New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-25
Park Deal Jurors
Seek to Quit, but
Are Kept on Case
Some of Them Blame
Swami for Publicity Given
Their Inquiries

Several members OF the extraordinary
grand jury investigating the city's land
purchases in Brooklyn appeared before
Justice Golf yesterday and asked to be
excused from further duty Tor bust
ness reasons. Their action lent ere
dence TO the report current for the last
few days at the Criminal Courts Build
ing that some Of the jurors were COM
planning that the grand jury was being
used for political purposes.
IL was rumored that the jurors were
angered by revelations regarding their
inquiry, particularly concerning the
sl4O-a-plate Reynolds dinner attended
BY Mayor Mitchell.
Justice Golf denied their requests,
and il was evident from his instructions
that some Of them had asked permission
to pursue their investigation lndepen-
IDENTIFY Of the District Attorney. AT least
four Jurors are said TO have complained
that the newspapers were printing al
legged secrets of the grand jury room. =
The grand Jury requested Justice noH
TO give them instructions on their righI
70 find indictments for crimes that nave
been debarred by the statute OF nhi'a-
tions. Justice Golf informed the jurors
that an indictment for felony must
not be found after five years from the
commission OF the offence, nor Tor a
misdemeanor after two years.
Statutes No Bar to Inquiry
This does not mean" the justice
continued. that the grand jury Is pre-
cluded from inquiring into the conduct
and transactions of persons holding
public Office or employment, in relation
10 public matters in their trust or
charge. even though the statute OF Inn
itations interposes bar to indictment,
Il was evident also that the grand
Jury had asked regarding its right to
Continue the investigation independ-
cntIv of the District Attorney, Judging
from this portion OF justice ION
Instructions:
AS TO the method or manner Of ex-
anininr witnesses and introducing tes-
timony before you, 1t should De pofne
3 IN mind that the District Attorney IS
| the legal adviser OF the grand jury ahG
that he has a right 10 be present and
/ advise the grand jury as to the law IN
/ every case before MIN.
where the proper presentation or q
/ case by either oral or documentary evl-
deuce requires skill and careful prep
/ aration, it is undoubtedly preferable to
have the District Attorney conduct the
examination Of witnesses, for 1t IS not
70 be expected that the labor OF pre-
I liminary investigation should De cast
| upon individual grand jurors"
/ Publicity Caused Dissension
Il was reported that the rumored
: discussions in the grand jury had
broken out suddenly after the publica-
/ ton in the newspapers OF the Sl4O a
plate dinner at Sherry's last May, when
! il was said was attended by Mayor
Mitchell, ex-senator William II. Reyn-
I olds. now under Indictment; Charles
/ OMalley, the land expert of the Con-
,roller's office, and several connected
with the Nepcnsit Realty Company,
which sold the Seaside Park property
TO the city.
When asked yesterday whether any
member Of the grand jury had pro-
tested to him that the body was being
used for political purposes, District
Attorney Swami said:
absolutely no. Politics does not
enter into any grand jury investigation.
IL is the District Attorneys duty TO
present the facts as they come to him,
no matter whom they strike"