Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-22
PART OF AFFIDAVIT
DENIED BY K|DWELL
Juror Challenges Statements
Credited to Mother in Jury
Tampering Probe.

nut through another gruelling exam-
nation today by Government counsei
and denied parts of an affidavit made
by Mrs. Mary Pearl Kidwell In wnlcn
she said her son had told her he be-
lieved he was being followed during
the FallSinclair conspiracy trial by
persons who wanted to find out II ne
would accept bride.
At the outset of today's proceedings
Justice Frederick L. Siddons ruled
that the charges of intimidation OF
witnesses brought against Assistant
United States Attorney James j.
OLeary would be given precedence
over the contempt proceedings involv-
ing Sinclair and the other I'VE
respondents.
Kidwells testimony today, dealing
mainly with the affidavit made by his
mother on December 8, involved so
many conflicting and confusing an.
swers that Justice Siddons recessed
court a few minutes before the reg
ular luncheon hour with the remark
that perhaps things would be straight
ened out during the interim.
Kidwell denied having made many
of the numerous statements attributed
to him in his mothers statement. and
also denied that his mother had said
certain things contained in the at.
fidavit.
Denies Exact Language.
His answers were explained chiefly
through his inability to understand
the transcribing of questions put to
him and to his mother by the gov
eminent attorney at the time the
affidavit was made out.
Repeatedly he admitted at that
the substances of the statements
were true and correct and his OBJ
that his mother had not answered
the questions in the exact language
that Mr.. O'Leary had written out in
the affidavit.
Proceedings today were marked by
the usual clashes between opposing
counsel and on more than one occa.
sion Justice Siddons cautioned Mr..
O'Leary not to confuse the witness.
Kidwell had denied that he had told
his mother either Fall or Sinclair
people" or "oil people" were following
him during the Sinclair oil conspiracy
trial to find out If he would accept
bride. He admitted to Mr.. OLeary,
however, that he had actually meant
that. the substance of the statement
contained in the affidavit was correct.
Contempt Laid Aside.
Contempt proceedings involving Sin.
clair and the other respondents were
ordered laid aside by Justice Siddons
today until completion of the inquiry
into charges by the oil magnate's
counsel that the witness Kidwell had
been coerced by Assistant District At
torney O'Leary into making false
statements in affidavits presented to
the court.
Says Charges Serious.
The court in deciding to go ahead
with the inquiry into the charges in
volving the Witness Kidwell, stressed
the grave nature of the accusations
against the district attorneys office.
Justice Siddons declared the charges
contained two aspects. The first, he
pointed out, cast a serious reflection
on the Office of the district attorney,
which, If sustained. would necessitate
some sort of action being taken with
respect to the prosecutor.
This intimidation and coercion by
the district attorney or his assistants
IledHS dHy tAlIA6s SdSeASO cAueAoAs'
pointed out. It is calculated to re-
duce the witness to a state of ter.
rorism even IL 1t cannot be proved
that the witness was induced to swear
falsely to affidavits.
"The court feels that If anything
of that kind has been done, 1t might
most seriously affect the prObative
value of the witnesses testimony"
Justice Siddons said. He added that
he agreed with Mr.. Littleton that now
is the time to clear up the charges
made by Mr.. Hoover before proceeding
further with the taking Of testimony
in the contempt proceedings.
With this understanding, Maj.
Gordon appealed to the court at the
proper time to give a ruling on
whether the witness had been in
Inundated as charged by defense
counsel.
In suggesting that the contempt
proceedings and inquiry be dovetailed,
Mr.. Douglas pointed out it would save
an immense amount of time, while, on
the other hand. If the two things were
divorced, 1t would involve departure
from the contempt case and lead to
more confusion. IF we go on this
way 1t will amount to case within a
case and an issue within an issue
and we will be going off on a tangent"
Mr.. Douglas explained.
O'Leary began his examination Of
Kidwell by referring to efforts of a
newspaperman to communicate with
Kidwell and O'Leary on the day Kid
well first appeared at the United States
attorneys Office to make the celebrate