afternoon that District Magistrate Henry
Muivena, who had come here from Sher-
brooke by automobile, tWenty-three miles,
FOR the purpose. refused to preside, and
adjournment was taken until last night.
For fortS-five minutes counsel Wrangled
and hurled suggestions OF crooked work.
Jerome smiled, the crowd in the court
room alternately stamped and Kissed ana
MdS1SITdtC hulfcHd uCSl01 ca 1iNsA
been brought here under false pretenses.
Hearing Is Brief.
AS Beaulne and Hanson. the joint
prosecutors. could not agree as to who
was in charge of the prosecution. the
MAGISTRATE adjourned the hearing until
o'clock. urging the lawyers to settle their
differences in the meantime. The hearing
-, M,,iCn ShRr0r0OKG
lasted less than an hour 1t began at
!: 35 o'clock. and at $50 the court rem
dered it's verdict.
when acquitted, Mr.. Jerome thanked
the court, spoke natteringiy OF MS re-,
ception in Canada, and added that ne dld
mt attribute his arrest and brief I'M
nrisonment last week to the thinking peo-
pie of the Dominion.
TownspeOple packed the courtroom
uhsn the hearing was opened. Jerome
locked straight at the court. and did not
once glance at the throng, which in looks
er;n,aces and subdued remarks was
plainly hostile. d
Prosecutor Reads Complaint.
A. C. Hanson, joint crown prosecutor.
opened the case with the reading OF
the complaint of Milford Aldrich,
mil, hand. who swore he had seen the
defendant playing cards for money at
the railway station. Statutes were
quoted to show that this was an in
dictable offense, punishable with
years imprisonment.
been retained by New York state In It's
efforts to return Thaw to Matteawan.
that the statute applied
only to gambling on public convey
ance proper The court took this ques-
ton under advisement and called for
witnesses.
Michael knight, white-haired. aged
sixty-five, leaning on black thorn
stick. took the stand. He had seen the
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.
IT saw a bill changed" answered the
witness. l could not say who won 1t"
Witness Cross-Examined.
The cross examination, conducted by
Mr. Jacobs, was very short.
"Why did you stop to watch the
game?" he asked.
Because 1t was in an automobile and
a man in front had a little typewriter
IN his lap writing, and I was inter-
ested.
This was New York newspaper man
writing his story under difficulties.
Fred Chesley, a younger man than
knight, testified on direct examination
tnat he had seen the defendant playing
cards for money.
''Did you see him win any, asked
Jacobs. on cross-exam!nation.
II saw him take it," replied the witness
Jonathan Chesley. nearly eighty years
old. with snow white hair and beard, was
the last witness. He related the now
familiar details of the little game OIL
draw" and when asked IL he had seen
Jerome win money said promptly, Yes,
sir"
How much?"
Cant say said the aged witness
He was not cross-examined.
Prosecution Sums Up.
Summing up. the prosecution pointed out
that Dominion law had been enacted to
protect the people from gambling in pub
lie conveyances, and. according to evil
dence, Jerome late district attorney Of
New York, had violated this law. Though
vague, he continued, the statute undoubt-
edly applied to railroad yards and stations
and he asked for a conviction.
Mr. Jacobs did not even sum up for the
defense.
ITO save the courts time." he said,