Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-13
Alleged Attempt to Tamper
With the Grand Jury.
PROBE ORDERED BY COURT
Two Citizens Said to Have Incurred
Penalty Of Law.
MATTER UNDER INVESTIGATION
w. A. Pierce and w. II. Harrison
Charged With Improperly Dis
cussing "Pickford Case"

Calling the grand jury into his court
room this morning and placing each men,
Der under oath, Justice Wright of the
District Supreme Court began a probe
into a charge that attempts had been
made to influence the grand jury in its
consideration Of a case of alleged bribery
against Thomas H. sPickford in connec-
ton with the proceedings pending be-
fore the grand jury against William j.
Dugan and John II. Walter.
W. A. Pierce and William II. Har-
rison were named to the court as
the persons who had attempted to talk
to Jurors Cresson +. Finch and Leonard
Daniel In reference to the "Pickford
case"
Justice Wright directed Assistant
United States Attorney Proctor to call
the matter to the attention OF United
States Attorney Wilson for a further
investigation Of the matter. The court
requested that the United States at
torney's office promptly begin the in
vestigation and make a report to the
court at the earliest possible time.
Court Gives Directions.
IF, in the opinion Of Mr.. Wilson," said
the court, ''the details Of the conversa-
tons only briefly mentioned by the jurors
show a contempt OF court in an attempt
unlawfully to influence the grand jury
in a matter pending before that body,
formal charges Of contempt should be
made In writing. If Mr.. Wilson should
decide that no contempt is made out,
then the court wishes submitted to him q
report OF the details Of the conversa-
TONS"
Assistant United States Attorney Proc
tor began at once an inquiry into the
whole matter.
Dugan and Walter were arrested Feb
ruary IL last on a charge of attempting
to brtbe Ferdinand Hopp, a witness in
q case for damages about to be tried in
Circuit Court No. 2, in which James Hud-
son sought to recover damages from
Inomas II. Pickford. The case grew out
OF the arrest OF Hopp and Hudson ten
Hopp was the principal witness for Hud-
son.
The charge of attempted bribery is
Pending before the grand jury. AS
Pickford was defendant In the dam
age case, his name in aome manner be.
came connected with the inQuiry.
When the United States attorneys
once was appraised OF the alleged At
tempt to influence the action Of the
grand jury. Justice Wright was con-
the facts in open court.
When the grand jurors filed into court
Justice Wright announced that his at
tenttOn had been called In open court to
a supposed attempt to influence the ac-
tioh Of certain grand jurors. He declared
that he desired to relieve the individuals
from the natural indisposition to tell OF
these things hH an inquiry of each and
every member OF the grand jury.
Jurorg CatAchised
After Clerk Hawken had sworn the
grand jury, the court asked Foreman
William II. Moses If any one had at
tempted to speak to him outside the jury
room In relation to a matter pending be-
fore the grand jury. Mr.. Moses answered
in the negative.
A similar response came from several
jurors until the name Of Mr.. Finch was
reached.
In answer to the same question put by
the court to hts foreman. Mr.. Finch said: !:
"A few days ago-I can get the exact
date II your honor requires it-a man
whom / have known for many years
called me on the telephone at my Office
My bookkeeper answered and was told
the party desired private conversation
with me-
Who was the man." inquired Justice
Wright.
DO I have to tell his name?" queried
the Juror.
Yes said Justice Wright.
1T was w. a. Pierce, reluctantly re-
sponded the JUROR.
Told to proceed, Mr.. Finch explained
that he had directed his bookkeeper to
tell Mr.. Pierce he would await him at the
Office.
When Mr.. Pierce arrived, according 10
the juror, the visitor requested that they
be alone, and when the bookkeeper had
stepped from the office Mr.. Pierce. the
juror said, asked him to step over to the
window.
Then Mr.. Finch said Mr.. Pierce, re-
marking that he believed Finch was a
member Of the grand jury. stated that
he understood they 0he grand jurors)
were going to take another vote on the
then stated he would like to talk to
Finch about the Pickford case.
Juror Finch said he told Mr.. Pierce
he could not discuss the matter and
Pierce left the office.
Other Jurors denied any attempt on
the part Of any one to talk to them,
as their names were reached in the
roll call
Statement by Juror Daniels.
When Leonard Daniels name was
reached he told the court that last
Monday or Tuesday W. H. Harrison,
whom he had known eight or ten
ears, dUOIeSSeO MIN III front OF f1ar-
rison's business place in Z street be-
tween 9th and 10th streets.
Harrison he said, remarking that he
understood that the Pickford case was
being held uD declared that some friend
of his. whose name was not disclosed,
had asked him to approach one of the
grand Jurors to see what could be done
about II.
The court then directed Mr.. Proctor to
proceed with a further detailed inquiry
N III "A nf
committed.
The theory OF the investigation, 1t is
understood. Is that 1t Is unlawful even to
speak with a member Of the grand jury
about matter under consideration by
that body
WEDS GIRL OF FIFTEEN.