Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-19
US. GR|LLSBURNS
AGENT ON STAND
Witness Firm in Denial He
Was Told to "Get Some.
thing" on Oil Juror.

SOUGHT 10 liliptaGil tliS tSSNuIAtilN VI
Paul y. Steer. a Burns detective. when
the witness denied he had been in
structed to get something on the
brother Of John p. Kern. Teapot Dome
juror whom he was shadowine during
the oil conspiracy trial.
Steer had denied fatty on the stand
that ne had been told al mldNeht
conference in the Maytlower Hotel Oc-
to5er % that kern'S brother was
well known gambler about town ana
that he was Shacowins the SUBJECT 70
yet something on HIM.
When this denial was made, Neh
YurE!nshav. assistant United States al
torney. arose 10 protest ~ the court.
explaining that h was taken by sur
prise" al this testimony. for the Burns
lucrative had admitted otherwise When
Questioned before the grand Jury
George p. Hoover Of counsel for Harry
r. Sinclair interrupted 10 ask II burAih-
shaw was seeking 10 invoke the pro
visions Of the statute which permited
counsel 70 cross-eXarrine witness
vhe,, surprised by his testimony he
contende6 that what took place before
the grand Jury put the testimony OF
the witness in court outside the scope
s-C intention o. me statute.
Justice Frederick L. Siddons held that
Su-k:nshaw IS representative OF the
United states had put the same QueS-
t,o,s n the witness before the grand
fury and If he was surprised by Steers
denial i, court the matter docs come
within the language Of the statute.
Wright Objects.
--,,. r-ovn~,,r,sy,t attorney told the
court that when Steer was before the
grand Jury he admitted having been in
e,r,,cied 10 get something" on kern's
brother. and when asked what he
meant by that had replied. Il mean
the way you mean II or any one else
would mean il"
Burkinshaw declared that the opera
tive informed the grand jury that he
had been told by Frank J. ORellly. his
superior. that Kern's brother was
gambler about town At this point
Judge Daniel Thew Wright. Of counsel
for Henry Mason Day. protested that
II Burkinshaw wanted 70 testify the at
torney could take the witness stand
himself When Burkinshaw remarked
that he had no such intention. Wright
threatened 10 put him on the stand
Permitted to cross-eXamine the wit
ness on this phase OF the situation.
Burkinshaw encountered considerable
difficulty Steer is "a years old. although
be locks like high school boy. He re-
NAMED unperturbed throughout the
controversy.
The Burns operative could not recall
at first whether he was before the grand
jury either IN October or November,
but when pinned down admitted that he
haG been.
Burkinshaw repeatedly tried TO get
the witness 20 admit that he had been
given such instructions by his superiors
but each time when confronted By the
grand jury's questions the young oper-
ative parted with remark that he
could not recall or could not remem-
Der" He stuck firmly to these an
svers.
Burkinshav went after him repeated
Is. You said then that you were told
70 get something on Kern's brother?"
the Government attorney pressed.
Rudy Told Him TO Wait.
II believe ! testified before that the
Only thing I remember vas Charles G.
Rudy telling me 10 hold myself in
eceyance the following morning for
further instructions" Steer insisted
Unable TO break down the witness,
Eu-kinshaT demanded If he world deny
that he had giYen answers 10 he co.i-
trary before the grand Jury.
I cont know Steer insisted.
Justice Siodons halted the exar1ina-
tion 70 adn1onisi1 Burkinshaw that he
could not ask the witness TO deny a
statement when Steer had already said
ne could not remember hav!rs made ii.
Pursuing another tack. the GoseIn-
H&FnS xfEaN
about the inquiries ne nad made cs,n-
corning the Jurors brother. Steer then
related going 10 the neighboiFood Of
tne home o. Mr voight, who is a
bfotne--in-law Of Juror Kern, IL mike
INQUIRIES from residents In the block
~ using a strong pretext," he said. ne
nae found OF; quite lot about vciaht
from woman several doors away who
vas quite a gossip"
Swallowed Justice Agent.
The slladowing Of Charles r. Lam,
s9sria! assistant to the ATTORNEY Cen
eral, who figured IL the Burns reports
Vas touched upon by Steer. Lamb is
,ne man alleged in Burns' afaday wits
1-ec with the court. 70 have been seen
taking With Juror Norman L. Gas
eock a. tEe Potomac Flying Field dur
irg the trial
Eieer said he vas unable 10 ~. the
r ,, CT Lambs car at the District
E~IoanR and on October "a ne .ele-
paonec 70 the attorney II the .1enar,
n1eni u Justice He hung 70 he re-
cS!5er Wien Lamb answered TIE phone
Ffcn october Is 10 30 ne st1adoyns
It-s!aes BUT, q real estate man ard a
2fleHc o. Juror Kern No evidence =,
crt@ct WITH Burr was established
tnCQ2n the detective said on ore orrs :
tlon re fla6 seen E9rr's car being fol-
DTec. This was one 0! the Instances
when iec Burns operatives u believe
'aat OUTSIDE pefsons' were shacoylup
scrJse u the jurors.
Cnosy examination by Charles A
Douglas Ct counsel for William j
Burns tne witness declared 'hst WI.
Ian ', McMVIIen. alias William v
i<1ng mad secured the number ~
Lambs car from the District Euildine
snc gwen Il 10 OReilly Steer md
Itn supplied with the number by the
ia''kF, D1t cic not Try u SHADOW the
attorney
AN4!len ss tf2e Burns operative yno
VOC ClfFotc F!ncnot former Governor
u PehnEy!Ysnls. ~ the shsc1g1ns
srh"'ies sno plsyeG along win The
E4fnk operatives - 'nf instruction o.
fFe Distrj1t att.of!ey
E@'pfF the i.Dondsy recess joseph "A
D|yef shpthfE Burns operative vas
11fS'lpnfc shout the routine stacov4,,o
~ nm hneha l. Bailey. one % M
Two woman glfoft
B+fo'e cntning W WASHINGTON. DIVER
sac ~ ~as to.c tbst II be appfoac .led
sny ~ the Jurors he would i,e dis
TglkSfc
Were 'hohe instructions from vii
Ham ) E4fnsf" ASKED Euyklns51aw
To the amusement ~ Mr Burns wt1.
"&k ~ cpur tne operative declared
that 20 far az he Knew Elrns n.c
Eo'h;ng " 60 Win the agency.
OIIlTc C0t 0RE0 p0cT