Evening star., 1927-11-22
S|NCLA|R-BURNS
CONTEMPT ACTION
ORDERED BY COURT
Siddons Approves Petition
Filed by Gordon-HearIng
Set for December 5.
JURY-SPYlNG COMPLAINT
INVOLVES FOUR OTHERS
Clark and Day Also Named in
Proceeding Instituted
Today,

Tho long-awaited break in the
silence surrounding the GoNerhlffFi''
next move in the Fall-StnclaiF Jhl
tamnorine scandal came today "heh
Tinted States Attorney Peyton Gofuoi
pctitioned Justice Frederick l.. S'o
dors for a contempt rule against fiaI
rv +. Sinclair. William J. burns,
sherman Burns, Henry Mason D"S
sheldon Clark and Charles L. ietSc' IL
on charges that they attempted 10 III
Auence the Fan-Sinclair jury. ana the
co,1rt signed a rule calling upon theii
m annear before him December D ana
show cause why they should not ne
adi,,dred lin contempt of the author
ity Of this court
The action of Maj. Gordon. conten,
Mated for several days, but guatuTu
with the utmost secrecy, Is eltl' cry
indanendent and not substitute toi
any action the grand jury wf1ich mas
had the case under Investigation loi
several weeks. may take. ne toIu
Justice Siddons in presenting MS pe''-
tion
Inauires About Kidwell.
Mai Gordon had made careful
nrenarations for todays move. ne
has been in constant consultation WIN
+ha Department of Justice, ana yes
terdav afternoon made hurried Trip
to Philadelphia to confer with owen
+ Roberts. special Government Oh,
prosecutor. who received the first up
that Burns detectives were shadoWing
the Fall-Sinclair oil trial jury.
After Justice Siddons had read the
petition he inquired as to the lack OF
reference to Juror Edward L. kla"eil,
who was mentioned in two athdaVlts
presented by the Government as
talkative juror in the proceedings
which brought about the miStrlal.
Mai. Gordon replied that the kidWell
matter already had been brought 10
the attention of the court through the
affidavits. but that should the court
request him. he would draw up sep
arate petition asking for contempt
rule against that juror.
The rule signed by the court in
wolves three Sinclair men" and three
BURNS men" In addition TO the
New York oil magnate. Day and Clark
are officials of two Sinclair companies
the former being vice president of the.
Sinclair Exploration Co. of New York
and the latter vice president or the
Sinclair Refining Co. William j.
Burns is founder of the Burns Inter.
national Detective Agency, Inc, and
former chief of the Bureau of lnVes-
tigation, Department of Justice; Sher-
man Burns. his son, is secretary
treasurer and Veitsch is manager OF
the Baltimore office of the agency.
Others May be Involved.
The Governments petition stated
that should it appear to the court tnat
other persons were concerned in the
matter, "they may be made parties
to this petition.
Maj. Gordon charged in his petition
that Sinclair ordered directed and
induced" Dav and Clark to come to
Washington when the oil cOnsp racy
trial opened and engaged the services
of the Burns agency, SUPERVISED the
activities, received reports from the
numerous operatives land forwarded
the same to him. the said Harry F.
Sinclair, for the following objects,
that is to say:
ITO spy upon said jurors and each
of them, to bribe, intimidate and in
fuence said jurors. and each or any
of them and to do anything calculated
10 Interfere with and impede said
Jurors and each of them in the un
biased discharge of their duties in
the trial of the said cause and tc
influence, pervert. impede and pre-
vent said jurors in the discharge OF
their duties as jurors and to impede
pervert and prevent the due admin
istration of justice in said court II
the trial Of said criminal prosecution
either by corruptlv influencing saio
Jurors TO decide the issues Of said
prosecution in favor of the defend
ar-.vo f,I- IN
issues by unlawfully spying upon the
said Jurors and each of them for the
purpose of concocting false charges
against one or more OF the sald Jurors
in case such a course Should seen
advantageous 10 said defendants II
said cause with a view OF bringing
about a mistrial of the cause afore-
said or otherwise accomplish such
purpose.
Burns Affidavit Mentioned.
The petition further charges tha
tha senior Burns, "in furtherance o.
said designs of said respondents pro
cured the making Of a false afhdaVl
purnortin2 to show that a representa-
tive of the United States Department
of Justice approached and held con
yersation with Juror Norman Gias
cock and that he and sherman Burns
without truth in fact, did then ant
there procure the submission OF salf
affidavit to Justice Siddons. intend
in:y 10 provide evidence that the Gov
ornment had tampered with the Jury.
should Justice SiddOns. following
The presentation of testimony anf
evidence by the persons named II
tho court rule. determine that thci
reasons showing why they should no
he adiudGed in contempt are made
ouate and he 50 adiudges them, they
would be liable to sentence of no
70 exceed / year in jail ar a fine. th'
..p,ount of which would be determined
1,y the court Under the act Of Ion
ross providing penalties for persons
4ound guilty OF contempt Of eithe
housa OF Congress, the punishment
CARRIES no alternative nat both fin
aud iail sentence. Sinclair now is un
dor a three month sentence and
4na of $500 as A result Of having becl
convicted by q jury earlier in IN
&ear of contempt Of the Senate. III
has aDpealed from the sentence o
The court The punishment that ma.
he meted our in the present coSe
under the inherent power OF the court
CONTINUED on Page 4, Column lD
Barthelmess Engagement OF.