The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-14
IMMUNITY FOR
ALTON DENIED
Judge Lands May Take
Action Regardless of At
torney General.
JURISTS MAY CLASH
Attorney for Railroad Declares
Standard Oil Was Fined On In.
formation Company Gave.

Chicago. Aug. 14.-Judge Kenesaw NJ.
Lands may still crack the whip over
the Chicago q Alton railroad. despite
reports that the company has been
granted immunity
There also may be a clash between
the Chicago jurist and the Office of At
torney General Bonaparte. should the
United States legal department Insist
upon the withdrawal from the case OF
District Attorney Sims.
It was rumored at the federal build
ing yesterday that Judge Lands. IN
anticipation of this action. Is prepared
to carry on the prosecution regardless
OF the attorney generals attitude. At
torney w S. Forrest may be asked
TO represent tho court as special coun-
sci in the investigation Mr.. Forrest is
in Canada. At his Office the report
was denied.
While 1t is intimated that Judge
Lands IS in no mood to lay down" IN
the proposed grand jury investigation
because of the reports that the Alton
road was granted immunity by former
District Attorney Morrison, he declined
yesterday to discuss the casa His at
titude will be made known at 10 o'clock
this morning. when the panel. drawn
for special grand jury service. win re-
port for instructions.
Surprised at Reports.
| The reports from Washington were
received with apparent surprise In Chi
cago. both by the district attorneys
forces ana by counsel for the railroad
company involved. District Attorney
Sims is still out OF the city. and his
first assistant James II. Wilkerson, is
| ignorant OF the immunity both given to
the Chicago Alton road by Mr. Morri-
son. If immunity has been granted.
At the Offices of Attorneys Winston,
Payne and Strawn, counsel for the rail-
road under investigation, no WORD had
been received yesterday from Frede-
rick S. Winston, who has personal
charge OF all Alton litigation. S H.
strawn, junior member of the firm,
said he expects to hear from Mr.. Wins
1 ton, who is in Manchester, today. In
the meantime Mr.. strawn declares he is
in the dark, and declines to admit
whether any promise Of immunity was
made to the Alton officials by the gov
eminent.
It was said by an attorney in close
touch with Mr.. Morrison that the re-
ported immunity bath for the Alton
railroad is authentic and that the Inn
, munity was granted by the former dis
trict attorney. 1t was pointed out that
when Attorney General Bonaparte is
sued orders from Washington in May.
1906, to district attorneys IN various
! cities throughout the country for the
prosecution of the Standard oil COM
pany, Mr. Morrison, who then was dis
2 trict attorney IN Chicago, decided the
D only way he could secure evidence
' against the oil company sufficient for
conviction was by the granting I'm
munity to the Chicago and Alton for
information furnished by officers and
employees concerning the granting of
7 Illegal rebates.
= How Big Fine Was Possible.
The subsequent conviction and I'm
I position of a $40, 400, 900 fine by Judge
I Lands was possible largely through
> the testimony thus obtained.
: on the other hand. 1t Is declared,
|. neither District Attorney Morrison nor
Attorney General Bonaparte had the
right TO promise the railroad company
immunity, for under the statute no cor
poration IS exempt from criminal pros
{ ecution under any circumstances wher
d same statute individuals connected witt
e tho company. including It's officers, en-
q ployes and agents, who may be In
3 VOWED in criminal proceeding may
: be granted Immunity from prosecution
upon revelations made by them either
to the district attorney or on the wit
ness stand.
In spite OF the published assertions
= that the immunity bargain was mads
I between Former Attorney Genera
a Moody, now a Justice Of the suprem,
n court, and Mr.. Morrison. no advice
+ have yet been received IN Chicago t
7 call of the investigation. At the fed
: eral building yesterday there were n
signs OF a halt in the preliminary ar
engagements for the judicial inquiry
and District Attorney Sims viii ap
pear in court this morning with hi
y assistants, Mr.. WiIkerson and Nj
! Parkin.