Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-02-28
PROSECUTION OF
BEEF TRUST BEGUN
SPECIAL FEDERAL GRAND JURY
ORDERED AT CHICAGO TO
HEAR WITNESSES.

ORDERED AT CHICAGO TO
HEAR WITNESSES.
GOVERNMENT WILL TRY
TO INDIcT PACKERS
Violation of the Injunction Of United
States Judge Grosscup Charged
Action Follows Diligent Secret
Inquiry.
Chicago, Feb. 22.-Active prosecu-
ton of the beef trust for violation OF the
injunction issued by United States Judge
Peter S. Grosscup was started Tuesday
when a special federal grand jury was
ordered and subpoenas were issued
summoning witnesses to appear against
the packing magnates. District Attor-
ney Sol Bethea, who has been quietly
mapping out his campaign for months,
will direct the fight for the government.
The opening gun of battle which is
generally believed will be death strug-
gle between law and the mighty monop-
oily which controls vast portion of the
peoples food supply, came as surprise.
Special Venire Drawn.
special venire was drawn In the Of
fee of United States District Clerk 7. c.
Macmillan, and deputy United States
marshals were sent out with their
pockets full of subpoenas for witnesses
to appear before the grand jury which
will be chosen from the veniremen.
1t was given out at the federal offices
that an effort will be made before this
special grand jury to indict the members
of the beef trust on a charge of violating
the injunction of Judge Grosscup of the
United States circuit court, whose de-
cision recently was sustained by the
United States supreme court.
The men for whom subpoenas wereis
sued include: j. Ogden Armour, Nelson
Morris, Edward Morris, Patrick A. VAL
entine, Ira Morris, Calvin M. Favorite,
Michael Cudahy, Edward A. Cudahy,
Louis F. Swift and Edward c. Swift.
These men were within the purview
of Judge Grosscup's injunction in the
beef case More than 100 other wit
nesses have been subpoenaed. These
will testify concerning the operations OF
| the packers in handling meats. 1t is be-
/ lieved the investigation of the special
grand jury will occupy several weeks
and will be the most exhaustive ever
conducted.
Work Of Months.
For more than eight months work has
been carried on secretly in Chicago un-
| der Judge Grosscup's decision. The de-
eision ordering the issuance OF the In
junction was only step toward ending
the alleged trust, because 1t was realized
with the injunction against the packers
the government could then take steps
along the line OF criminal prosecution
against the men named in the injunc.
ton.
Some time ago orders came from At
tOrney General Moody to United States
District Attorney Bethea Immediately
to take up work on the case. Attorney
Bethea was twice ordered to Washing
ton to receive instructions in the mat
ter, and he was once accompanied by
United States Marshal John Q. Ames.
Bethea was ordered to place competent
men at work on the Investigation and to
spare no expense to secure evidence
against the men who, 1t is believed, have
violated the Injunction Of Judge Cross
cup.
Scope OF Injunction.
The injunction of Judge Grosscup re-
strained the packers from refraining
Pro,,, I;da{po ooa;pct ono onOfhar IN
| purchasing cattle, from compelling their
agents to stop bidding, from limiting
supplies to agents or localities, from un-
scrupulously lowering, fixing or raising
prices, and from dividing territory or
| enforcing uniform rules as to credits,
charges, etc.
When Attorney General Moody sue
| ceeded Attorney General Knox he imme-
diately took up the question Of the al
Garfield, of the department of commerce.
was ordered to take the matter up and
secret officials were sent to Chicago,
A large number of secret-service men
were in Chicago at the time of the re-
cent strike at the stock yards carrying
on the investigation. This inquiry took
up wide scope, beginning when the cat
tie were still on the hoof, how they were
handled, how prices were bid, and the
transportation, and did not end until
the innermost circles of the alleged trust
and the affairs Of the packers had been
investigated.
| Washington Sits Evidence.
When the mass of evidence was re-
turned to Washington it was carefully
gone over and United States District At
torney Bethea was instructed to clear
UP the part Of the investigation still un'
completed. In the meantime the su
preme court sustained Judge Grosscup'i
injunction and the department at Wash
ington issued orders TO push the inquiry
to the limit. When District Attorney
Bethea received orders to take up the in.
vestigation in earnest under the charge
that the injunction had been violated, he
selected Deputy United States Marshal
Edward st. Clair and Secret Service
Operator Captain Thomas l. Porter tc
carry IT forward.
For weeks the two men worked In Sc
cret in Chicago. The investigation oil
Capt. Porter and Deputy Marshal st
Clair was SO secret that, excepting fol
the heads of departments in the loca
government departments 40 one knew
what was being done
Late Monday night this work was com
pleted and the two men reported to Dis
trict Attorney Bethea. United State!
Marshal John G. Ames then ordered al
of his deputies to report at his Office a
| pina o,olooly T,,acdov morning and tho,