Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-03-30

CHEF IN TROUBLE.
Confidential Man of Armour Indicted
for Interfering with Wit

Chicago, March so. The federai
grand jury returned an Indictment
against Thomas j. Connors. general
superintendent of Armour Il Co, ON a
charge of Interfering with witness
summoned to appear before the jury
now investigating the so-called beef
trust. Mr.. Conmors who is j. ogden
.Armour's most continental employe
and the active head OF one of the iarg-
est packing companies in the world.
was arrested on II bench warrant by u
United States deputy marshal and
brought to the grand jury room, where
he WAS released on $4,000 bond. After
his release Mr.. comnors refused TO dis
cuss the matter.
The indictment charges j. Il. Shields,
of Brooklyn, y former elnployc OF Ar
mour Il Co.. who testified before the
grand jury was approached, favored
and entertained by Mr.. Corners ;s:,,i
specifically states that ON March - the
otfensc upon which Mr.. Connors WAS
indicted occurred. Ii is also uhrged
that Shields was given the use OF Ar
mour & Co.'S office ut 2o5 l.asSallc
street to transact his business while in
Chicago. and also the use ut a private
telegraph wire in The office OF the
packing company.
Another allegation is that Shields
was entertained by Connors and that
ConnorS Suggested to the proposed
witness that he should testify favor
ably TO Armour II Co, and not tell
all that he knew concerning the mat
ter under investigation.
The second count of the indict-
ment charges that MIR. connors did not
limit his attempt at influencing Wit
nesses to Mr.. Shields, but that other
witnesses who have not Yet appeared
In Chicago have been approached by
him and attempts made To influence
them as to the nature OF the testi-
mony they would give before the
| Jurors.
When the special grand jury con-
Nened last week Shields was one of the
| first witnesses to appear. He came to
Chicago from New York He had tes-
titled before grand jury sitting in
New York, and there is said to have
divulged facts which led the federal Of
fcers to believe him in possession of
many other details concerning the ques-
ton under consideration. He was re-
quested to come to Chicago, and the
federal officials We're instructed to
watch the man closely. Two men were
detailed TO watch Shields One of these
secret service men obtained Shields
confidence and thus learned facts which
| doubled the precautions of the govern
ment to prevent any of the witnesses
| from being coached. Shields was fol-
I lowed by these detectives, and 1t was
| ledlHcu llit ne frequeIted tine offices
| OF Armour & Co.. having Il private wire
at his disposal and answering all his
private correspondence there Every
| move of Shields WAS closely watched
The matter reached /; climax yester-
| day when enc of the secret service men
4 submitted a report to his superiors
Yesterday Shields was i'm the grand
| jury room from , o'clock to- 5 O'Clock
/ The section of the statutes under which
the indictment WIS drawn provides
that any person who iutcrfcres with a
Witness shall be subjected To Il fine of
$500 or Imprisonment for three months,
\ or both.
r. Budatz, department manager for
Armour u GO. al Omaha, and Edward
WEIGH. of Armour e CO.. al Kansas
N.iN were the only other witnesses be-
sides Shields that were heard yester-
| day.