Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-19
THE TOBACCO TRIAL.
1T Is RESUMED AFTER INTERMIs-
SION OF A DAY.
CROSS EXAMINATION OF ALLEN.
American Company Consolidation
for the Purpose of Promoting
Cigarettes.

NEW YORK, June 1S.-The trial OF the
officers of the American Tobacco Com
pany, for alleged conspiracy under the
antitrust law of this State, was re-
sumed to-day. after an intermisson OF
d day. Theodore u. Alien was recalled
by the prosecution. and questioned re-
specting the number OF all-tobacco ciga-
rettes manufactured in 1855, as com
pared with the number of paper ciga-
rettes made at that time. He could not
say what the statistics were. Asked
again concerning his suit against the de-
PENDANTS at the time Of the formation
of the so-called trust, for commissions
earned. as alleged, in bringing the COM
panies together. he declared that all
differences had since been amicably ad-
justed, and he was now on good terms
with all of them.
An attempt on the part of the prosecu-
tion TO bring out evidence as to the me-
thods of the trust prior TO 1890 was OBJ
jected to by Mr.. Choate and the objec-
ton was sustained.
The witness (Mr. Allen testified that in
conversation, Mr.. Duke. previous TO the
formation Of the combination, told him
it cost his firm sos 900 for advertising in
1883. Mr.. Ginter told him it cost his
firm $4,000 for advertising the same
year. There was some talk as to the
remedy for competition.
Upon cross-eXaminatiOn, witness said
that the consolidation was formed for
the purpose Of promoting economy in
the manufacture Of cigarettes. He had
received letter from Allen 81 Ginter,
on September 6, 1889, in which the firm
stated that they were averse 10 join
ing a trust, in the literal meaning of the
term. but if other companies were con-
siderng a combination, they might be
induced TO join in the plan. Witness
said that the present price of cigarettes
was 10 per cent. less than when the
companies were doing business inde-
pendently.
Mr.. Fuller requested that the witness
produce in court tomorrow letter
which he received from Einstein &
Townsend on May p, 1897, asking him
to lend his aid TO the prosecution. He
was also asked to produce copy OF
the letter ne sent in answer. Mr.. Fuller
occupied more than an hour putting
questions relative TO trademarks and
their value to manufacturers to the
witness, all Of which were ruled out.
HAUPTMANN.
Peter Hauptmann. of the firm of Peter
Hauptmann & Co., dealers and jobbers
in tobacco and cigars, was called after
Mr.. Allen had become so wearied that
he asked to be excused for the day.
Hauptmann's firm does business in st.
Louis. He testified that previous to 1893
"a fr,, -
cigarettes yearly. In 1893 be bought cigar
cites from the National Cigarette Com
pany, and after that the American To-
bacco Company refused 10 fill his or
ders. claiming that he had violated the
agreement by which the trust held the
jobbers. He went to the st. Louis head
quarters of the American Tobacco COM
pany and had conversation with Mr..
Brown. The latter told him he must
quit selling Admiral cigarettes. or the
trust would stop selling him the goods
of it's manufacture. Brown told him the
American Tobacco Company sold % or
9S per cent. of all the cigarettes manu-
featured in the country, and did not
see why he would not sell trust goods
exclusively. He was told by Mr.. Brown
that if he stuck by the trust he would
sell 22.o0c,0 600 cigarettes.
Witness was asked by DistrictAttor-
ney Olcott If he gave in 10 Mr.. Brown,
and replied that he did not. a letter |
sent to the witness by the American
Tobacco Company was offered in evil |
ience. 1t was to the effect that the |
company felt constrained to discontinue |
sending him further goods, except at |
net prices. without discount. Not until |
Iune 1886. was the witness able to pur-
,hase goods of the American Tobacco |
manufacture Spot cash had |
always been paid by him for the trust |
FOODS. The trust not only refused to sell |
lirn tobacco but he also was not al |
owed 10 buy goods from other firms in
st. Louis that handled the trust cigar
ties He said he never was an agent |
If the trust.