Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-20
FORTY.FWE ARE INDICTED
Chicago Grand Jury Finds Evidence of a
Coal Conspiracy.
DEALERS TAKE AN UNDUE ADVANTAGE
Anthracite Shortage Caused by the
strike Prompts soft Coal Com
Germs to Limit supply and
Advance the Price.

CHICAGO, Jan. 19.-True bills we're re-
turned this morning against forty-hvc coal
operators and retailers, charging conspiracy
to do an illegal act Injurious to public
trade.
The Indictments are against both cor
porations and individuals doing business in
Illinois and Indiana. Bail was fixed at
$500.
Following is a list Of the corporations and
individuals against whom indictments were
returned: Chicago. Wilmington & Vermillion
Coal company. Big Four Coal company.
Gardner Wilmington Coal company. VIII
mington Star Mining company, Bell &
Zoller Coal company. Murphy-Keenan Coal
company. Carbon Coal company, Whining
ton Coal Mining company, Cardiff Coal
company. the Star Coal company of
Streator, ILL.,. the Braceville Coal com
pany, Acme Coal company, Illinois Third
Vein company, the Tenona Coal company,
the Devlin Coal company, Spring Valley
Coal company. Marquette Third Vein Coal
company. oglesby Coal company, William
Sangford, C. S, Lusk, Frank e. Luckens.
Gus Ancutt, Z. H.. Keeler. Frank Nc
Grew, F. NJ. Durkee. c. L. Marston. r. c.
Brown, Hugh Shirkie j. J. Higgins, J.
Smith Talley, Joseph Martin, Edward
Shirkie, II. r. Mcclellan, John Shirkie.
Walter S. Boyle, Bruiletts Creek Coal COM
pany, Oak Hill Coal and Mining company,
Coal BLUM Mining company, Park County
Coal company. Glenn Oak Coal and Mining
company, Nevins Coal company, Indiana
Fuel company, Mcclellan Sons & Co., Cres-
cent Coal Mining company.
Conclusions of the Jury.
Accompanying the return Of the indict-
ments was an explanatory report setting
forth the grounds upon which the jurors
based their action. The shortage they
found due primarily and principally to
the recent great strike in the anthracite
coal fields"
Bituminous coal could not be mined and
stored in sufficient quantities to supply
the deficiency caused by the restricted cut
put from the anthracite mines. First, be-
cause the capacity of the mines could not
be increased so materially on short notice
and second, because the storing Of BIZ
luminous coal during the summer months
was inexpedient owing to the danger of
deterioration through Stacking and CT de-
struction by fire through combustion.
In Chicago, the report continues, the
amount Of anthracite coal received in 1902
was 1,O52,6 37 tons less than in 1901, to
Olbtl WHICH lHtTG was an increase Oh Only
791, 121 tons Of bituminous coal. The
difficulty experienced by the railroads in
handling the large quantity required for
daily supplies owing to the failure to store
bituminous coal during the summer
months constituted one of the causes of
the famine.
The railroads they believed to be doing
all in their power to move the coal
promptly to market and the accumulation
Of coal laden cars in railroad yards did
not exist to an unusual extent at that
time of year.
THE Jury finds no convincing evidence
the report adds, ''of a deliberate detention
Of cars for the purpose OF intensifying the
difficulty of the condition"
While not finding the condition due to or
principally influenced by any conspiracy in
restraint Of trade, and while convinced that
the law of supply and demand sufficiently
accounts for the high price prevailing, the
jury found that there existed in Illinois and
neighboring states certain combinations
which 1t deems to be conspiracies or COM
binations in restraint of trade within the
meaning of the statutes" as follows:
The Northern Illinois Soft Coal associa-
ton. the Retail Local Dealers Association
of Illinois and with a certain combination
- hAo SOai OPtl dNbiot u NTtSCtHl coal
and Mining company. While not differing
in character and scope from similar com
binations in other lines OF business, the
Jurors deemed 1t their duty to present the
foregoing indictments.
other associations of operators and coal
dealers were found to exist and have more
or less effect in the fixing OF prices and re-
stricting competition. but against whom the
evidence did not warrant action. They are
the Chicago Coal exchange and the Chicago
Track Coalers' association.
Coal Transfers Strike.
CLEVELAND. O., Jan. 19.-With a tenn
perature near zero, and hundreds of families
throughout the city clamoring for fuel, a
strike was declared today by the drivers
of coal delivery wagons. Practically every
yard in the city is affected. The drivers
demand advances averaging about 81 per
week for team men.
At a meeting this afternoon the dealers
refused to grant the demands.
English Coal Is Coming.
LIVERPOOL, Jan. 19.-Four steamers
loaded with coal sailed from Blythe today
for America.
The coal trade OF northumberland has
been much stimulated by the American
demand.
The report circulated in the United
States that the Board OF Trade Will in
stitute an inquiry into tho circumstance
under which the American line steamer st.
IouIs was aIIoUad IN coil a. upfovndaa