The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-08-16
MAY NOT LET
The ALTON OFF
NOW SAID THAT JUDGE LANDS
WILL IGNORE IMMUNITY PACT
Chicago Judge Knew Nothing OF Any
Deal Between Road and Moody
and May Order Hearing to
Proceed Today.

Chicago. Aug. l5.--The special fed.
eral grand jury. summoned by Judge
X NJ lands. will convene tomorrow
morning To hear the testimony rel
atiye to the Atoms violation Of the
Elkins law. under which the Standard
OH company was convicted and find
t2g 100000. II is admitted that the
government must keep faith with the
company and grant the promised im
munity but regardless of that the stu
alton is fraught with many possible
ties Judge Lands maintains strict
/ silence as 20 the action he will take
Without knowledge of the secret
| agreement concerning immunity. he
already has summoned the grand
/ jury and will be in court tomorrow
morning to swear it in.
Il don't want to be my sterious,' he
said today In reply to a question. but
anything | may have to say on this
subject will say from the bench"
Few believe that Judge Lands will
the face Of opposition from the de-
partment Of Justice. The honor Of the
government will be maintained even
though It permits the escape of cor
poration already shown to have yio-
lated the law at least 1869 times.
Were Judge Lands inclined to push
the prosecution, however. the author
ities In Washington would be In a
predicament There is no official In
the United States with a delegated
power sufficient to grant immunity to
q corporation for criminal offense.
Clemency, immunity and pardon fire.
quently are resorted to by the state
courts as a bribe by means OF which
one criminal states evidence against
another. but the federal courts, with
all the power at their command, sell
dom II ever have to resort to this.
The president OF the United States
may pardon an offender after convic'
ton Judge Lands undoubtedly will
recognize the promise of immunity
made by the ex-Attorney General
Mr. Moody, and the eX-District Attor'
ney Mr. Morrison to the Chicago a
Alton railroad company. II Is still a
Z question however. whether the offi'
cials involved in the violation
| of law may not be indicted. Nothing
. has been divulged by the authorities
In Wa shington-the only source oI
reports as to immunity thus far
to show that forgiveness extends ia
the individuals The law will protect
p those who testified for the govern
( ment, and it Is probable that the Sc
I cret agreement included them.
4 District Attorney Sims will return
r, from North Michigan tomorrow morn
ing and will be present In court. No
a orders to stop the proposed investi
5 CATION were received by the federal
Z authorities here tonight nor was any
!. information regarding the immunity
[ agreement sent from Washington
g District Attorney Sims took charge OF
the office after the promise wa
made and his assistants asserted tha'
neither he nor they had any knowl
Y edge OF II. In case OF clash between
G the federal courts and the department
II OF justice, the district attorney mus
d obey instructions from the attorney
u general
l. Rumors were circulated today tina
I, Judge Iandis would not abide by th'
:, promise OF immunity made the Altor
q officials and a Logansport. Ind, pape
II quotes him as saying:
s Il will not be a party to any suci
l. agreement"
n One report was to the effect that |
n the district attorney, on instruction.
: from Washington, refused to conduc
Q the investigation, the court would az
5. point an attorney to take charge o
. the grand jury. The law, however
gives the district attorney exclusiy
Jurisdiction over the matter to b
sr presented to the grand jury and non
except him or his assistants can b
admitted to the grand jury room.
AT