Evening star., 1934-03-11
FOUR INDICTMENTS
SEEN THIS WEEK
IN ARMY INQUIRY
Grand Jury Ready to Act in
War Department Con.
tract Probe.
PERSONS HIGHER UP .
BELIEVED INVOLVED
Fifteen Volumes of Testimony of
Approximately 40 Witnesses
Being Studied.
BY REX COLLIER.

pute-with conspiracy to defraud the
United States in connection with War
Department contracts is looked for
this week by persons observing de-
velopments in the grand jury inquiry
just concluding.
The inquisitorial body IS expected
to arrive at final decision on the
question of indictments when it re-
convenes tomorrow morning at the
court house.
There are indications the % Jurors
are having difficulty in making up
their minds as to the culpability or
innocence of certain prominent fig
ures in the alleged conspiracy, and
the final decision may be the result
of close vote.
Part of Official Studied.
A study of the part played by a
Government official in the matters
which have been under investigation
for nearly five weeks is reported to
have occupied much Of the grand
jury's time during the past few days.
This official was one of a large
group of Government witnesses who
testified before the grand jury under
waivers of immunity. In fact, all
witnesses who appeared before the
jurors were required to sign i'm
munity waivers before testifying This
unusual action was taken by United
States Attorney Leslie c. Garnett be-
cause of the wide ramifcations of the
inquiry, coupled with the fact that
nearly every witness summoned had
been named by Justice investigators
as one having some connection with
matters under scrutiny. 1t was the
duty of the grand jury to decide
which of these witnesses. if any, and
what other persons, if any, were in
eliminated in what has been described
as an 'unholy alliance of lobbyists"
1t has been learned from reliable
sources there is a feeling in certain
official quarters that the grand fury
should indict four or five persons-or
none. This feeling, it is said, arises
from the conviction that the alleged
conspiracy, if it existed, was partici-
pated in by more than two or three
persons.
Indictments Freely Predicted.
Previously it had been thought the
grand jury might decide to indict only
two or three alleged participants in
one of two alleged plots against the
Government. Indictment of at least
two persons has been freely predicted
in court house circles for some weeks.
If the grand jury, after receipt Of
legal advice, should concur in the be-
lief that all or none Of the alleged
principals named by witnesses should
be cited, there is a chance that a ma
jority Of the jurors may hold out for
ignoring charges against every one.
Complete exoneration of every one
concerned seemed remote possibility
last night, however, in view of the ap-
parent confidence of some officials that
the jurors could not ignore certain
phases of evidence uncovered by De-
partment of Justice investigators.
The grand jury has been studying IS
volumes of testimony by approximately
40 witnesses of high and low estate.
Heading the long parade of citizens
into the grand Jury room was Assist
ant Secretary of War Harry H. Wood
ring, who appeared three times before
the jurors. Other War Department
witnesses included Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur, chief of staff; Maj Gen. Hugh
A. Drum and Maj. Gen. Robert E. CAL
Ian, assistant chiefs Of staff: Brig. Gen.
A. E. Williams. acting quartermaster
general; Brig. Gen. John L. Dewitt,
former Quartermaster general, and
number of colonies, majors and cap
tainS.
Other Witnesses.
Other witnesses included Frederick
H. Payne, former Assistant Secretary
of War; Ralph T. O'Neil, past national
commander of the American Legion;
and number of automobile company
executives, sales agents and employees.
The grand jury must arrive at de-
cision without benefit of recommended
tions from Assistant United States At
torney David Pine. who has been con-
Quoting the hearings. In his final
charge to the jurors Thursday Pine
declined to ask for the indictment or
exoneration of any specific figures in
the inquiry, holding that the sole re-
sponsibility for decision must rest
with the grand jury itself
He advised the jurors to indict if
they believed in the guilt of any
principal and if they were convinced
the evidence was sufficient to con-
vict in court. They must not be
guided by public clamor," he ad-
monished, in citing a charge to that
effect prepared in a California pro-
ceeding by Justice Fields, then Of the
United States Circuit Court Of Ap-
peals.
Garnett and Pine have made it
plain they have presented to the
grand jury every item of evidence
available and that they have not
sought to guide the grand jury TO-
ward any particular objective, other
than to get at the facts and mete out
justice. There has been no attempt
to shield any person named by inves-
tigators as a possible participant in
the alliance"
Hands OFF" Policy.
Attorney General Cummings, who
initiated the grand jury proceedings
after conference with War Depart
ment officials, also has held to
"hands off" policy with respect to the
grand jury deliberations. The de-
partment has lent every assistance to
the United States attorneys Office
in the investigation, however, includ-
ing the assignment of special agents
Of the Division of Investigation to aid
Garnett and his assistants in digging
up evidence and locating witnesses.
The jury will not delay further its
report to the District Supreme Court,
however. 1t is understood the report
will be made in special appearances