Evening star., 1927-11-01
OIL TRIAL is HALTED
AS SlDDONS CONSIDERS
JURY TAMPERlNG DATA

Continued from First Pagel
collected from New York Baltimore,
| Washington, Philadelphia and, per-
| haps, other points and concentrated in
| Washington.
/ The affidavit explains that the re-
ports show that each of the jurors en-
paneled in the pending case was under
| surveillance for various lengths of
time, with the sole exception of juror
| No. 6, Robert G. Flora." Operatives
began their activities the day the jury
was sworn in and that one or more
operatives were assigned to the shad-
owing of particular jurors.
| They ascertained "to whom the ju-
rors talked. where they visited, the
| license numbers of all cars in which
| they rode"
Ruddy's report showed he frequent
| ly was in touch with the so-called
client" taking instructions from him,
and moved his operatives to the Ward
man Park Hotel so that they would
be nearer the clients home and out
of the beaten path"
| In at least one instance the reports
| showed that operatives had investi-
gated the ownership OF a home by a
| juror and the question of whether 1t
was mortgaged and who held the
mortgage. '''Tis obviously" the af-
! f1davit declares, ''for some ulterior
purpose not connected with the jurors
duties. Further Investigations were
made into the financial condition of q
| man who resided next door to one of
! the jurors. and concerning friends and
| business associates, "all of this OBJ
/ viously for the purpose of establishing
| a point of contact with the juror In
| question"
A detailed history and description
| of each of the II jurors also were
| found in the possession of Bundy.
| Reports and accounts kept by Bundy,
| the affidavit alleges, showed that
| large sums of expense money were
| being paid to each operative over and
| above their salaries. in some instances
! running as high as S36 for single
| day.
| All Jurors were shadowed wherever
| they went and in one instance it was
! charged that an operative took room
! in the same house opposite where one
I of the jurors resided.
Mr.. Burkinshaw, the other assistant
| United States attorney, who gave an
| affidavit. said that the investigation
'discloses the close, intimate, objec-
tionable and improper surveillance
the details of which were set forth by
! Shea.
Burkinshaw further charges that the
/ so-called client" was man named A.
Mason Day. who is registered at the
| Mayflower Hotel, where also the de
| fendant Harry +. Sinclair is regis
| tered" He also connects up Day with
| having received the reports at the
home of Mr.. Woodward.
| II aver that the said Day was what
| is known as the contact man between
/ the real employer of said Burns De
| tective Agency in this behalf" the afr
davit states. "and the said Ruddy act
| ing as manager of the operatives II
/ Washington, u. G.. 1t is my belief and
| aver that the real employer Of said
| detectives is Harry F. Sinclair. de.
| fendant in this cause. / have not as
yet been able to interview said Wood
ward and said Day and am. therefore
unable to state what they will say as
to who enlisted their services in this
/ matter"
The activities Of said detectives"
! BurEinshaw added. have been mimi
cable to the proper administration o
i justice in this court, wholly improper
| and without warrant in law Or other
wise The affidavit closes with thu
| statement that the purpose of the de
!
, relationships sof the jurors for some
uiterior and improper purpose"
| When Pomerene made his offer OF
/ The aftidavits Justice Siddons in
| quired If the Government counsel
wished TO present it In the presence
| of the jury and Pomerene explained
| that he preferred to submit the mat
ter only to the court.
Justice Siddons in deciding TO eX.
clude the jury also excluded the pub
lie from listening to the presentation
of the Governments affidavits. He re-
tired Immediately to his chambers.
followed by counsel for both sides and
Albert b. Fall, former Secretary of
the Interior. one of the defendants.
A short time later Harry F. Sinclair
the other defendant, entered the room.
| Twenty-Five minutes after the con.
ference had gotten under way, George
Fl. Chandler an assistant to the Gov.
ernment counsel. came out of the con-
ference wreathed in smiles and later
appeared with William NJ. Shea. an
assistant United States attorney.
AS the court retired to its cham 9
bers the Jury, which ordinarily is at
tended by robust deputy marshal.
! was led into it's room by several other
marshals and kept there until the re-
EcSS was II IAS UCCb
| customary to keep the jurors together
during proceedings when their pres
ence is not desired for a time.
Reports published this morning OF
an impending sensation at the trial
brought an unusually large attend
| ance to the courtroom. The old ia
miliar faces were there, but were
! augmented by Il number of well
| tnown attorneys and many other well
dressed persons who sought, In fact
plead. for admission to the tiny space
reserved for spectators.
During the last few days, despite
the Governments efforts to bring out
the most startling elements Of the al.
legged conspiracy. there had been a
gracual falling off of the corps of cor
respondents covering the trial, but to-
day iiey were back In increased mum.
bers. No speculation was INDUCED in
as to what Justice Siddons' decision
would be in anticipation of it's deliv-
cry but the thought was current that
the trial would cease.
Should mistriai he declared. the
Government. already put to much eX.
pense in conducting the present pro.
ceedings. now two and a half weeks
under way. would have to backtrack
on all 1t had done and recall excused
uitnasccS frnp1 N nnrpara pf rNnp