Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-01-30
A4/kYE kUAZ7GS
Three of the Men Under Indictment.

Three of the Men Under Indictment
Forty-four coal men and corporations
were indicted by the special grand jury
at Chicago.
Conspiracy in restraint of trade and
combination to regulate and fix prices
of coal in violation of the antitrust
law are charged. The penalty for con-
spiracy is Imprisonment in the peni,
Tertiary not exceeding Ave years, or a
fine not exceeding $4,000, or both. For
violation of the antitrust law the pen
atty is a fine of $500 to $4,000 for cor
porations, and for individuals a fine of
5000 to $1,000, or Imprisonment in the
county Jail not exceeding one year, or
both.
In addition to the true bills re-
turned to the court, the jury originally
voted indictments for violation of the
antitrust law against the officers of
eighteen coal concerns, members of
the Northern Illinois Soft Coal associ-
alton, sending the grand total of those
caught in the net up near the hundred
mark. BY arrangement with these con-
Germs, however, the names Of the in
dividuals were striker out and the In.
dictments were directed only against
the corporations on condition that
they would 60 into court at once to
test the antitrust law. This was done
in response to an urgent appeal by
these coal men that they be spared the
humiliation Of criminal indictments,
at least until test was made Of the
new law.
The grand jury supplemented its &C.
ton by the presentation of a report of
its investigation into the causes Of the
coal famine. This report dealt with
the unprecedented advance in prices,
the Gripping Of industries and the suf-
fering of individuals, and attributed
the shortage primarily to natural
causes, chief of which was the an
thracite strike. The big increase in
the demand for coal also was taken
into consideration. The railroads
were exonerated from blame.
AS a result of the action of the
grand jury Attorney Hamlin an
nounced at Springfield that he would
recommend special legislation in re-
gard to the coal situation.
OF the men connected with the In
diana interests named in the indict-
ment, Hugh Shirkie is president Of the
Bruilletts Creek Coal company and the
Nevins Coal company; Joseph Martin,
superintendent of the Parke County
Coal company; Edward Shirkie,
president of the Indiana Fuel COM
pany; H. R. Mcclellan. president Nc
Clellan Sons & Co.; Walter 8. Boyle,
president of the Glen Oak Coal Mining
company of the Clinton district of In
diana, as we'll as of the. Crescent Coal
and Mining company of Chicago,
which acted as agent for the entire
output of this district; John Shirkie
signed the combine agreement for Mrs.
Jean Shirkie.
The first indictment names the COM
panies which are members of the
Northern Illinois Soft Coal association.
They are as follows:
Chicago, Wilmington and Vermillion
Coal company, A. L. Sweet, president;
T. A. Lennon, secretary.
Big Four Wilmington Coal company,
H. N. Taylor, secretary.
Gardner Wilmington Coal company,
s. D. May, president.
Wilmington Star Mining company,
M. D. Buchanan, president.
Bell & Zoller Coal company, Herbert
e. Bell, president.
Cardiff Coal company, Glenn w.
Traer, president.
Devlin Coal company, Charles ].
Devlin, president.
Spring Valley Coal company, s. M.
Dalzell, manager.
Marquette Third Vein Coal company,
Everett H. Trip, sales agent.
Braceville Coal company.
Illinois Third Vein Coal company, 3.
M. Dalzell, president.