The San Francisco call., 1905-03-30
Federal Officials Claim to
Have Further Evidence
Against Representatives
of the Packers Combine
ARMOUR DEFENDS
INDICTED AGENT
Head of Beef Trust Says
Connors Is the Victim
of Grave Misunderstand-
ING as to Facts in Case

CHICAGO, March 29.-Several wit
nesses. for the most part employees of
the Chicago packers, were heard at to-
days session of the special Grand Jury
which is investigating the business
transactions of the beef trust. All OF
the witnesses were subjected to rigid
examination as to whether they had
been approached by outsiders since be-
ing called as witnesses the inquisitorlal
body evidently being more anxious, for
the present at least, to secure furtner
evidence of alleged tampering with Wit
| nesses by interested persons than to Sc
cure facts concerning the beef com
bination.
From Federal official it was learned
that several witnesses had been ap-
preached, and as soon as the proof is
in the hands of District Attorney Nor
rison it is said more indictments will
be returned.
John Shields, Government witness in
the case against John Connors, Ar
mours general superintendent, indicted
on a charge of trying to influence a
witness, was put under $1,000 bonds to-
day to appear at the July term of the
United States District. Court, when the
Connors case is set for hearing. Shlelds
signed his own bond and left for New
York tonight. Secret service men have
Increased in numbers so rapidly that
now almost every witness or conse-
quence is being shadowed.
Many other persons not directly IN
terested in the daily proceedings OF the
Jury are also being Shadowed, and
every endeaVor is being made to pre-
vent any tampering with witnesses.
In a statement given out tonight j.
Ogden Armour, the head of Armour d
Co., declared that the indictment re-
turned against his confidential man
/ Thomas J. Connors, lis the result of a
grave misunderstanding as to the
facts"
Shields is the New York representa-
tive of II. j. Ellis & Co., agents for Ar
mour & Co. in Singapore, and, accord
ing to Armour's statement, Shields
called at the office of the packing com
pany of his own volition. Continuing
Armour said:
"The usual courtesies of business
house to its representatives were ac-
corded Mr.. Shields to the extent OF
granting his request to communicate
with his officers in New York over the
private wires of the company concern
ing his business affairs there and to
care for his incoming mail and tele-
grams received Until ne Cdfl6Q lOT Tie
same During his stay III Chicago Mr.,
Shields was not entertained by repre-
sentatives of Armour & Co. at theater
parties or elsewhere. Mr.. Connors as
sures me, and / have every reason to
believe him, that he did not, as
charged in the indictment, attempt to
influence Shields in the performance OF
his duty to appear before the jury and
give evidence on any subject on which
he might have information"
Ell PASO, Tex, March 29.-The fol-
lowing statement with reference to the
resolution of Texas cattlemen to give
all possible evidence in the United
States investigation of the so-called
beef trust was issued to-day by Presi-
dent W. W. Turney of the Interstate
Cattle Growers Associations:
"Ninety-nine per cent of the cattle
growers of the country believe there
is an illegal combination, having for
its object the sitting of competition
and the controlling Of 9s per cent of
the cattle shipped to the six great
slaughtering markets, Chicago, Kansas
City, st. Louis, Fort Worth, Omaha
and Los Angeles. and they are ready
to help the Government, and will help
! it all they can. to break up this mon
ster. 1t can be done and the cattle
men will help"