Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-04-03
Released On $1,000
Bond to Appear
When Wanted
Tempered With Wit
ness in the Beet
Trust Inquiry

Chicago, March 29-The federal
grand jury last night returned an in
dictment against Thomas ]. Connors,
general superintendent of Armour &c
company, on the charge of interfering
with a witness summoned to appear
before the jury. Connors, who is j.
Ogden Armour's most confidential
employe and active head of one OF
the largest packing companies in the
world, was arrested on a bench war
rant by a United States deputy mar
shall and brought to the grand jury
room. where he was released on S.,
600 bonds After his release Connors
refused to discuss the matter The
Indictment charges that John Edward
Shields of Brooklyn, N. Y, who testi-
fed before the socalled beef trust in
vestigation, was approached, favored,
and entertained by Connors and spe-
cifically states that on March rs the
offense upon which Connors was in
dicted occurred. 1T is also charged
that Shields was given the use of
Armour & company's offices at 205
La Sale street. to transact his bust
ness while in Chicago and also the
use OF private telegraph wire in the
office of the packing company.
Tells Witnesses What to Say.
Another allegation is that Shields
was entertained by Connors and thas
Connors suggested to the proposed
witness that he should testify favor
ably to Armour and company and NOT
to tell all that he knew concerning
the matter under investigation. The
second count of the indictment
charges that Connors did not limit
his attempt at influencing witnesses
to Shields, but that other witnesses
who have not as yet appeared in Chi
cago have been approached by him
and attempts made to influence them
as to the nature of the testimony they
would give before the jurors.
Was Watched by Detectives.
When the special grand jury COZ
vened last week Shields was one of
the first witnesses. He testified be-
fore grand Jury sitting in New York,
and there is said to have divulged
facts which led the federal officials
to believe him in possession of many
other details concerning the question
under consideration. He was re-
quested to come to Chicago and feder-
al officials were instructed to watch
him closely Two men were detailed
to watch Shields. One of these
secret service men obtained Shields
confidence and thus learned the facts
which doubled the precautions of the
government to prevent any of the
witnesses from being reached
Shields was followed by these detec-
tives and it was soon learned that he
freqUented the Offices of Armour and
company, having private wire at his
disposal and answering all his private
correspondence there. Shields was
followed to the theaters, dinners ana
meetings in downtown hotels, every
move that he made being closely
watched.
Big Penalty.
The matter reached the climax yes
terday when one of the secret service
men submitted report to his super
iors. Shields in the meantime had
been on the witness stand and an at
tempt was being made by District At
torney Morrison to CLEAN from him
the facts concerning the alleged at
tempts to influence him. The sec
ton of the statutes under which the
indictment was drawn provides that
any person who interferes with a wit
ness shall be subjected to fine Of
$780, or Imprisonment of three
months, or both.
r. Budatz, department manager
for Armour and company at Omaha.
and Edward WEIGH, of Armour and
company at Kansas City, were the
only other witnesses besides Shields
heard yesterday.