The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-27
BAGGING TRUST BAGGED.
INDICTMENTS AGAINST MEMBERS BY
THE SHELBY GRAND JURY.
Tho Morals, Commerce and Trade Of
This Community Must be Protected
Benjamin Crate Says IL 10 the Work
of"a Country Grand jury"

At the beginning Of the present term OF
the criminal court new grand jury was
empancled.
Judge Dui}ps, created somewhat Of n
sensation by charging them on the subject
OF the bagging trust. According to the
lights before him the trust was liable 10
indictment, and he instructed the jury to
sail in with that end in view.
The grand jury accepted the instructions
In good faith, At,orney-Geneml Peters
drew up q voluminous bill Of indict.
mcut, and Witnesses against the ubiquitous
combine were summoned 10 appear be-
fore the body and testify. They did so,
and Yesterday returned, among other bills
marked "a true copy the one against
Benjamin Gmiz, Anderson Galz, Joel
Wood aud -- Warren. Tho bill charges
these men, residents Of 81. louis, Mo-, with
combining, coniedcating aud conspiring
together for the purpose Of expressing,
injuring aud interfering with the
course of commerce, trade and morals
oi shelby county. II charges that they
combined and conicdcutcd together for
the purpose OF buying mp all the bagging
tof that variety exclusively used in the
Whipping and baling OF cotton In the mar
ket aud also IN mako contracts with all
the mills which produced that kind
or material. and that they attained
this end when the market price ~
cotton baggihg was from q 30 = cents per
ward. Tho Indictment further charges
that the parties named, becoming pos.
sesscd OF virtually all the bagging Ia the
United States, soon began Ia rapidly in.
crease the price, until Il shortly reached
II cents, over 100 per cent. higher than IL
had been, aud that by this action they de
moralizcd tradeand commerce, aud greatly
injured cotton growers. The Indictment
was found under the clause Of the laws
which provides that persons combining or
conicderting together for the purpose OF
iniuring the morals, commerce or trade of
the community shall DO regarded rs a
felony.
Judge DuTosc, whether he will ever
make ID stick or not, has shown that he Is
dead set against trusts, where they operate
against tho 'moulls, commerce or trlde"
OF his bailiwick. Whom asked " he
thought there was any prospect Of get.
ting the indicted individuals here ior
trial. aud reminded that their opera
tons here were through an agent.
lac remarked. II think can got
them; II man In New York sends an
agent down here, oremploys man already
here, 90 commit murder for him, cant
we got him here for trialg" This Is the
first indictment ever returned against the
Cotton Baggng trust, and II may give
them more trouble than they seem 10 eN'
meet. iuddug from the Associated Prs
telegram from st. Louis, which Is APP
pended.
Acknowledgement George Il. Peters was
ais. asked for an opinion NJ 10 what would
result from the indictments. and answered
very much after the style Of Judge Du
bose.
"Could You not have indicted Mr. John
X. Speed rs local rgcnt Of the trust, and !
20, why did You not2'
''Ncry likely Mr.. Speed could have beer
indicted under the same section OF ~,
code, but We preferred TO uso him rs
witness"