The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-08-02

ohio Grocer Convicted Of vt0latInG
the Pure Food Laws Of
the State.

Judge Mccks court in this city has
found James White, "A local grocer
ruilty of selling adulterated coffee,
The prosecution was based on q
package of Arbuckles' Ariosa coffee,
The state OF Ohio. through the
Pure Food Commission, prosecuted
White. The case was on trial for
nearly month and attracted nation
nj attention.
The manufacturers of Ariosa coffee
conducted the defense for Grocer
White. The best attorneys In the
country were retained to defend him
but. after a short consultation. ver-
dict OF guilty was returned by the
Jury. The State of Ohio considers
this a big victory. Pure Food Com
missioner Blackburn has been wag-
ing warfare on spurious food arti-
cles and the department has been
very successful.
The complaint of the State of Ohio
with a substance which concealed de-
fects in the coffee and made it APP
pear better than it is. The State
charged that this coating or glazing
was favorable medium for the
propagation of bacteria.
rrof. G. A. Kirchmaier, of this city,
a well-known chemist, was the prin-
cipal witness for the State. He had
made scientific examinations of sam
pies Of Ariosa purchased in the open
market from Grocer White. He
found that each Ariosa berry con-
tanned an average of 300 bacteria.
Mr.. kirchmaier further testified that
other coffces he examined contained
few bacteria or none at all. He de-
cared that the glazed coffee was not
q wholesome food product.
Chemist Schmidt, of Cincinnati,
corroborated the testimony of Prof.
Krchmacr. The State did not pre-
sent further testimony.
The defense, through the Ar
buckles, who prepare this glazed cof-
fec. secured some of the most emil
United States TO give testimony in
their behalf. Prof II. w. Wiley. Of
the United States Agricultural De-
rartment; Prof. Vaughn, of Ann AR
Dor University; Profs. Belle and
Weber, Of the Ohio State University,
were called to defend Ariosa. DR..
Wiley had made careful examina-
ton Of the method of manufacturing
Ariosa. He told OF the 100000
eggs used by the Arbuckles yearly
in the preparation Of this glazing.
On this point in cross examination,
The States attorneys deity drew
from him the information that these
eggs might be kept in cold storage
by the Arbuckles for a year or two
OF "A time.
The experts who heard DR.. wiley's
testimony were pleased to be able
TO catch" so famous a chemist. The
doctor at one point in his testimony
explained very clearly how il is that
the egg put into the coffee pot by
the housewife settles the coffee lie
sad that the heat coagulates tho
the pot it carries the fine particles
Of the coffee with il. and thus clari-
fes the drink. Ii is the act Of
coagulation in the coffee pot that
does the work. Later on in his cross
examination. he had to admit that
when the egg was put on Ariosa cof-
fee at the factory, it became coagu-
lated but once, that the coating on
coffee was of practically no value as
settler" when ii reached the cof- |
fee pot.
Prof. Wiley acknowledged that the !
glazing might be favora BILE medium /
for the propagation of bacteria. al !
though he would not testify positive
ly either way because he was not Q !
Psychologist.
Prof. Vaughn, of Ann Arbor Uni |
versity, also a witness for the Ar |
buckles. said he found bacteria on !
Ariosa coffee.
Prof. Belle, another witness for |
the defense, found any number Of
lively bacteria on the Ariosa coffee |
ne examined. and he agreed that
glazed coffee surely was more
favorable medium for the propaga-
'lon OF bacteria than unglazed ccf-
lee.
The verdict OF the jury in this case
Is Of national Importance because a
great many other states have Pure
Food Laws like that OF Ohio, and il |
Is natural 10 suppose that similar ac-
non will be taken by other Pure
Food commissioners to prevent tho
sale OF glazed coffees.
Pure Food Commissioner Black
'urn says: THE State is very much
sa'ed over its victory against this
olg corporation. We are now con-
i'dering the advisability Of inform-
ing every grocer in the State OF Ohio
'hat II IL an infraction Of the laws to
~ Ariosa. and at the same time
tNe warning to consumers that the
eonee is an adulterated food article"
The prettiest little money or
1e"ei bags are small. about the size
VI rather larpe oh nuc p,,rea l., .;llx |