Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-29
ARMOUR NAN indicted
Superintendent Of One Big
Packing Concern Interfered
With a Witness
WAS CONFIDENTIAL EMPLoYE
Thomas J. connors Arrested on Bench
Warrant Issued After Indictment is
Returned Charging That He At
tempted to Influence Witness Call
ed by the Government.

Chicago. March 90. The federal
grand jury last night returned an In
dictment against Thomas j. Connors,
general superintendent Of Armour d
Co. on a charge of interfering with
a witness summoned to appear before
the Jury. Mr.. Connors. who is j.
Ogden Armour's most confidential en-
ploye and the active head of one OF
the largest packing companies In the
world, was arrested on u bench war
rant by United States deputy mar
shall and brought to the grand jury
room, where he was released on $5.-
900 bond. After his release Mr.. Con-
The indictment charges that Mr.. John
Edward Shields of Brooklyn. N. T.,
who testified In the so-called beef trust
investigation, was approached. favor
ed and entertained by Mr.. Connors and
specifically states that on March 70,
the offense upon which Mr. Connors
was indicted occurred. 1t Is also
charged that Shields was given the use
of Armour & Cos. 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.
Allegations Of Indictment.
Another allegation Is that Shields
was entertained by Connors. and that
Connors suggested to the proposed
witness that he should testify favor
ably to Armour & CO.. and not to tell
all that he knew concerning the mat
ter under investigation. The second
count Of the Indictment charges that
Mr.. Connors did not limit his attempt
at influencing witnesses to Mr.. Shields
but that other witnesses, who have not
as vet appeared in Chicago, have been
approached by him. and attempts made
to influence them as to the nature of
testimony they would give before the
jury.
When the special grand Jury conven-
ed 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 sitting in
New York, and there is said to have
davulged facts which led the federal
officials to come into 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 the man closely. Two men were
detailed to watch Shields. One Of the
secret service men obtained his conf
dence and thus learned facts which
doubled the precautions of the govern1
ment to prevent any of the witnesses
from being coached.
Shields was followed by these detec-
tiyes and it was soon learned that he
frequented the offices of Armour &
Co, having private wire at his dis
posal and answering all his private
there. Shields was
followed to the theaters, dinners and
meetings in down town hotels, and ev-
cry move that he made was closely
watched.
The matter reached IL climax yester-
day when one of the secret service
men submitted a report to his super
Tors. Sh efds in the meantime had
been on the witness stand and an at
tempt was being made by District At
torney Morrison to CLEAN from hirE the
facta concerning the alleged attempts
to influence him. The se,t'oa OF the
status under which the ind ctnent was
drawn provides that any person who
interferes with witness in a federal
case shall be subject to a fine of $500,
or imprisonment for three months, or
both.
R. Budatz, department manager for
Armour & Co., at Omaha, and Edward
welch, Of Armour & Co, at Kansas
CITY. were the only witnesses besides
Shields that were heard yesterday.