Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-01
A FINE OF $4,000.
Judge ROvelIs Decision In the Con-
tempt Proceedings,

Events eliminated rapidly yesterday, the
final day of the September term Of Chit
tenden county court. The Consolidated
Rendering company which owns and op-
crates the plant of the Burlington Render
ing company was adjudged in contempt Of
court and fined 5000 while as a result of
the deliberations Of the grand jury, which
body had been wrestling with the diseased
meat scandal at periods of varying dura-
ton since September 5. four indictments
were found against tho rendering COM
pany. a similar number against l. +.
Brigham, manager of the local plant and
one each against DR.. F.. a. Rich OF this
city and Victor l. Spear of Randolph, the
last two having been formerly members
Of the Vermont cattle comm ss!on.
COMPANY IN CONTEMPT
Judge Rowell rendered his opinion in the
contempt proceedings first. He reviewed
briefly the evidety,e presented the day be-
fore In so doing he emphasized the nee
essity OF the papers called for being pro-
duced before the grand jury as constitut-
ing an important part of the evidence
which that body was seeking He said
that after states Attorney Sherman went
out TO the rendering plant and inquired of
Manager Brigham as to the discussed meat
question that Mr.. Brigham went to Bos-
ton, returning prior to August 2l; that the
books of the company went to Boston Au-
gust y or % The only evidence that the
papers We're destroyed, was that of Mr..
Mantor; that evidence, he said. had been
discredited ard while the law did not re-
quire the court to disregard tho evidence If
Mt ,rh o,.iI
be accepted with a great deal Of caution
and the court failed TO find from The EVIL
dence presented that the papers had been
destroyed The company was therefore
adjudged in contempt.
Attorney General Fits called for Sc
we're peralty. Attorney Hutchinson. rep
resenting the rendering company. made 10
statement. Judge Rowell then imposed a
fine of s3,oGo stating that the fine was not
made larger as there were further means
Of proceeding against the company.
The execution for the fine will he is
sued by the county clerk to-day. There
is general belief that the fine will be
paid. A Free Press man was told last
evening that the company would be con-
suited in the matter and that probably
Its reply would be received tomorrow
morning.
THE FIRST INDICTMENTS.
When the contempt proceedings had
been disposed OF. court took a recess un-
til shortly after noon when the grand
jury submitted its first report. That body
reported eight indictments found
Four were against the Consolidated Rem
dering company and four were against
l.. e. Brigham manager of the local
plant. The indictments against the cor
poration and against Mr.. Brigham ara
Identical. They are as follows:
No, /, for selling diseased meat for
food purposes.
No. 2 for selling cows infected with
bovine tuberculosis. at different dates
and in numbers varying from one to
forty.
No. g. for having In possession the
meat Of a calf less than four weeks old,
with intent to sell outside OF the State,
at different dates and in lots varying
from one to twenty.
No. 4, for having in possession, In
vArinAls lots, with hatAnt Ia soil for food