Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-04-03
TRUST MAN TOO BUSY
Federal JURY AT CHICAGO RE.
TURNS Indictment.
Thomas J. COnnOrS, General Super.
infendent of Armour 4 Co.,
Charged With Interfering With
WitneSS-DeteCtiveS on the
Watch.

Chicago, March 29.-The fedreal
grand jury last night returned an in
dictment against Thomas j. Connors,
general superintendent of Armour &
Co., on charge of interfering with a
witness summoned to appear before the
jury now investigating the so-called
beef trust.
Mr.. Connors, who is j. Ogden Ar
mour's most confidential employee and
the active head of one of the largest
packing companies in the world, was
arrested on bench warrant by dep
uty United States marshal and brought
to the grand jury room, where he was
released on IS, 900 bail. After his re-
lease, Mr.. Connors refused to discuss
the matter.
The indictment charges that John
Edward Shields, of Brooklyn, a for
mer employe of Armour & Co., who
testified before the grand jury, was
approached, favored and entertained
by Mr.. Connors, and specifically states
that on March 20 the offense upon
which Mr.. Connors was indicted &C.
Cured.
COnnOrs Entertaining Shields.
1t is also alleged that Shields was
given the use of Armour q Co. s offices,
at 2O5 La Sale street, to transact his
business while in Chicago and also the
use of a private telegraph wire in the
office of the packing company. An
other allegation is that Shields was
entertained by Connors and that Con-
nors suggested to the proposed witness
that he should testify favorably to Ar
mour & Co., and not to tell all that he
knew concerning the matter under in
vestlgation.
The second count in the indictment
charges that Mr.. Connors did not limit
his attempt at influencing witnesses to
Mr.. Shields, but that other witnesses,
who have not yet appeared in Chicago,
have been approached by him and at
the nature of the testimony they would
give before the grand jury.
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 tes-
titled before 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
requested to come to Chicago and the
federal officials were instructed to
watch him closely.
Detectives on Watch.
Two men were detailed to watch
Shields. One of these secret service
men obtained Shields confidence, it is
said, and thus learned facts which
doubled the precautions of the govern
ment to prevent any of the witnesses
from being coached. Shields was fol-
lowed by these detectives, and it was
learned that he frequented the offices
of Armour q Co., having a private
wire at his disposal and answering all
his private correspondence there. Ev-
cry move of Shields was closely watch.
ed. The matter reached climax
Tuesday, when one of the secret SER
vice men submitted a report to his SUI
periors. Yesterday Shields was in the
grand jury room from 2 O'Clock to 8
O'Clock.
The section of the statutes under
which the indictment was drawn pro-
vides that any person who interferes
with witness shall be subjected to a
fine of $500 or imprisonment for three
months, or both.