The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-03
BUTTE News.
He GAVE SHORT WEIGHT
That Is Miss Nagle's Charge
Against Butcher Kreig.
SHE KEPT TABS ON HIM
Bought Pair of Scales and Did Her
Own Weiehing-The Court Intin1-
ated That Kreig Would Be
Found Guilty.

John L. Kreig, the butcher who was
tried and convicted a year ago of the
crime of giving short weights, but who
was discharged when the case reached
the district court on appeal, through
the exhibits in the lower court trial
having been lost, had another trial
yesterday, and was virtually found
guilty, though judgment was not pro-
nounced, the court allowing this for
mality and the passage of sentence to
go over until this morning, to give the
defendant time in which to file bond
on appeal. and not be required to so TO
tail for the night in the event he was
not able to procure bondsmen last
evening. The case was prosecuted by
County Attorney c. ?, Connolly, and
Attorney j. L. Wines appeared for the
defendant.
Miss Mile Maggie. of the firm of
Maggie Sisters, who conduct restau-
rant in East Granite street, testified
that the firm purchased meat of kreig
for five years. They had a stipulated
contract with Kreig as to prices which
was changed at different times. For
some time prior to the latter part Ct
June, 1898, the price of roast beeef had
been IL cents. kreig was al TINS time
notified the price OF roast beef would
have to be lowered or they would nave
to go elsewhere. The price was Te-
duced to 10 cents, and not long there
after she conceived the idea that the
meats were not full weights. To sat
sfy herself, she purchased set Of
scales and had them tested by the seal
er of weights and measures. she be-
gan weighing the meat, or having 1t
weighed, by J. p. Collins, on June -,
and continued doing SO daily up to and
including Aug. 3. She would give an
order for a certain number of pounds
OF meat and have it weighed when de-
livered. In every instance 1t was snort
weight. the discrepancies varying from
one-half Il pound to three and four
pounds. on the date cited specifically
in the complaint, Aug. g. she ordered
a half pig. The bill accompanying it
charged her with 46 pounds. When
weighed it was found to weigh just
42& pounds.
r. H Walker. who was sealer of
weights and measures in 1898, testified
to having tested the scales used by the
Maggie Sisters, and found them ac
curate.
Joseph Nesser, a former employe of
the defendant, testified that during
June, 1898, he was in the habit of put
ting up the meat ordered by the
Il Nagies. He would cut and weigh it
and make out bill. Kreig would not
send the bill with the meat, but would
make another and send it. There would
always be discrepancy between what
should be charged and what was
charged These discrepancies ran from
% to 80 cents, and would always be in
skreig's afVor.
Cross-eXamined, the witness was
asked if he had not had trouble with
NKreip He admitted he had and said
it was because he would not stand in
with Kreig in giving short weights and
overcharging. The Nagles We're not the
only ones on whom the system of short
weight and overcharges was practiced
j. p Collins was called and asked re-
Sgarding certain slips bearing records
of the weights of different deliveries
of meats. He stated he did the weigh
ing and made the records of the
weights for period extending over one
month, and in all but a very few in
stance there was a discrepancy be-
tween the actual weight and the weight
as charged up on the bill accompany
ing the meat. In one instance, Aug
8, 1898, a piece of pork was delivered
which was charged up as 46 pounds
while the actual weight was 42&
pounds The discrepancies would ruT
from half a pound to four pounds.
Miss Maggie testified to going tt
Kreig's shop with her sister to tall
with Kreig about a reduction of the
price of meats. Kreig said he could
not make any reduction in his prices
and they informed him that they would
have to try elsewhere. Miss JENNIE
Maggie told oE Kreig subsequently riak
ing reduction in the price Of roas
beef of one cent a pound.
Mrs. Ida Linsley, who was employed