Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-11-04

ness was next Drought DeIOfe the aug
ust body and upon investigation some
startling information developed. At
the conclusion of this trial the enter
prising and up-to-date attorney had to
wire to Washington for instructions.
Nothing like it had ever happened be
fore in all his experience.
The manager of one of the largest
grocery concerns was put on the stand
and the following startling testimony
brought out:
Atty.-Is there a grocery trust" in
Phoenix?
Gro.-Yes sir, there is entirely too
much grocery trust" in Phoenix.
Atty.-You don't understand the ques-
ton. Is there a trust and combination
or an agreement to maintain or raise
prices in groceries?
Gro.-No sir, there is not.
Atty.-This is what they all say, but
will wish to prove to these gentle
men there is. Now, sir, 1 want you to
produce your invoices, freight bills and
selling prices. Can you do this2 At
the same time 1 warn you 1 am going
to use this evidence to incriminate you
and your firm.
Here a short recess was taken while
/ the grocer was sent in charge of an Of
| ficer for the various papers wanted.
knowing winks. The attorney smiled
that self-assured smile. and things be-
gan to look dark for this concern.
/ Atty.-Now, sir. 1 wish you would
produce your cracker invoice of the
National Biscuit Co, as 1 believe you
handle their goods. I see you have
here on the invoice 100 boxes of crack
/ ers costing 59c each. Am correct?
/ Gro.-You are.
/ Anyhow, sir. you sell these crack
ers at soc, do you not? You pay Sc.
and sell for SOC. an outrageous price2
I Grove do not
1 Atty.-Now do not tell me any such
thing as 1 have a bill here of my own,
J where paid soc for a box of these
| crackers only a few days ago (produc-
es "a bill; hands to grocer to cIinch his
\ argumentD Now. sir. do you still deny
it?
II Gro.-I certainly do.
II Atty.-Why will you persist in deny
ing this in the face Of such evidence as
n I produce?
II Gro.-Because it is the truth: the in
voice you have there is not from my
house at all.
II Atty.-OH, let me see it again. Well
Il guess you are right this time, but
this really has no bearing on this case
What do you sell these crackers for?
Gro.-65c has bean our price for the
last six months.
Atty-Do you mean to tell me that
you sell checkers that cost Sc for Csc,
and how can you prove this ridiculous
statement?
Gro.-By referring to our ads in the
daily newspapers
Atty.-We will pass this item for
the present. Now sir, produce your
] saefprx inxoiea cereals Kindly
tell these gentlemen what you sell
Scotch oats for?
Gro.-12 1-2c per package where two
packages are taken. (Here is where the
grocer was cornered as most every
member of the jury had bought oats
land clearly remembered the price,
Atty.-Ah here is where we have
you Gas he steps to the phone and rings
up several well known grocers, and
they give him their selling price, Now
how do you account for this2 Other
grocers sell these goods for more money
and you contend before this jury you
only ask y 1-2c per package. What do
these goods cost you?
Croft is none Of my business what
they sell for, they are credit grocers.
The goods cost US II 2-3c per package
| Atty.-This is certainly very remark
able. Your claim is neither believed
by these learned gentlemen nor by my
self. There was some little excitement
when one Of the jurymen acknowledge
ed he had purchased these goods at
u 1-2c per package the day before, and
by referring to the daily papers, this
claim was substantiated.
Atty.-NOw. sir. have you your in
voice from the cocoa and chocolate
manufacturers Please state your
selling price of the genuine Walter
Bakers cocoa.
Gro.-25c per can.
Atty.-Impossible never in my
life saw it sell for less than 3Oc or 35c
per can.
Gro.-I can't help that. we have
sold it for years at that price, and this
was also proven.
At this juncture som of the jurymen
expressed a determination to open an
account at once with this firm, and
they were very much surprised when
the grocer told them no one could open
accounts at this store; nothing was
sold except for cash.
Atty wish you to keep quiet and
answer only my questions. We don't
care whether you sell for cash or credit.
Now, sir, I believe you are selling a
well known cereal called DR.. FOx's
Health Food and you will please tell
us your price.
Gro.-Two large packages for 25c.
Atty don't believe it. How much
do these goods cost you?
Gro.-There is the invoice and the
freight bill. Figure it up yourself.
Atty.-Why, this cannot be correct
This figure is IL 1-2 per package and ]
r know you do not sell it at that profit.
Grove do. and you have the ex-
act figures. CHere the attorney was
, getting angry; the evidence did not
seem to suit him.
Atty--Let me see, you are selling q
package coffee commonly known as
Arbucke's Mr.. Blank, are you not?
\ GrO.-Yes, sir.
Atty-Is this a high grade coffee?
. C.rr,--It l. l.. ..r........-.-.