The evening world., 1888-10-05

SNs
Judge Van Brunt. of the Supreme Court
looked thoughtful when an EVENING WORLD
reporter put the questions before him.
Several minutes elapsed before, in his cold,
even voice, he said
am not prepared to answer those ques-
ions now. They are momentous ones.
From the aspect of affairs at the present date,
l think they are questions that may be
called upon any day to answer with an OH
cial opinion. Therefore / do not feel at lib
erty to answer them now"
Judge MARITIME was sitting in Part IL.of Cen
eral Sessions when the reporter asked him to
answer the same important questions. He
asked time to consider them. At noon he re-
ceived the reporter in his private chambers
and said
II have considered the questions very
seriously and would like to answer them, but
| cannot do 80. In the first place l have not
read enough of Hutchinson's transaction,
and from a legal standpoint l do not know
whether he is amenable or not. l think he
is. Anyhow, l hope 30.
/" II il men like him who are instrumental
in keeping our poorhouses crowded. From
one end of this land to the other there comes
IA CIV ITOIn ln0 DOOE ptODtt tnub bhoulu lhhc
him tremble. There can be no question but
that, morally, he has committed a grievous
wrong"
Could he not be arrested upon a charge
of conspiracy 2" 49,.
matter, although how he could engineer such
II gigantic scheme unaided / am at a loss to
understand.
/" If il could be proved that he had deliber-
ately planned with others to raise the price OF
wheat, what then ?"
" think no has violated the laws of his
native State, and that he can be punished by
fine or imprisonment, or both"
NioolI was ncountered in a hallway Of the
Court Hous He wer the questions
promptly.
:" am sure thai Hutchinson has violated
the law, if 1t is the same in Illinois as in this
State. Here he could be arrested, and &C
cused of conspiracy. If convicted. he would
be liable to q years imprisonment and q fine
of $500.
- think The EVENING WORLD is right in
still thinks that Trusts are private enter
prises with which the common people have
nothing TO do. l think they have the hardest
part Of Hutch's corner to deal with. 1t is
they who must do without bread or else pay
an exorbitant price for it this winter. They
will remember Hutchinson long after he has
ceased to think of the barrels OF money he
made by the transaction"
Several other prominent members of the
Bar were interviewed upon the subject and
answered very much Ill the same way with
Mr.. Nlcoll.
Col. Fellows could not be found at the Dis
trict- Attorneys office. but Assistant District
Attorney jerome undertook to answer the
questions.
He said d" II was. at common law in olden
times, @ crime punishable by fines, imprison-
ment, or both, to conspire to raise the price
OF any of the necessary articles of life, l am
not prepared to say if hutchinson has vio-
lated any law or laws of the present day. 1t
may be, N ] think it is still, a crime to con-
spire for such q purpose III this State. That
| would not have any particular bearing on
this present case, however, unless he has vio-
lated some law OF the State of Illinois. The
laws Of that State are widely different from
ours. | am not well enough versed in them
to say. now, whether the big wheat man has
violated any of the laws there or not"
Lawyer and ex-Assemblyman James ID. Nc
Clelland declared that the old common law
of the English courts, making it u criminal
oifense, had been transmitted to our statutes
and could still be enforced in this and many
others of the United States.
Illinois among them I" asked the re-
porter.
II am not sure about that State. Still,
believe that by acting as he has done in cor.
nering the wheat market, Hutchinson has
violated not only q State law, but q law of the
United States"
Assistant District Attorney Dos Passos said:
The offense of cornsrlng the market on
breadstuffs or other commodities necessary
to the nourishment of life has been com,
united aud punished criminally from time
immemorial. Thu offense at common law il
olden days was called forestalling the mar
ket.' 1t is still recognized and embodied IL
the statutes of this State. Under the more
genteel names of corners, combinations ol
Trusts. it has been condemned by nearly al
the courts in our country, including the
United States Supreme Court. In many o.
the States persons who unlawfully enter int
combinations to control the necessary com
modities of life can be punished by fine anc
imprisonment"
How would you go about punishin.
Hutchinson ?' was asked.
well, if l suffered by him in this State,
would go to a police magistrate and swear on
a warrant for arrest on a charge of conspir
acy. He would come to trial in due time ant
o jury of the people would try him."