Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-02
COMPANY FINED $4,000
Contempt Proceedings in Hearing
of Diseased Beef Case
Hundreds Of Counts In Indictments
Against company-Former Cattle Com
missioners Also Indicted.


Against company-Former Cattle Com
missioners Also Indicted.
The Burlington Rendering company at
Burlington Wednesday was adjudged in
contempt Of court by Chief Judge John
W. Rowell in Chittenden county court
and a fine of $4,000 was imposed. The
judge said the failure OF the company to
produce the papers wanted impeded the
grand jury In the investigation
The contempt proceedings followed the
company's failure to produce certain pa
pers and memoranda called for by the
grand jury, which was investigating the
alleged sale OF diseased cattle in Yer
mont.
At hearing Tuesday several witnesses
were heard, among them s. H. Mancor Of
Roxbury. Mass. manager of the Boston
office OF the Consolidated Rendering COM
pany. Mr.. Manor testified that all rec
ords and papers had been turned over to
the grand jury, with the exception of GER
tain memoranda that had been DESTROYED
The grand jury returned four indict-
ments against the Consolidated Render
Ing company, and four against L. r
brigham. manager OF the Burlington Rem
dering company's plant here. which is
controlled by the Consolidated company,
The indictments charge the sale Of dis
eased meat, the sale of diseased cattle
under four weeks of age. Each indIct-
ment contained one hundred counts.
Manager Brigham was arrested and fur
nished $500 bail. The company viii be
summoned to appear before the court
TO answer to the charges
Atty.-Gen. Fits asked that Carl +
Nay, William w. Fisher and w. s. Heato
employees Of the rendering company. be
recognized to the state to appear at court
when Mr.. Brigham is tried BAH in each
case was fixed at $500 and each was re-
leased on his own recognizance.
The grand jury continued its councils
and reported for second time, this time
indicting DIR. F. A. Rich, who until his
ONCE was declared vacant by Gov. Bell
was a member Of the state cattle commits
sion, and Victor l. Spear Of Randolph,
who previous to the expiration of his term
OF oftice was also a member OF the COM
mission.
Both OF these former state ohicials are
charged under the common law with will
ful neglect of duty, as members Of the
board OF cattle commissioners
The Rich indictment charges the former
cattle commissioner with having sold to
the rendering company cattle which had
been condemned as infected with tuber-
culosts, knowing that they were to be
used for food purposes and not knowing
that they were not to be used for food
purposes. The transactions alleged cover
a period extending between Jan. 1, 1905,
and June 1906, and include between s5
and 40 counts. The indictment covers 81
closely written typewriter pages
The Spear indictment also alleges, under
the common law. wilful neglect Of official
duties and among other things that the
former commissioner sold Illegally the
condemned Wright and Whitcomb herds
in Richmond The Indictment against Mr..
Spear has fewer counts than the one
against DR.. Rich.
DR.. Rich was brought into court and
his bail was fixed at $500, Cassius Peck
becoming his surety. Notice OF Mr..
Spears indictment was served upon him
in the evening.
By adjournment OF court all the cases
were continued.