Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-01-26
THE SUGAR TRUST
Judge OverruleS the Demurrers
of Indicted Witnesses.
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PLEAD

The Cases VIII Now Probably Go Direct
to the United states Supreme Court
on a writ of Habeas Corpus, Follow
ing "A Plea of Not Guilty.
WASHINGTON, January l9.-All the de-
murrers offered by the defendants TO the
indictments against President Have
never and Secretary Searles OF the
American Sugar Refinery Company,
Broker Seymour and Correspondents }.
I. Edwards and J. S. Shriver were over
.uled to-day by Judge Cole in the Crimi-
nal Court, and the defendants were re-
CURED to plead to the indictments.
The cases will now probably 90 direct to
the Supreme Court on writ of habeas
corpus, following plea of not guilty by
the defendants. In the two cases against
Edwards and Shriver, the newspaper
CORES pondents, the court SAID the only
additional features to the stock brokers
cases were, first, as TO the relevancy OF
the particular question put to the news
paper correspondents; and second,
whether they should be excused from
answering on the ground OF privileged
communications. As to relevancy Judge
Cole stated that both witnesses had
testified they did not have personal
knowledge OF the matter specially pub
hshed, but claimed to have information
from persons understood to have per-
sonal knowledge of the matter. The
other was question pertinent to the
inquiry as to their lnlOrmants name.
The court ruled that it was pertinent to
the information being privileged COM
muncation. The court said 1t did not
appear that either correspondent re-
fused to answer on the ground that 1t
might inCriminate, a question which the
court might have considered. The court
then said:
1T has never been contended before
in a court Of Justice that Il newspaper
editor, reporter or correspondent or any
one engaged IN the newspaper business
is to be considered person with whom
confidential communication may be
lodged and protected as between at
torney and client or priest and confess
sor There could be no more dangerous
doctrine than that a newspaper might
obtain information whose effect might
work great injury and detract from the
reputation or character OF party or
body, and the claim of privileged COM
muniCatiOn then be made. That rule
would be very demorallzng. There be-
ing no law TO that effect winch the court
could follow, the demurrer IN both cases
must be, therefore, Overruled, and the
defendants must answer by pleading to
the Indictment"
The court then took up the cases of
the Sugar Trust officials, Havemeyer
and Searles, and it held that the ques-
ton as to the amount contributed by
the corporation to campaign funds was
pertinent and proper. The court said:
THE question is whether pending
! legislation had been effected by the fact
that the Sugar Trust, sO-called, had
made large contribution to the cam
paign. AS a general proposition 1t Is
undoubtedly true that Congress has not
the right to inquire as to contributions
made by a corporation but the influence
on legislation by such contributions is
another question. Now, if the action of
the Senate and Of particular Senators
had been controlled by contributions,
then Congress bad the right to inquire
into it, and the amount OF the contribu-
ton was of very grave Importance.
These witnesses answered every ques-
ton except the question of amount.
About this Congress had the right to in
quIre, and these gentlemen should have
answered. As to the contention that the
Senate Committee had no right to in
quire because the contribution appeared
to be local and not national, this was re-
garded to be immaterial."
1t is said to be probable that the de-
PENDANTS will now be surrendered by
their bondsmen and plead guilty, be
placed technically in Jail, being under
the custody OF the United States Mar
shall, and that the next procedure will
be to apply to the United States court
for Wrlts of habeas cOrnus