The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-08-18
SAYS HE DID NOT
BURN THE BOOKS
NO INTENTION OF CIRCUMvENT.
ING GRAND JURY. HE SAYS.
Very Rellgiously Deplores Loss OF
Important Evidence in Beef
Trust Case.
ARMOUR COUNSEL TEsTTIEs,

Chicago, Aug. 1S.-Alfred r. Uri-
on, general counsel for Armour q
Co., and president Of the board OF
education, took the witness stand be-
fore Judge lands and defended him
self against the grand jurys charge
that he had criminally interfered
with their investigation Of the pack
ers combine by causing the destruc-
ton of certain stenographers' note
books.
He solemnly denied that he had
had anything to do with the destruc-
ton of the books, that he knew the
grand jury wanted them before they
were burned that he knew Of an ul-
terror motive in their destruction or
that he had the slightest hope, in
|tention, desire OF any other expecta-
ton of interfering with the grand
jury in any way.
The little attorney for the packers,
with a crOss-my heart and-hope-to-
die expression, put on a final coat OF
'whitewash by declaring that he was
sorry the books had been destroyed
and that the grand jury's disappoint-
ment was only equalled by his own.
Outside OF his own defense Of de-
NAL Mr.. Urlon staked his chances of
keeping out of prison for contempt
of court largely on half-baked ro-
nance OF Packingtown. BY the clock
like regularity with which John c.
Balinski. an Armour employe, courts
pretty Mary Gardinski, of 47i7 Lin
coin street. the attorneys for the
packers definitely established when
the books were burned. Johnnie
kept company" regularly on We'd
nesday and Sunday nights. and three
witnesses definitely fixed Thursday as
the day the books we're burned. be-
cause they had "kidded" Johnnie
about Mary the day before.
Shaw Says II Did It."
To interested spectators who crowd
ed Judge lands court the ardent
young woer was easily the star wit
ness OF the day.
William w. shaw. chief OF the Ar
mours' ITS stenographers. and one of
the three employees cited with Mr..
Urion for contempt, took the stand
TO play the role Of Il did IT," His
excuses were that the books were
burned in the regular course OF bus
ness and because he was anxious to
get away TO Wisconsin on his vaca-
ton. He denied any knowledge OF
or interest In the matter.
Patrick ]. Lofts. one OF the men
who actually tossed the books into
the fire ether on Thursday morning
or afternoon or on Friday morning,
kept up the reputation established
yesterday by Janitors Walsh and Bar
rows that Armour ianitors are men
with muddled memories. He did not
add any weight OF decision 10 the
vital question of when" He did
not have a great deal Of trouble max
| ing his testimony agree with that
given previously before the grand
jury.
Mr.. Urion's appearance on the wit
ness stand was prefaeed by an i'm
passioned speech by Levy Mayer in
which sobs for the respondents at
the bar rotated with groans at the
governments cruel" charge.
what we want are the facts. I"
cried Mr.. Mayer. 1--WE don't want the
district attorney 90 send through the
world another blast at these men.
who have already been injured
enough. I think the government
might have acted differently. We
want these respondents to come be-
fore the court. We want you to see
them and hear them. A reputable
member OF the bar and three others
have been made respondents through
the testimony of some illlterate
Though honest men"