The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-06
BAD MEAT CASE
Smith Acquitted, But
Meat Was Properly
Condemned.

Richardson, keeper of stall in the
city market, from the wagon of Swift
& Company led to the condemnation
of over one thousand pounds of meat
in one of the companies refrigerator
cars and to the arrest of Eldridge
Smith a butcher on the charge OF SELL
ling meat that had been condemned
Smith who works for Richardson,
was tried before Mayor Powell yester-
DAY morning and discharged for want
of evidence.
The charge against Smith was that,
after the meat delivered at the stall
had been condemned by the inspector,
he had gone to the Swift Company S
warehouse ard procured some of the
meat which had been condemned there
and sold it.
Mr.. McRary stated that he had
heard that Smith had said he was 60
ing to sell the meat anyway and was
therefore .on the watch. When the
second consignment of meat arrived
from the Swift's, therefore, he at once
condemned it, also, and on Monday
morning had a warrant issued for
| Smiths arrest.
hIr. McRary, who has been very Wig
liant in the market says that he no.
tjced the meat as soon as it was
brought to the market and condemned
Company and made an inspection as
the result of which he condemned
practically a whole car of refrigerated
| western meat
/ Later in the day he was informed
that Smith had procured some of the
bad meat, trimmed it, and was offer
ing it at the market.
The testimony at the trial yesterday
was to the effect that the meat was
tainted and unfit for food. This was
the testimony of City Physician Nc
Geachy, Jas. /. Johnson, VS.. Blake,
T.. M. MCGOWAN and Ceburn l.. Har-
ris, ST., all of whom testified to that
portion of the meat which was con-
demned at the market.
Agent Halcomb, OF Swift Il Co, test
flied that Smith had trimmed the meat
sold to him at the car, and that he
considered it good, although 1t was ar
forwards condemned.
The defense of Smith, who was rep
resented by X. N Simms, Esq, was
that the meat bought after the first
LOT had been condemned was not a
| portion of that condemned at the
Swift warehouse, and that he Consid-
cred it sound and withdrew it from
sale as soon as it was condemned by
Mr.. McRary.
The explanation offered by the Swift
people is that western meat frequent
~ moulds before it is spoiled and
THAT this was the case with that in
question.
Mr.. McRary was almost universally
commended yesterday for his vigil
I lance.
Mr.. Smith last night handed in a
signed statement as to his connection
with the affair.
While people will scarcely agree
with him that meat that has to be
| HI 1tclryb ont
that other meat of the same class was
sold Saturday is one that should cause
the keeper Of the market to exercise
even a greater degree of care and
watchfulness than heretofore.
/ His statement follows;
Eldridge Smiths Statement.
"On last Friday, my employer, Mr..
E. G.. Richardson, went to Swift <
| CompanyS place of business and pur-
chased one cattle and some extra four
quarters One de of this meat was
delivered on Friday afternoon; anoth-
er side was delivered on Saturday
morning. Mr.. McRary condemned this
meat in Swift & Company's wagon. 1t
| had not been delivered to my stall
Mr.. McRary then took charge of the
meat. There was no kick made, ex-
| cept that l remarked, If it was my
meat / would sell it, as there were
| butchers present that had been in the
business all their lives, stated that the
| meat was good.
"In the afternoon / went down to
Swift & Companys and got one of the
extra four quarters, as the brisket of
| this meat was moulded, as western
meat is when in a good state for use
! l thought as Mr.. McRary haG con-
demned the other meat | cut the
brisket off and trimmed the meat so
as not to have any trouble. | was at
Swift & Company's place of business
that day when Mr. McRary was pres
emit We went in the car and inspected
the meat He pronounced all the meat
in tho car in fine shape. This is the
car that rhe piece he condemned came
| from. / brought this piece to the mar
ket and he condemned this. [ tod Mr..
McRary at the time that he did not
| know what meat was, and do still say
So He asked me when he came in the
stall after this piece of meat, if that
wasn't a piece of that meat he had
condemned that morning. / told him
/ if it was l knew nothing of it; that it
| came out of the car he said was good.
| Il will ask Mr.. McRary this ques-
| tion If he does his duty, as he says
| he does, why Gid he not examine other
meats that came from Swift d Com
pany on Saturday morning 2s he dld
mine, it coming out of the same GER
| and of the same lot of meat. 1t was
| there and was sold
| II desire to state that Mr.. McRary
| is no Judge of fresh meats and oysters.
Mr.. McRary, of course, was aware OF
the fact that Swift & Company sold
other parties meat, and he should
have protected the citizens of Raleigh
by condemning the entire lot before
Mr.. Maxwell German discovered that
it was shipped to a soup factory.
Messrs. German and McRary should
Lave made a closer inspection. One
dealer did not handle the entire lot
, of Swift & Companys meat and Mr..
! McRary was well aware Of the same.
Il suppose though, my meat was
condemned so as to carry out Or" ca
Sales statement that if the meat was
condemned the people will be with us.
: They are condemning meat simply to
set the people with them.
"ELDRIDGE SMITH