Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-17
ARMOUR OFFICIALS TESTIFY
President Of Company Tells of His Talk
with Mr. Garfield.
EXAMINATION OF BOOKS is BRIEF
Agents of Government spent Thirty
Minutes In Looking over
Proht and Loss Ac-
counts.

CHICAGO, Feb. l6-The three leading
officials Of Armour & Co. were on the stand
today In the packers case. J. Ogden Ar
mour, the president of the company, took
the stand late in the day, but his evidence
was not important. He simply declared
that the books of Armour & Co. were given
to the government officials for inspection on
his order and said that he acted in pursu-
ance of legal advice when he directed that
the government be allowed TO inspect them.
The other witnesses were Arthur Meeker,
general superintendent of the company, and
T. ]. Connors. the general manager of the
beef department of the business. Their tes-
timony was much in the line of that given
by Mr.. Armour. District Attorney Morrison
tried to prove by Mr.. Meekor that he al
tered some figures which had been given
by Armour & Co. to the government agents,
but did not succeed in establishing the fact.
He declared that he would do IT at a later
time, however.
Superintendent Meekcr Testihes.
Arthur Mecker resumed his testimony in
the packers case today He declared that
Special Agent Durand had given his men
instructions to show Mr. Meeker all tables
of statistics before they were taken from
the Armour Office.
AS far as l know that was faithfully
carried out" said the witness. He also
declared that Commissioner Garfield had
told him that before the report was pub
lished he would permit the packers to look
over 1t and see whether It contained any
thing injurious to the packers.
He assured us of his good faith" said
the witness, and explained that the Mar
tin resolution called for results and that
was all that he would publish
Mr.. Meeker was then excused, his cross
examination being postponed in order to
allow Charles w. Armour president of the
Armour Packing company and vice presi-
dent of the Armour company, to take the
stand. The story detailed by Mr.. Ar
mour was similar to that Of Meeker and
other witnesses
Tho examination of Mr.. Armour was
brief and Mr.. Meeker was recalled for re-
cross-examination.
President Armour Called.
]. Ogden Armour, president OF Armour &
Co., was put on the stand at the afternoon
session.
Mr.. Armour said that at the time OF the
Garfield investigation he was in Europe
but he knew of the Martin resolution. under
authority of which the investigation was
made. He further testified that in author.
| lZinB l0e inspection OF the DOCKS or Armour
& Co. he had acted under legal advice.
The witness said that he was present al
the interview between Mr.. Robbins of Ar.
mour & Go. and Commissioner Garfield
did Mr.. Garfield ask questions of Mr.
] Robbins?" .a
u think he did,"
What did he ask about?"
| Depreciation in. the car line business"
| Mr.. Armour said that he was the person
| who directed that the books of Armour &
| Co. should be turned over to the govern.
ment for inspection.
| At this point District Attorney Morrison
| took up the cross-examination
How long did those men examine thos,
books?"
| Not over thirty minutes"
The witness said that the books produced
showed the profits and losses of Armour &
| Co. for stated periods. He had consulted
his attorney about producing them befor,
| handing them over to the government off
cials, and had been advised to produc,
them and did So
you acted then upon the advice you re
ceived?"
Yes, did"
This concluded the examination of Mr.
Armour and he left the stand
Mr.. Meeker was recalled TO the stand lat,
In the day for renewed cross-examinati tion
but il developed nothing of importance
Court then ad iourned until kfopda,,