The Washington times., 1905-07-29
Judge Wright Bars An
sWers That Are In
eliminating.
BROKER RETURNS HOME
Will Reappear Before the
Grand Jury on Tues
day Next.

Moses Haas. the New York broker
who was summoned as a witness before
the local grand jury investigating the
leak in the Government cotton report,
was today directed by Justice Wright 30
answer certain questions propounded TO
him on Thursday By the jury The
broker will however, not be required 20
answer any questions which may tend
to iHcrfminate him.
The questions propounded to Broker
Haas are:
Did you ever live in Washington!
Were you ever employed in the Agri-
culture Department.
DO you know Frederick A. Peckham.
who has just left the room?''
Did you ever have the pleasure of the
acquaintance with Edwin S. Holmes,
jr?"
Orders Questions Answered.
The court. after considering each ques-
| ton, separately ordered that Broker
Haas should answer the first two, and
that he should not be required to answer
the others, on the ground they may tend
to incriminate him in connection with
the matter under investigation.
The matter came up before Justice
Wright on the motion of Samuel c s.
| Smoot, foreman Of the grand jury. vino
reported that Broker Haas had refused
| to answer certain questions asked him
! on the ground they tended To incrim-
| mate him. On this motion Justice
! Wright issued a rule citing Mr. Haas
| to show cause today why he should not
be held as in contempt of court for de-
Ginning to answer the questions asked.
Justice Wright was occupied all morn
ing in hearing argument On the ques-
ton with the result stated
Expects Further Trouble.
When the decision of the court was
announced, District Attorney Beach
stated To Justice Wright that he ex-
pected there would be further similar
| trouble before the grand jury IN con-
nection with the Investigation. ana
asked if the ruling on the matter Just
made would be a guide in the future
He was Informed by the court it would
Attorney Alter then stated TO the
court that he wished TO return 10 New
York tonight, and asked permission 10
take Mr.. Haas with him, on condition
that the latter returned to testify be-
fore the grand jury on Tuesday. There
being no objection interposed by Dis
trict Attorney Beach. the court granted
the request and Afr. Alter promised 10
be present with Mr.. Haas at the meet
ing Of the jury Tuesday morning next
at II o'clock
Court Room Crowded.
The court room was crowded long be-
fore 10 a. m. the hour fixed by Justice
Wright for argument. Mr.. Haas and
his counsel. Mark Alter. of New York,
and Messrs- Btrney & Woodard. OF
Washington. were on hand early and
ready for the proceedings District At
torney Beach was also on hand early.
! The proceedings. however, were not be-
| gun until ten minutes after the ap-
/ pointed time.
| When Justice Wright opened court At
! torney A. \. Birney. commenced his
argument in defense Of the course pur-
/ sued by Broker Haas before the grand
/ jury His return TO the rule 10 show
cause issued against Mr.. Haas contain
ed excerpts from the report of Mr.
| Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, on the
matter
District Attorney Beach objected 10
/ the reading of extracts from the report
/ of the Secretary of Agriculture, as not
! bearing on the issue in point
J Justice Wright. however. oyeTTuled the
! objection. stating it was necessary. for
the court to know what has taken place
in reference TO he matter 70 determine
whether the respondent Haas is Grimm
| ally guilty Of any offense.
Mr. Haas won first blood in The legal
/ fight. Justice Wright declining 70 accept
! the suggestion of District Attorney
! Beach. that the Government be allowed
to open and close the argument.
Mr.. Haas Answer.
| Mr.. Birney presented the answer of
| Haas
The answer sets forth that the re-
spondenJ, Mr.. Haas, was summoned
in the city Of New York. of which he
Is a resident, to appear before the grand
jury of the District of Columbia in tne
| case of the United States Us. Edwin s.
Holmes, If. and appeared before that
body July q 1905. in obedience to the
/ summons. when the proceedings were
substantially. though not precisely. as
detailed in the report of Che grand Jury
presented to Judge Wright.
The respondent calls attention to the
fact that on July S, Secretary Of AgricuI-
ture Wilson made public q statement in
connection with the cotton crop re-
port leaks in the Bureau OF Statistics
/ and gives the following as his concep-
| ton of the substance OF that statement:
Gives Wilson's Statement.
THAT some time prior to July 5,
! Secretary Cheatham. Of the Cotton
Planters. Association, charged before
the Agricultural Department that Ger
4 raf,, infcr.r,,a tion had been sr{zret, to oct