Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-08-15
Immunity FOR THE ALTON
Railroad viii Escape Prosscutiss
Because Of Furnishing Evidence
Against the Standard.
CLAIM AGREEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT
Federal Attorneys Needed the Rail.
ways Evidence to Convict the OH
Trust Of Rebatlna-An Embarras'
slnp Situation for the. Department
OF Justice.

Chicago. Aug. 13.-Upon 4 plea OF
immunity the Chicago Il Alton rail-
way expects effectually 10 bar prose
cution by the government on the
charge Of granting rebates TO the
Standard Oil company Of Indiana.
This immunity is said to have been
promised the Alton before the indict'
ments against the Standard were re-
turned last August. and In considera'
ton OF II the Alton furnished the fed
eral officials with all proof necessary
TO convict the OIL trust.
The federal grand jury called two
weeks ago by Judge X. M. Lands for
the express purpose Of investigating
the capabi,ity Of the Alton In giving
rebates To Standard OIL. will convene
Wednesday and the question Of
whether immunity was granted Will
become an important one. The Al
ton officials may submit their proof
to District Attorney Sims then OF
wait until the indictment il returned
Thus far the Alton officials hare said
nothing about the charge made
against them.
Such is not true OF the federal
forces and this may explain the agi
tation wnich Judge Lands action
created when the news OF It reached
Washington. II was termed III i'd
vised and unfortunate with the In.
ference that II would interfere with
other trust prosecutions. Special As.
sistant Distrit Attorney Wilkerson de.
clared Monday that so far as he
knew no immunity had been granted
the Alton. but Mr.. Wilkerson did not
become associated with the case un.
I'll after the indictments were re.
turned a year ago.
C. b. Morrison, who was district
attorney at that time, Is not In Chi.
cago, nor is Attorney Winston, coun-
sci for the Chicago & Alton. Both OF
these men would know 1t II the pro-
mise of immunity was made. II i'm.
munity from prosecution was granted
the Alton by the government the
agreement was Of necessity a secret
one. The indictment OF the Standard
OIL company followed closely on the
Beef trust cases In which the lin.
munity bath" first found judicial
recognition. The result Of this was
Il law expressly passed to prevent a
repetition of the immunity bath"
plea.
In the face of this law so recently
passed and because of the use to
which II would be put by the defend.
ant any agreement as to immunity
would, OF course, be sub rosa. Judge
lands was not party to any such
agreement and not being apprised Of
II even took the responsibility Of cali
ing a grand jury with the view OF in
dieting the prosecuting witness.
BY this the government Is put In
an embarrassing position and having
failed to declare the immunity, II
must now stop the proceedings In
some other way. Reports of this
secret immunity agreement reached
the federal building from several diff.
ferent sources Monday. but no one
was tangible enough to AFFORD veri-
flcation.
Attorney General BOnaparte has
looked into the facts, II IL said, and
found that the agreement was made
and is binding.
In Washington the pledge Ia re-
garded as unfortunate. II prevents
the department from taking action
against either the railway company
or any Of its officials. Mr.. Bonaparte
realizes that he can now reach e
II. Hartman in no way and lie has
In his possession the evidence In sev.
eral cases which might be made the
basis for criminal prosecution. II is
said that the president is particular.
ly disappointed over the agreement,
as he Is DESTROYS of having declsi re
legal action taken against all corpor.
al sx,,tIku - ~ahakln.