The sun., 1919-11-01
JUSTICE WEEKS
ANDGRAND JURY
INJECT IN SECRET
Mystery in Confab With
4 Swami by Probers of Hy-
\ Ian Interboro Charge.
BTARTS QUESTION FLOOD
f'0vershadOwing Crime" Hint
Is Given. but Men Who.
Know Keep Silent.
ITARTS QUESTION FLOOD

Persons fond of mysteries found one
that stumped them in the Criminal
{Courts Building yesterday. Why did
Pnenkz~s of the Extraordinary Grand
Auury with which District Attorney
llEwann has been at odds over the in
Investigation of the Mayors INTERIOR
i lough strike conspiracy charges ask
MIR. Swami if he would testify and
c5waive immunity? What was on the
slsSiind of the jury that caused 1t twice
consult Justice Barlow S. Weeks in
Meetings from which every one but the
{ xvDlstice, the jurymen and the District
Xlttorney and his staff were Of neces-
"a ty excluded? What is the nature of
ne John Doe inquiry which the Grand
Hurry is meditating? Who may be
Hailed besides Mr. Swami?
The Justice, the District Attorney
and the jury know the answers, but
Mare bound by the law Of secrecy which
4 Fotects the Grand Jury not to reveal
IN mem.
vi The Grand Jury met for the first time
>SG ten days Gov. Smith having in the
a Meantime denied the request of the fore
4 Imam, Raymond +, Almirall, that spe-
ial prosecutor be appointed to help de-
ermine whether there had been a crime
Aovershadowing" the. Mayors charges of
ionspiracy. Before the session started
lome of the members approached Mr..
s lbwann. who had gone to the Grand Jury
W n
ltalley.
y One of the Jurors asked Mr.. Swami II
e would be a witness in a John Doe
Investigation of a certain crime. He re-
klied: do you mean the 'overshadow-
Sng .crime?'" The answer was, Yes"
K Inquire First as individuals.
III The District Attorney then inquired IL
bis questioners were speaking as the
rand Jury or as individuals. They
Id, "As Individuals and asked him
irther is he would waive immunity.
= fhe District Attorney replied: 81 will
T,t answer a question like that unless
& is asked by the Grand Jury" Fore
san Almirall convened the jury and the
oors swere closed.
~ A few minutes later the Grand Jury,
n ed0eu Dy MT. went W 'HN
N 1preme Court trial room. While his
~ ,sociates waited there Mr.. Almirall en-
e1 Justice Weeks's chambers. After
u teen minutes Mr Swami and Mr.. Tai
!, followed him. The talk with the
n ticS lasted an hour. Then the Grand
~ went TO luncheon with instructions
return at 2 80 p. NJ.
At 8 O'Clock, when the Justice took
L. seat in the trial room, there were
4 Iitr Mr.
r,Y four assstants-Alfred ]. Talley,
axander l. Rorke, Robert NJ. John
tI le and william c. Petty: court off,
Nj and attendants, fourteen newspaper
~ n and a few villagers. Justice Weeks
- : bIiskiy:
III .rhe Grand Jury has requested GER
~ i n information from the court in re-
"a ard TO the conduct of their business,
nd this is a private session of the
L, rand Jury All those other than mem
IN srs of the Grand Jury, the Grand Jury
enographer and the District Attorney
MI I'd his STAFF will leave the court room"
n Mr. Swami turned to the bench, say
z: "If your Honor pleases, | believe
-y-3e Grand Jury has filed into open
A. ert--"
"Mr District Attorney" said the JUS
I &c. Il have stated what this hearing
Il very we'll Sdlu mF. swami.
Heavy silence After Confab.
!. SO everybody not entitled to attend
I'M and Jury meeting walked out. includ-
II II the Supreme Court stenographer at
|,ndants and William Penny clerk of
H i1e court Once more the public record
~ blank. The secret session lasted
4 hour and half. Nothing could be
y vuiged at the close except that the
rand Jury would meet again on Mon
4 lay.
Justice Weeks explained that the court
J. I'D taken recess as soon as the room
As cleared. and that the further pro-
VI ilsedings were a private Grand Jury
& batter. He said the Grand Jury had
ifished to be instructed on the law In a
ase 1t was investigating and he could
rot legally expose anything the jury
had Eaid
" what is the Grand Jury investigat-
s1itig now--anarchy. the price of milk or
IA lie subway striker" the Justice was
Ia fked-each of these questions having
n &en entrusted to the Jury. Justice
Z, seks smiled and said "I believe they
VI II investigating all three"
A Foreman Almirall was asked II he
I'd furnish any enlightenment. but he
nook his head and said that unfortu-
ately II was a secret session and the
slice had enjoined silence.
= .,