The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-22
individuals Go Free. But.
s Court Inl:lstruGts Jury
/ Against Corporations.
DEFENDANTS GIVE
J AND TAKE GLAD HAND
Judge Humphreys, in His De
cision; Reviews the Case in
All Its Bearings-Ques
ton Of Date Meets
With Storm Of
Protest.
lRx Associated Press. j.

tBy5Associated Press.)
[, CHICAGO, March 2l.-All tho meat
packers who were indicted by a Federal
grand jury last summer on charges Of
conspiracy In restraint of interstate trade
and commerce to-day were granted I'm
munity from criminal prosecution under
the indictment. While the individuals are
TO 90 free, the indictments, found against
the corporations, OF which some OF the
indicted packers are members and others
are employees. are to stand. The jury re-
turned u verdict In accordance With the
directions OF tho court. ~.
a decision to tile effect was handed
down this afternoon. by Judge J. Otis
Humphrey in the United States District
Court. The lcourt reviewed the case In
all Its bearings, and all the essential
facts which had been brought out, and
concluded as follows:
Under the law In this case, the
Immunity pleas filed b, the defend
ants will be sustained as to the In
dividuals and denied to thea corpora
tions, and the Jury will find in favor
of the government, as far fas the cor
poratfons arc concerned, and against
the government as far as the indi-
yiduals are concerned.
Glad Hand Shake.
During the rendition of the decision
the court was crowded by defendants and
numerous spectators, Edward Morris
and Edward Swift were in court. and both
smiled happily when the decision was
announced. J.. Ogden Armour was not
present, but some men prominent In the
employ of Armour and Company. who
were under Indictment. were there, and
their Joy WAS great. When the judge
nor lie against them, the defendants
crowded together and shook hands.
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 COM
mence within8two weeks.
This met with n storm OF protest from
the attorneyH OF the packers, who insisted
that they would be unable to prepare for
the case before fall. pleading the number
of witnesses which 1t would be necessary
to bring to Chicago. the strain OF the.
present trial and various other reasons.
After some discussion Judge Hum
phrey directed that the lawyers agree
among themselves on a date and notify.
him of their decision next week & 1t is
expected that the total number of WITT
ncsses in this trial. when it begins, will
number at least 1000.
Decision Of the Judges.
Judge Humphrey, in his decision, said
in part:
.'The defendants are indicted under
the Sherman act, charged with a con-
| spiracy in restraint of trade. They
| have pleaded that as to them that act
should be suspended. because they
were compelled to furnish evidence
/ concerning the matter In the indct-
| ment.5 and under the law such fur
Il nishing OF evidence gives them i'm
nrlnity. The law under consideration
for the construction Of which the
court IS called upon to decide. is the
commerce and labor act. 1t Is clear
!, that the primary purpose Of this act
! was to enable Congress to provide,
through the channel fof officials
charged with the execution OF the
| laws, remedial Sleglslation
'.Tfe actsis q substitute 70 rome of
the most cherished rights Of the Amer
icans citizen, which is the right to. re-
main silent when questioned about any
subject, the answer to which might
incriminate him. is Conceded that
the psiyilegc amendment to the Con-
8stitutions cannot be taken from The cti-S
| zen without giving him something
M equally valuable in return. The spriv-s
i ilege of the amendment permits y res
1 fusal to answer a 81 question relating
i to the offense. The privilege must
i be claimed by the witness at the tiHe.
The Immunity flows to the witness n
without any claim on his part. 1tsis
contcnded that the defendants in this n
case were volunteers because they
I I