Los Angeles, Mar. 24.
The officials who are investigating the latest developments in the Julian Oil Ca. smash are maintaining seccreey concerning the identity of witnesses. who are said to possess valuable information concerning the disposition of many of the missi millions.
Some who were in possession of inside information, however, declared to-day that the evidence soon to be Jdiselosed would be startling.
They said that it was believed that practically all the money would be traced, including the mysterious! }$35,000,000 which evaporated simultaneously with the trip to Shanghai of Mrs. S. C, Lewis, wife of the president of the company.
The company was a $100,000,000 concern and what was saved for the investors was small after the crash lof May, 1927.
The discovery that the "statute of imitations" would soon prevent the possibility of further indictments in redoubled effort on the part of the District Attorney.
Because of the fact that the Julian }Co, smash occurred three years ago, fresh indictments cannot be filed Jatter May 6 of this ye The District Attorney desires that] any farther action should be tight" and, therefore, he is, at present chiefly concerned with the legal aspect of certain possible] charges in the United States such! as bribery of the jury and other matters, Inquiry into the reported "trunkfal of money" which was said to have started off as part of Mrs. Lewis' baggage had not produced satisfactory results. The matter will further investigated, probably with such assistance as officials at} Shanghai and other places may be fable to give.
Cabled inquiries are being made] to the authorities at Shanghai and other ports visited by Mrs. Lewis in the course of a voyage marked by liberal spending and, officials here] believe, possibly by more permanent} investments in securities of some sort, Feat Prejudiced Judge Mar. 27.
Proceedings in the Julian Oil Ca. scandal were held up, it was stated to-day, because the district Attorney had become convinced. that the Judge was prejudiced in this matter and he accordingly threatened to refuse to prosecute under existing conditions.
Mr. Huron Fitts, the District! Attorney, was understood to have uncovered a vast. quantity material in connection with thi but he was reluctant to risk ul at present because of the law stated that a person could ringe would conclusive of evidence.
Officials wore disturbed at the se spread publicity which had been given the revival of this affair, and feared that it might hamper them in the Inter stages of their investigaved a company into ately $100,000,000 was put b afore its collapse in 1927. Stockholling was widespread and the investigation had covered a great deal of territory already.
The District Attorney refri response to questions to-day, ment as to whether he has. the lavish expenditure of Mrs. S. C. Lewis, wife of the president of the company.
Two Score Persons Indicted Mar. 28.
'A new trial judge was assigned' today to deal with cases arising. out of the Julian Oil Ca. debacle of 1927 and action accordingly becdime more likely.
Huron Fitts, the district attorney, who had said' yesterday that pre-Judice on the part of the former trial judge would block further proceedings, announced to-day that he is much pleased with the new turn and that he is now willing to) proceed.
From a list of those against whom indictments tad been returned some time ago, Mr. Fitts selected Jacob Herman to go before the grand jury and give fresh testimony which is expected to open the case again.
"The witness has promised te "tell all from prosecution, according to the district attorney.
Details of the anticipated testi-many could not be learned but there is much speculation as to whether it will in some way involve the Far East "spending tour" of Mra. S. C. Lewis, wife of the president of the company, who is persistently although only intangibly linked in the press with the mysterious disappearance of some $35,000,000 of the company's funds.
'Two secret indictments, understood to have named from' 35 to 40 persons on charges of conspiracy to commit usury in connection with the $100,000,000 Julian Oil Ca. smash, were voted by the grand jury here to-day after testimony had been given by Jacob Herman.
Afr. Herman is a former executive of the Julian Oil Ca. He had been himself charged in connection with the smash of the concern,' but consented to appear before the jury and implicate others when Huron Fitts, district attorney, pro-_ mised him personal immunity in return.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.