The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-30
BEEF TRUST W|LES
Arrest of Superintendent
of Armour Company.
Charged With interfering With
Witness Summoned Before the
Grand Jury. Released on
$1,000 Bail.
(By the Associated Press.)

Chicago, March 2S.-The Federal
grand jury investigating the alleged
beef trust, returned an indictment to-
night against Thomas ]. Connors, gem
eral superintendent for Armour &
Company. The charge is. interfering
with a witness summoned to appear
before the grand jury. Mr.. Connors,
who is one of ]. Ogden Armour's most
confidential employees and is the active
head of one of the largest packing
companies in the world was arrested
tonight on a bench warrant by a
United States deputy marshal and
brought to the grand jury room. After
considerable delay the prisoner was
released on $1,000 bond. Following
his release. Mr.. Connors absolutely re-
fused to discuss the matter.
The indictment alleges that John E.
Shields, of Brooklyn, a former en-
ploye of Armour & Company, who has
been i'm Chicago since the investiga-
ton begun was approached, favored
and entertained by Mr.. Connors and
specifically charges that on March %
the offense for which Mr.. Connors is
indicted occurred. 1t is also charged
that Shields was given the use of Ar
mour q Company'S offices to transact
business while i'm Chicago and furnish
ed the use of a private telegraph wire
in the office of the packing company.
Another allegation is that Shields
was entertained by Connors, and that
Connors suggested the proposed wit
ness should testify favorably for Ar
mour & Company, and not tell all
that witness knew concerning the mat
ter under investigation. The second
count of the Indictment charges that
Mr.. ConnorS did not limit his attempt
In influencing witnesses to Mr.. Shields,
but that other witnesses who have
not as yet appeared in Chicago have
been approached by Connors and at
tempts made to influence them as to
the nature of testimony 10 be given.
When the special grand jury con-
vened last week Shields was one of the
first witnesses to appear. He came to
Chicago from New York. He had
testified before a grand jury in New
York, and is said to have divulged
facts which led the Federal officials to
believe him in possession of many
other details concerning subjects
under consideration. He was request
ed to come to Chicago and the Fed
eral officials were instructed to watch
him closely. Two secret service men
were detailed to the work. Secret
service men obtained Shields conf
dence and thus learned facts which
doubled the precautions of the gov
eminent to prevent any of the wit
nesses from being coached Shields
was followed by the detectives, and it
was soon learned that he frequented
the offices of Armour & Company, hav-
ing private wire at his disposal, and
answering all his private correspond
ence there. Shields was followed to
theatres, dinners and meetings in
downtown hotels, every move that he
made being closely watched.
The surveillance reached a climax
yesterday when one of the secret SER
vice men submitted a report to his
superior.
Today Shields was before the grand
jury for three hours.
The section of the statutes under
which the indictment is drawn pro-
vides that any person who interferes
with a witness shall be subjected to a
fine OF $500 or imprisonment for three
months or both.
r. Budatz, department manager for
Armour & Company, at Omaha, and
Edward WEIGH of Armour & Com
pany at Kansas City, were the only
other witnesses besides Shields, heard
today.