The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-05
SECRETARY AN RY
Tried to Get Statement Into Record
and Judge Lands Kept
It Out.


day to send the grand jury away
again for a period OF three weeks, the
step was not fully explained or I'M
derstood.
1t now appears, from a statement is
sued yesterday by Attorney General
Bonaparte in Lenox, Mass, that he
wrote a letter to District Attorney
Sims some days ago asking that the
Alton be granted immunity in fulfill
ment OF the governments promise.
That letter was not read.
District Attorney Sims was not in
Chicago yesterday, but there was a
general impression here that new
evidence. or the attitude of Judge
Lands. or some other consideration in
duced him to withhold the letter.
Bonaparte Sheds Some Light.
Mr.. Bonaparte, in Lenox, made this
statement:
ION Aug. IA Judge Lands asked, in
substance. that the department of JUS
tice consider portions of the transcript
of testimony in the case of the United
States against the Standard Oil com
pany of Indiana in order to determine
whether the Chicago & Alton railroad
company, its officers, and employees
w
agreement assuring it and them of
immunity against criminal prosecution
in connection with the granting of GER
tain rebates to the Standard Oil Gem
pany.
THE department. in compliance with
the desire of Judge Lands, examined
the above mentioned records, and
carefully investigated the entire sub
ject, and as a result of such investiga-
ton the attorney general on Aug. 20
wrote Edwin W. Sims. United States
attorney at Chicago, informing him in
substance that the agreement was
shown to have been made in June or
July, 1906, by C. B. Morrison. Mr..
Sims predecessor in office; that Mr..
Morrison's action appears to have been
duly authorized at the time by the de-
partment; that in the opinion of the
department arrangement had greatly
facilitated the indictment and convic-
ton of the Standard Oil company. and
that while certain portions of the evil
dence might be fairly open to unfav-
orable comment, the department re-
garded the government as bound in
good faith and also as a matter of
public policy to give effect to the
agreement.
Sims to Look Up Facts.
Mr.. Sims was instructed to read this
letter when the grand jury reconvened
on September 8. and to take such
further action to the foregoing end as
might seem to the court and to himself
appropriate In the premises.
THE department learns that Mr..
Sims did not comply with these in
structions by reason of his having had
called to his attention recently certain
new and. in his judgment, material
facts; which he thought should be sub
mitted to the department for its further
consideration before its conclusion
should be finally announced.
For this purpose he asked and was
granted by the court delay Of three
weeks. The department is not as yet
advised as to what are the facts thus
ascertained by Mr.. Sims. 1t has great
confidence in his sound judgment and
devotion to duty and it awaits his re-
port before taking further action in
the premises. Inasmuch, however, as
the circumstances of the case may be
liable to DEMONSTRATION, it is deemed
proper to submit now the present state
ment to the public"
Perhaps less light in the matter was
had in Washington than is furnished
by Mr.. Bonaparte' statement, but the
impression there is interesting. 1t is
that Judge Lands is doing more in the
Alton case to save the interests of the
government than Attorney General
Bonaparte. 1t is pointed out there that
by refusing to receive official notice
the government promised immunity to
the Alton. the judge is holding a club
over the corporation sufficiently large
to make It's officials perform all their
agreements TO the last step in the case
against the Standard"
In other words. it is thought that
Judge Lands looked into the future
and considered the effect of decision
of the Circuit court reversing his action
and remanding the case for another
trial. In such an event. 1t might be
necessary to recall the Alton officials
and employees and again go all over
the ground.
The reception of the Bonaparte
letter go all over the letter
bench would be to make the communi-
cation a part OF the record in the case.
With the letter part of the record. a
new trial would proceed under diff
culties. 1t is thought that fear on the
part of the officials of the Alton for the
corporation would not be then present.
Bonaparte Reported Angry.
In Washington 1t is said that At
torney General Bonaparte was angry
because his letter was not read in
court. and it is said there that he sent
a peremptory message TO District At
torney Sims asking why he had not
followed instructions. 1t is believed
here that Mr.. Sims can furnish an
adequate reason for his action.
The attorney general sent word to