The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30
GRAND JURY is AFTER HOLMES.
FJRMER STiTISTICTiE EAT So
INDICTED FOR BRIBERY.


That Would Incriwlnate Them
WARRINGTON, July 2s.-The Grand jury
OF the District Of Columbia Ii endeavorina
to secure evidence that will justify the
indictment Of Edwin 8. Holmes, Jr., the
former assistant ststistican Of tho Depart
msnt Of Agriculture, ON charge Of bribery,
This fact was brought out to-day IN open
court by District Attorney Morgan h
Beach during tho hearing relating to the
refusal OF Noses Haas, the Now York cotton
broker, to reply to questions put to him IN
the Grand Jury room.
Mr.. Beaoh's statement that the pro-
oeedines were against Holmes, and bis i'm
plication that tho charge was not that Of
accepting bribe, but Of giving one to
another employee Of the Governmeot,
created something Of . sensation. A oer-
tain employee is under suspicion, but bis
identity Is kept secret by tho authorities
for the present.
II developed to-day that tho case Of d..
George T. Moore, the scientist, who resigned
yesterday In tho ,faoe Of charges connect
Ing his narne with q company engaged
In the manufacture Of culture for sod IN
ooulation. has not been closed. The
matter viii be looked into further by tho
Department Of Justice. In accordance with
orders from the President.
The Grand Jury having The Department
Of Agriculture cases under consideration
will meet again Tuesday. having been OK
cused yesterday. Haas. tho New York
broker, will then be called and reuut red
to answer questions to which he refused to
respond ct previous session. II he per-
sists IN his refusal TO answer whether he
ever lived In Warrington and whether he
ment Of Agriculture he will again be brought
into court by the District Attorney and
his punishment requested As Justice
Wright has directed Haas to answer these
questions his failure to do 80 would un-
doubtedly result in immediate and severe
More pertinent questions viii be put TO
Haas on Tuesday. and upon his refusal
TO answer, which IL In the nature OF fore
gone conclusion. the Court will be asked to
pass upon the new interrogatiops. The
process will be tedious one, and can be
simplifed in some measure only by the
District Attorney making up list OF all
the questions he desires to ask the witness
and submitting them to Haas, placing the
list before the Court upon the continued
refusal OF witness to reply. 49,,
morning Meesrs. Haas and Peckham-the
latter being also recalcitrant witness
were In the court room for the first time
since their cases have been q subject
Of action by the Grand Jury. The court
room was well filed and the many lawyers
present showed deep interest in tho pro
ceedings. Mr.. Haas was represented BY
Mark Alter. the New York attorney who
came to Washington with the two cotton
men, and former District Attorney Birney.
II was recalled by many Of the lawyers
carving AS District Attorney, prosecuted
Chapman, the broker, for refusing to testify
In the sugar Investigation before Senate
special committee and had the broker sent
to Jail for three months.
In Haas's case before the court this
morning Judge Wright ruled that OF the
four questions which Haas had refused to
answer, no could BE- compelled 10, answer
the first two Of them, but that he need not
b required to ensEer the tother two The
Washingtonr Were you ever employed
In the Post Ohice DEPARTMENT." Were
YOU ever employed In the Agricultural
Department." Are you acquainted with
Peckham or HONEST
The ruling OF the court u that witnesses
before the Grand Jury during the present
inquiry are in the same position as II they
were on trial for bribery: they cannot be
compelled to answer questions In case the
answers would tend to incriminate them.
The upshot Of the decision Is that during
the present inquiry virtually every Quee-
tion put by the Grand jury will have TO DO
submitted to the court In case the witness
refuses to answer.