The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-03-29
ARMOUR & GO. OFFICIAL INDICTED IN CHICAGO
CHARGED WITH INTERFERING
 WITH 4 WITNESS.

General Superintendent Connors, One
 of J. Ogden Armour's Most Confiden-
 tiaI Men, Arrested at His Home and
 at Once Taken Before the Jury
 Wined and Dined Important Witness
 and Suggested That He Not Tell All
 He Knew.
 Chicago, March 2S.-The federal grand jury investigating the alleged beef trust returned an indictment tonight against Thomas J. Connors, general su- perintendent for Armour & Co. The charge is interfering with a witness summoned to appear before the grand jury. MT. Connors. who is one of J. ogden Armour's most confidential em- ployes and is the active head of one of the largest packing companies in the world, was arrested tonight at his home on a bench warrant by United States deputy marshal and brought to the grand jury room, After consider able delay the prisoner was released on $5,O00 bond. Following his release, MT. Connors absolutely refused to dis cuss the matter.
 The indictment alleges that John E. Shields of Brooklyn, a former employe of Armour & Co, who has been in Chicago since the investigation begun, was approached, favored and enter tained by MT. Connors and specifically charges that on March 25 the offense for which MT. Connors is indicted oc- cured. It is also charged that Shields was given the use of Armour & Co.'S office to transact business while in Chi cago and furnished the use of a private telegraph wire in the office of the pack ing company. ~>
 Another allegation is that Shields was entertained by Connors, and that Cennors suggested the proposed wit ness should testify favorably for Ar mour X Co, and not tell all that wit ness knew concerning the matter under investigation. The second count of the indictment charges that MT. Connors did not limit his attempt at influencing witnesses to MT. Shields, but that other witnesses who have not as yet appear ed in Chicago have been approached by Connors and attempts made to infiu- ence them as to the nature of testimony to be given.
 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- tified before a grand jury in New York. and is said to have divulged facts which led the federal officials to be- lieve him to be in possession of many other details concerning subjects un- der consideration. They ordered that he be watched closely. Two secret service men were detailed to this work. One of the secret service men obtained Shields confidence and thus learned facts which doubled the precautions Of the government to prevent any of the witnesses from being coached. Shields was followed by the detectives and it was soon learned that he frequented the offices of Armour & Co.,, having a private wire at his disposal and an- swering all his private correspondence there. Shields was followed to theaters, dinners and meetings in down town hotels, every movement he made being closely watched. <-,es
 The surveillance reached a climax yesterday when one of the secret ser- vice men submitted a report to his su- periors.
 To-day Shields was before the grand jury for three hours. The section of the statutes under which the indict- ment is drawn provides that any per- son who interferes with a witness shall be subjected to a fine of $500 or impris- onment for three months or both.
 R. Budatz, department manager for Armour & Co.,, at Omaha, and Edward We1ch of Armour & Co.,, at Kansas City were the only other witnesses be- sides Shields heard to-day.