The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-20
Secret Inquiry by Chicago Fed
eral Jurors Has Begun.
Nearly 400 witnesses to Testify
About Violations.
A GOVERNMENT CASE
Evidence Against Meat Monopoly
Obtained by Detectives.
Investigation viii BE More Rigid
Than ANY Previous Attempt.

Chicago. March 20.-Judge J. Otis
Humphrey came to Chicago today to
swear in and instruct the federal
grand jury which is to investigate the
big packers to determine whether they
have violated Judge Grosscup's in
Junction of 1902 or any of the trade
and commerce laws Of the country.
The proceedings, which are calcu-
lated to extend over month, involv-
ing testimony from nearly 400 wit
nesses from all parts of the country,
viii be the most exhaustive and far
reaching of all the proceedings in the
litigation which has led up to the
present situation. United States
deputy marshals served twenty-eight
additional subpoenaS Saturday on the
stock yards district These are the
last papers to be served before the
coming of the grand jury and every
thing is In readiness for the pro-
tracted session that is to follow.
The calling of this grand jury for
the special purpose Of inquiring again
into the affairs of the beef trade was
done upon the order of the attorney
general Of the United States after gov
eminent agents had been at work for
months collecting evidence against the
packers tending to show that they are
operating as a trust in violation of the
law and in direct violation of the
Grosscup Injunction. sustained by the
United States supreme court.
The prosecution of the packers is
about three years old. In March, 1902
complaints were publicly made against
the packers and evidence was published
in many Of the newspapers of the coun-
try tending to prove that a combination
of interests existed among the big pack
ers. The attention of the government
was called to the alleged violations of
law and April II, 1902, considerabl doc
umentary evidence was turned over to
Attorney General Knox, who directed
an investigation, and May TO- lSO2, the
government fled a complaint against
the packers before Judge Grosscup. Ten
days later Judge Grosscup granted a
temporary injunction restraining the
packers collaborating to control the
prices Of meat and live stock on the
hoof.
In August following the issuance of
the injunction the defendant packers
fled a demurrer, which was argued by
Attorney John s. Miller before Judge
Grosscup in December. Judge GrOsscup
took the case under advisement until
February Is, 1908 when he overruled
the demurrer and made the temporary
injunction permanent. The defendant
packers then appealed the case to the
United States supreme court, and Jan
uary 9, 1905, the case was argued in
Washington. The United States Su-
preIne court announced its decision
January so. sustaining the Grosscup in
junction
Immediately following the decision of
the United States supreme court it be-
came known that the government had
agents Of the secret service department
at work looking into the packers affairs
and early in February last Attorney
General Moody directed United States
District Attorney Bethea to request the
calling of a grand jury to investigate
All OF the twenty-three men who
are TO serve on the grand Jury have
been served with papers by Deputy
United States Marshal Grifith and
they appeared at the Monadnock
building at 10 o'clock this me- rning.
The men are all retired farmers or
well known business men throughout
the northern part OF Illinois If some
OF the men fail to qualify another
drawing Will be held until the requi-
site number of men qualify. No evil
dence will be heard by the jury until
Tuesday morning.
The greatest secrecy is to be main
tanned by everyone connected with the
case TO prevent an mixing of the evil
dence from reaching the packers.
Assistant Attorney General Pagin
and Assistant District Attorney Morri-
son viii conduct the investigation.
One Of the most important bits of evil
dence in the hands of the federal auth
critics is a letter from q man formerly
employed by one of the packing COM
panies, who declares that he overheard
a conversation between two leading
packers in the lobby of the Auditorium
Annex when the beef trust investigation
was first spoken of. The letter is being
carefully guarded by the federal officials
for fear that the identity of it's writer
and the principals in the conversation
may become known.
It is said that the man sat in a chair
near the two packers. whom he knew
personally, and overheard a converse
ton, in which both the men particpa-
ted, expressing themselves fully on the
position of the government and the ac-
tions of the packing interests in Chi !
cago for the last few years.
The talk lasted for almost an hour |
after which the governments informant
wrote out what he had heard in detail /
and sent the letter anonymously to the |
office of District Attorney Bethea, de- |
claring that when the proper time ar
rived he would he ready to offer what |
he had heard as evidence before the |
grand jury or a judge.
IT is said that many persons are leav-
ing the stock yards district on fvaca- |
tions-' 1t is not believed that any of |
the witnesses already subpoenaed have |
fed, but it is reported that many men |
employed by the packers who have not /
been =asapsmoned are being allowed vaca-
tons