New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-07
tanner CASE JURY
MAY INDICT SEVEN
Will Report To- day-Clerk
Who Said He Saw J. w.
Osborne to Tell All.

The federal grand jury is expected
to file indictments to-day in the Os-
borne-Tanzer case. United States At
torney Marshall said last night that
the government would finish the pres
entation of its case to-day. 1t IS
understood that seven true bills will
be found against as many persons, all
of whom have been mentioned as IN
volved in the Osborne Tanner tangle.
The indictments are expected TO be
for violation of various sections of the
penal code, under the general head of
conspiracy 20 defraud, in connection
with the $4,000 breach Of promise
suit brought by Rae Tanner against
James W. Osborne and afterward dis
continued.
Franklin d. Stafford, the former hotel
clerk at Plainfield, n. j., who is held in
the Tombs on charge of perjury. sent
a written request yesterday by his
counsel. J b. Engel, to Assistant
United States Attorney Wood that he
be permitted to tell his story to the
federal grand jury. Mr.. Engel told Mr..
Wood that his client was willing to
sign waiver of immunity.
The request came too late yester-
day for consideration by the grand
jury. 1t will be presented to that body
to-day, and if they desire to hear SAT-
ford he will be permitted to testify.
Stafford did not indicate to the United
States Attorney the nature of his tes-
tmony. If he should admit that he
had been mistaken in his Identification
of James w. Osborne as the missing
a. ha baa ~ hot
United States Commissioner Houghton
the governments case would be
strengthened. The federal authorities
feel that Stafford knows a good deal
about the alleged conspiracy and that
his testimony might be highly illumi-
mating to the grand jury. He will not
he allowed to testify, however, unless
he valves immunity.
William G.. De Meza. city judge at
Plainfeld. n. J., and william j. New
corn, former city judge at Plainfield,
were witnesses before the federal grand
jury yesterday. Judge De MeZa is coun
sci for W J. Kitchen, proprietor of
the Kensington Hotel. at Plainfeld, who
testified that James W. Osborne was
not tho Oliver Osborne who registered
at his hotel on October 10 last. SAT-
ford. Kitchens clerk at the time. made
the Identification, which resulted in his
arrest on charge of perjury.
Harold Spielberg present counsel for
Rae Tanner, and Postofiice Inspectors
II. h. Mayhem and W. &. Swain, were
the other witnesses before the grand
jury yesterday Mayhem and Swain
were the inspectors who seized Oliver
Osborne's two trunks and other be-
longings at the East Sixtieth Street
boarding house. Mr.. Marshall and Mr..
Wood denied the report yesterday that
the trunks had been planted" at the
boarding house in order to brighten the
Tanner girl into a confession.
1.-THE records show that Oliver 0s-
borne gave up his room at the house of
Mrs Stuart Denham. in Sixtieth Street,
on March 49," said Mr.. Wood, land his
trunks were removed but later brought
back. Mrs. Denham identified the
trunks as his and so did Mrs. Ethel
Nye. who declares Oliver Osborne mar
ried her under the name of Nye."
The trials of some of the cases of
those expected to be indicted to-day
may begin within the next two weeks.