Evening star., 1927-11-04
An Assault Upon Justice.


An instant reaction of extreme in
dignation is evident on the part of the
public in relation to the dismissal of the
jury that has been sitting in the hear
ing of evidence in the trial of Harry
+. Sinclair and Albert B. Fall for con-
spiracy to defraud the Government in
the making of oil leases. The jury
was discharged because Of the dis
covery by the Government counsel
that detectives, presumably in the en-
pioy of the defense, had been shadow
ing them, making researches into their
financial affairs, their associations and
their habits, the natural assumption
being that they were being studied
with the possibility of improper ap.
proach or pressure to induce them to
vote for acquittaL One of the men,
bers of the jury is alleged to have
been talking indiscreetly regarding
the case. The counsel for the defense
have declared their ignorance Of these
proceedings, and have joined with
those Of the Government. in asking
that the trial be suspended. The pre-
siding justice, with evident propriety,
dismissed the trial. The grand jury is
investigating the charges of espionage
and presumptive jury tampering.
In it's most innocent aspect this Is
an instance of indiscreet zeal on the
part Of the defense. Why there should
be any shadowing of the jurors in
that behalf il a mystery. unless the
= reason that has been assumed. that
of prospective bribery or coercion, is
granted. When the jury is once
sworn and allowed to go free on honor
between sessions Of the court there Is
no occasion for the defense to watch
it. Overtures to influence individual
members will never come from the
prosecution. There is but one interest
that is conceivably moved to conduct
such an espionage, and that is the
defense. The conclusion seems to be
inescapable that a corrupt purpose
was the object of the movement.
The spectacle Of jury tampering IL
shocking to the public. In this case
it is especially 50, inasmuch as the
charges on which the defendants were
being tried bore upon the corrupt use
of money to influence improper courses
in Federal administration. Money
trails the case. Money tinges all its
aspects. Money makes 1t a stencil in
the nostrils OF the American people.
Condemnation Of this practice with
the accompaniment of demand for
the punishment of all who have par.
ticipated in the assault upon the in
tegrity Of the jury system is the key
note of the comments made upon this
sordid business. In the country's view
the case becomes Of importance tran.
scending the original scandal of the
alleged bribery Of a public Official by
promoters Of the oil industry. In
truth, there must be the most search.
ing disclosure of the facts, the most
thoroughgoing effort to bring to Jus
tice those who have been in any man.
ner or degree engaged In THIS criminal
work of prostituting the court for the
salvation OF accused persons.
Even IL proof is lacking of specific
1 acts of actual or attempted bribery,
the employment Of detectives in es-
pionage upon the jurors causes belief
to remain in the public mind that
there has been in fact a criminal en-.
.terprise designed to prevent the con.
. yiction of the defendants in this case.
A unanimous verdict has been rem
dered by the press of the country.
Perhaps It has been premature. Later
disclosures may possibly clear up the
matter and explain as legitimate the
now apparently illegal activities of
agents Of the defense. But such proof
must be explicit. specific and complete.