Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-07

FOR PACKERS.
Officials Of Four Leading Corporations
to Be Tried in Federal
Court.

Chicago, ILL.,, July IAN Indictment
was voted against eighteen persons, Off
Gals of four packing corporations, by the
federal grand jury today. This ended
the investigation, which has lasted over
| three months and brought out testimony
of over 100 witnesses. One Indictment
of more than sixty typewriter pages was
voted, covering charges including combi-
nation in restraint of trade, conspiracy
to monoDoliZe trade ana receiving and
granting rebates. The vote Oh the eight
cen individuals and four corporations was
unanimous for indictment.
The trials of those under indictment
will probably begin in the July term OF
the district court The United States
district attorneys, although somewhat
reticent, admitted that the heads of the
chief packing companies are on the in
dictment list.
The following persons were indicted to-
day by the federal grand jury Investigate
ing the so-called beef trust:
J Ogden Ar Armonr, Gha ries W armour
Swift, Edward T. Swift, L. A.
Carton d. E. Hartwell, Edward A.
Cudahy, A. T. Evans. attorney; K. G. Me
Nanus, attorney; A. II. Veeder, 7. \. Val
eltine 7. j. Connors, Edwin Tilden, Arthur
Meeker Charles \. Swift, Samuel McRob-
erts Samuel We'll, Beth S. Cusey, G.. L.
1Odu, V u. SElpWortl.
In addition to the individuals indicted,
the following corporations are indicted:
Armour & Co, Swift 4 Co, Cudahy
Packing Co., and Morris Il Co.
Injunction Violated
Six months ago S. H. Bethea. then
United States district attorney, reported
after an investigation that the injunction
Of Judge Peter s. Grosecup, restrain
ing the larger packing firms from COM
bining in restraint of trade was being
violated in Chicago. Conferences with
Attorney General Moody at Washing
ton and President Roosevelt were he'd
and a large corps Of secret service men
kept at work United States Deputy
special agent of the treasury depart
ment and placed in charge of the secret
service work.
The vest;gation widened daily and
reports from his agents III all parts OF
the world concerning the identity of men
who could testify to certain facts con-
corning the packing industry the actions
Of heads Of the packing concerns. under
ground agreements. and the like. The
preliminary stage of the investigation
came to 4 climax last February when
1S5 SUbpoenaS We're sent to fifteen large
cities throughout the United States, with
instructions that at 10 o'clock on the
shals should begin serving the papers.
Great Investigation.
At the hour stated the hearings, which
resulted in one of the largest investiga
tons ever engaged in by the government
We're begun as a concerted movement in
various parts of the country. Later the
number Of witnesses called for reached
total Of go. The attack of the gov
eminent on the so-called beef trust ere
ated CONSERVATION in many quar-
tiers, but although it was sudden
| many men desired as witnesses
escaped service. Some have been found
in Canada, some in Europe and others
III various parts of the world. where they
are safe from the subpoenas which are
still in the hands of deputy marshals.
On one occasion a stenographic report of
conversation between two leading
packers in the lobby of a downtown hotel
was taken by detective.
The investigation is calculated to cost
the government $500, 900.