Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-24
MEAT PACKERS
ARE IMMUNE
Decision Against Government In the
Beef Combine Case.
CORPORATIONS TO STAND TRIAL

packers who were indicted by federal
grand Jury last summer on charges Of
conspiracy in restraint OF Interstate
trade and commerce were granted inn
munity from criminal prosecution I'M
der the indictment While the individ-
uals are to go free, the indictments
found against the corporations, OF
which some Of the indicted packers
are members and others are employees.
are 10 stand.
a decision to this effect was handed
down by Judge j. Otis Humphrey In
the United States district court When
the arguments In the case were con-
cludcd Judge Humphrey at once COM
menced the delivery of his oral opinion
Judge Humphrey spoke for nearly an
hour before indicating what his ulti-
mate decision would be- He reviewed
the case at length in all its bearings.
cited all the essential facts which had
been brought out, and concluded as fol-
lows
Under the law In this case. the i'm
munity pleas filed by the defendants
will be sustained as TO the individuals.
and denied to the corporations. and the
fury will find In favor of the govern
ment as far as the corporations are
concerned. and against the government
rs far as the individuals are con-
:erned
ut Is claimed that the defendants in
81 L. .nga ,,ara Vo1unfoarc ha.anca thay
haggled with Garfield at times. debated
resisted. gave less than asked and with
held some things. The record does show
that. but the fact remains that every
approach was made by the government
Garfield made his demands. and IL does
of the compuls.on under which they
acted that the defendants. after having
considered the law, and after having
decided that they had no legal right TO
resist. still debated with the commits
sioner in tho hope of inducing him to
take something less than he originally
demanded. Garfield came to the de-
PENDANTS and held up before them the
powers of his office They did not go
10 him and volunteer anything Now
since the defendants volunteered moth
ing but gave only what vas demanded
by an officer who had the right TO make
the demand, and gave In good faith
under a sense of legal compulsion. am
Of the opinion that they are entitled TO
immunity"
Immediately following the dismissal
OF the jury District Attorney Morrison
raised the question Of the date for the
trial of the corporations. He asked
that the case be set for trial. and that
II commence within two weeks. This
met with a storm Of protests from the
attorneys of the packers. who insisted
that they would be unable 10 prepare
for the case before fall. pleading the
number of witnesses which II would be
necessary 10 bring to Chicago the
strain of the present trial. and various
other reasons.
After some discussion Judge Hum
phreys directed that the lawyers agree
among themselves on date and notify
him of their decision next week II is
expected that the total number of wit
nesses in this trial. would II begin,
would number at least 1900
The individuals who 20 free under
the decision are: J. Ogden Armour.
Edward Morris, Charles w. Armour.
Ira ~ Morris, Louis f. Swift. Edward
F. Swift. Charles n. Swift, Edward Gu
daily. Arthur Meeker T. J. Connors,
p. A. Valentine. a. II. Veeder. Arthur
+. Evans, l. A. Cartin, Robert C. Me-
Namus, y. Artwell
The corporations which must stand
trial are; Armour Packing company,
Armour & Company. Cudahy Packing
company. Fairbanks Canning company
and Swift & Company.