Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1896-10-08

10 try the suits, but the Court said he
would assume the responsibility himself
OF ordering them off for the term upon
/ application of Mr.. Sheppard. The costs
the Court ordered should be adjudged in
the final settlement of the case.
Inc Court ordered off for the term the
suit OF Parker VS.. MacFarland and More.
win costs upon the defendants.
The Court then called the first case. il
being No. 2, of the Supreme Court issues.
Whiie the jury was being empanelled,
Judge Ludlow demanded less con
fusion in the room, and broadly hinted
that ii was the duty of the officers to do
something. "Move around some," he
said and the wearers of the stars hustled
to various parts of the room.
The issue called for trial was that of
George w. oliver q Daniel Daley, trad
ing &C., VS.. Randolph MacFarland, on
contract. John S. Mitchell, Esq, repre-
sented the plaintiffs, while Mr.. MacFar-
land was looked after by Prosecutor VIM.
A. Logue. S
The suit was about chickens. There
have been many chicken cases in this
Court, but none of such magnitude as
this, for it represented 6l45 pounds of
chicken and 1910 squads, representing a
total worth of S19S9.2O.
The story told through Mr.. MitchelPs
witnesses was something like this:
The firm of oliver & Daley were en-
gagged in the poultry business. AS ex-
planned by Mr.. oliver there were times
IN the year, particularly in the winter
time, dealers bought great deal of
poultry from the farmers, which was
shipped to New York City and there
stored with cold storage company and
kept until spring, when it could be readily
sold for splendid increase of profit. Of
course this long shipment was attended
with considerable expense, and in July
of 1894, when Randolph MacFarland, of
Monroeville, came here and said he could
freeze the poultry and keep it equally as
we'll as the cold storage companies of
New York. Of course this matter was of
considerable interest to oliver & Daley
and they proceeded to make deal with
Randolph to freeze their poultry, and the
negotiations were finally concluded by
Randolph contracting to freeze and keep
properly all poultry sent him for cent
per pound for the first month and cent
per pound for each subsequent month, or
part of month.
The firm began shipping to MacFar-
land in July 1894, first sending less than
three hundred squads. In August an.
other shipment was made, but portion
OF them were thrown ont, from the fact
that the3' not in good condition.
Shipments continued until January
and the total amount sent to MonroevilIe
by the firm was 6,l45 pounds of chickens,
and 4 $40 squads, the former being valued
at Sl243.3S, and the latter S745.S2, or an ag-
gregate of $l9S9.20. This value repre-.
sented simply what oliver & Daley had
paid the raisers for the stock.
In this matter Of cold storage, the firm
had had no trouble with the New York
Company, and poultry was always kept
during the winter in good shape, los
ing but little of the fine, delicate taste or
flavor.
Along in January, 1895, MacFarland
notified oliver IL Daley that some of the
poultry was not keeping well, and some
time before that, quantity had to be
taken out. Notwithstanding that, Mac
Farland had continued to receive ship
ments from Bridgeton.
Then came an investigation, when Mr..
oliver was informed that the poultry
was spelling. This investigation was af-
ter previous visit, when it was found
that thepoultry had been properly frozen,
and was keeping nicely. This indicated
that MacFarland had not properly kept
the stuff. When it was found that the
poultry was spelling, the cold storage was
visited, and such poultry as was fit was
sent to New York, where some of it was
sold for little money, and large quanti-
ties of it was seized by the New York
Board of Health authorities.
All that the firm received from the
Sl9S920 worth of poultry and squads was
S659.O5. The profits upon this investment
should have been considerable to the
firm, but in reality the loss was Sl330.15.
In describing the condition of the
spoiled poultry, George oliver said that
the goods became a mass of unrecogniza-
BILE stuff, and in some cases was eaten by
rats.
MacFarland's explanation as shown by
the plaintiffs, was that the loss was
through no fault of his. The poultry was
claimed to have been properly frozen,
but Mr.. MacFarland explained that the
poultry must have been shipped hot,
without ice, and while it was frozen in
the freezer on the outside, the heat was
driven inside, thus causing it to spoil.
The entire afternoon was taken up with
the testimony of George oliver, the first
witness.
Mr.. Mitchell's examination was very
thorough and complete, and it was late
in the afternoon when Mr.. Logue began
his cross-examination.