New-York tribune., 1914-12-24
ACTRESSES LAWYER
ACCUSES JEROME
Plot to Crush Steuer, he
Alleges, in Address
to the Jury.
ATTORNEY SITS
PERJURY CHARGE
Woman Victim of Fight Between
Legal Enemies, Is Allegation
She Is I'll in Court.

That a conspiracy between Abraham
L Frlanger and William Trsvers
Jerome. former District Attorney, 70
crush Max ID. Steuer, an attorney, Is
responsible for the prosecution OF
Edith st. Clair on a charge or perjury,
was charged Yesterday by Alfred
Frankenthaler. Miss st. Clair's counsel
in his opening address to the jury ~
the Criminal Branch Of the Supreme
Court.
"Fdith St. Clair was driven into
signing those afiidavits while IN such
condition that she did not know what
she was doing" he said They dld not
force her at the point Of gun, out
IL would have been better for her II
thev had done so. This is fight be-
tween Erlanger and Steuer and that
poor girl is being ground between two
stones theatrical magnste and a
powerful, influential lawyer. il is per-
secution, not prosecution
During the entire afternoon session,
while her counsel was making his
opening address to the jury, Miss St.
Clair reclined in the arms OF woman
friend, who has been her constant
companion since the trial began She
was apparently too i'll TO take the
slightest interest in her case. After
the court adjourned she was half car
ricd from the room.
Several years ago Miss ST. Clair won
a judgment for $4,000 against Er-
LANCER for salary due her under life
contract, according to her testimony.
She later went to the Office of Mr..
Jerome and there signed aihdavits TO
the effect that she was suborned TO
commit perjury by Steuer. When the
latter was brought up before the Bar
Association on charges she recanted
her affidavit discriminating him and the
charges were dismissed.
Mr.. Frankenthaler said that Miss 81.
Clair returned to this city looking for
work, January, 1913, and first applied
to a Mr. Myer, who has Offices in the
Knickerbocker Building. He sent her
to another theatrical manager, Mr..
Kelley, who, in turn, arranged an in
terview for her with Mr. Casey that
dear, intimate friend Of Mr.. Erlang
er's," rs Mr.. Frankenthaler described
him. She was given an engagement TO
appear under the name of Edith
Dupree. This was Immediately before
she signed the afhdavits in Mr.. Jer-
ONES Office accusing Steuer Of suborn-
alton of perjury.
"But, when her act was already 20
be tried out at an uptown theatre, she
went TO get her costumes and she was
directed to Mr. Fischel. Mr. Erlanger's
personal lawyer" said Mr.. Franken-
thaler "And Mr.. Fischel sent her to
Mr.. Jerome TO Mr.. Jerome, former
District Attorney-for her costumes.
She went TO Mr.. Jerome with the warn
ing still ringing in her ears, IF you
want 20 get in right you must help US
land Steuer.' It was Fischel-the man
behind-who engineered the whole con-
spiracy"
Mr.. Jerome. when he testified regard
ing Miss st. Clair's visit to his Office,
said that she was onscience-stricken
and remorseful; she had testified false
ly IN her suit against ErlanCer. But
said Mr.. Frankenthaler, eve will prove
that Mr. Jerome's statements on the
stand were grossly inaccurate and that
his memory, to say the least, is not
of the best"
Mr.. Frankenthaler then turned his
attack on Assistant District Attorney
Manley. The latter, he said, had threat
ened her with prosecution if she re-
canted her affidavit charging Steuer
with subornation Of perjury.
'In'my presence" said Mr.. Franken-
tha'er. Mr.. Manley told her that If
she stuck to her affidavit she would be
granted immunity and if she changed
the District Attorney would be bound
TO think that she was guilty of per-
jury.
I'VE will prove he continued, "tha.
the affidavit she signed was not know
ingly or wilfully false, and that the
representatives of Erlanger said to
her, Come to us and we will give YOU
money. Help US in the purpose of our
life 70 land Stcuer and we will take
care Of YOU "