The San Francisco call., 1897-05-29
Points in the HaVemeyer
Case Reopened for
Argument.
Defense Contends That Con-
greSS Has No Power to
Investigate.
Caustic Reply of the Prosecution.
Great Surprise Caused by an
Adjournment.

WASHINGTON, u. C.. May 2o.-Ihe
trial OF John E. Searles, charged with re-
fusing to answer certain questions before
the special committee OF the Senate in
vestigating the sugar scandal, was begun
this morning before Justice Bradley.
havemeyer was present, paying the same
attention to the case that he did to his
own.
Assistant District Attorney Baker out.
lined the case of the Government. Attor-
ney Davis then presented the papers of
record which had been offered in the
Havemeyer case and counsel for the de-
tense admitted the papers without objec-
tion, it being tacitly agreed that the case
should be decided on the point brought
up yesterday-the right OF the committee
TO put the questions which Searles de-
clined to answer.
Baker read from tina. committees re-
port how Searles had refused to answer
Aliens question. "What amount was ex-
pended by your company in campaign
contributions during 1922 on the ground
that the committee was not authorized to
ask it.
Lawyer Johnson, for the defense, then
read long extracts from the committee re-
port, after which Senator Gray, the COM
mittee's chairman, testified that he be-
lieved Searles had not been informed that
the committee insisted on q reply whom
he refused to answer Aliens question.
The Government closed its case after
Gray's testimony and Johnson moved
verdict of acquittal on the following
grounds: First, that the questions were
relevant to nothing concerning which the
committee could have been supposed to
have been ordered to inquire into. Second,
that if there was any contempt it was not
contempt of the com mittee, but of Allen.
Third that the committee had no right to
put the questions.
In arguing these points Johnson said:
Gwen if it had been shown that conlri-
button had been made for the purpose of
corruption, and that the sugar trust main
tained fund for this purpose, what could
the Senate or Congress do about ii? The
proper place for trial and punishment
should be in the courts of the State of
New York. Even if millions of dollars
had been contributed the legislature of
punish the com pany or its officials for
told there were contributions they have
reached the limit of their right 10 ques-
ton. unless these contributions were
made for corrupt purposes. Mr.. Searles
answered a question regarding connec-
tions alleged to have existed between Sem
ators and the trust, and there us respon-
sibility ended
Davis in replying, maintained that it
was the right of the Senate to probe as
deeply as possible to disclose corruption
in the election of its members. Davis sug-
gested that il the rules of questioning ac-
cording to common law be applied to all
Senate Investigations there is great dan
ger OF them all coming to nothing. He
elaborated on this point, which was one
of the strongest he has yet made. In
vestigating, he said, came from "es.
pionage," and was intended to find foot
steps which might lead somewhere and
not to be found by the ordinary methods
of procedure. This contention, Davis
said, had been sustained by the Supreme
Court several times.
johnson replied for the defense. He
said that the sugar trust had as much
honor to protect as the Senate, and that
in reply to all questions as to their having
corruptly offered money for votes they in
dignantly answered mo"
To the great surprise of all present JUS
tice Bradley tHen ordered court ad-
journed until Tuesday morning.
The trial of E. J. Edwards of New York,
who writes under the nom de plume
Holland" and John E. Shriver, Wash
nf ha
Mail and Exireas. for refusing to answer
questions propounded to them. was set for
June Z. The trial of Carson and Mozart
ney, brokers of this city, on the same
charge will follow.