Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-15
PROSECUTION
NOT THROUGH
ICE TRUST CASE TO GO TO POLICE
COURTS
GRAND JURY FINDS 1T HAS NO
JURISDICTION
Fails to Return Indictments Against
Officials as Violation Is but
High Msdemeanor-Pen-
atty Is Heavy

The grand jury failed to return any in
dictments against the officials of the
various ice companies yesterday on the
grounds that the legislature classifes
violation of the Cartwright antitrust
law only as high grade mlsdemeanor'
and that the issuing of any indictments
discriminating the ice trust officials is De-
yond it's jurisdiction.
This, however, does not exclude the
probability of a combine, and the grand
jury did not by any means render YER
dict of acauittal, declaring the officials
innocent of the alleged misdemeanor
The district attorneys office is still con-
fident in it's belief that 1t possesses suf-
ficent evidence to go on with the prose-
cution and now the case will be taken to
the police courts.
1t is expected that in the lower courts
more success will be met with on the
part of the district attorneys office.
Here the ice officials will meet with the
evidence that has been obtained against
them during the investigation by the
grand jury and other testimony will be
brought forth which promises to be more
satisfactory than what has been so far
secured.
IF the officials of the various ice COM
panies of Los Angeles are adjudged
guilty of the charge of having made an
illegal combine in order to raise the price
of ice, it is more than likely that they
will get the full measure of the law.
Jail Sentence Probable
1.-THE maximum punishment which can
be imposed Is $4,000 or years imprison-
ment in the county JAIL" said District
Attorney Captain Fredericks yesterday.
Deputy District Attorney Frank Blair.
who has been in charge of the case, stated
that he considered 1t rather unfortunate
that violation of the antitrust law was
merely misdemeanor.
1.-THE matter has been referred to the
police courts he said, land thffe it will
meet with its proper course, IL our evil
dence can convict the officials.
II am glad that the grand jury investi-
gated the matter, however, as that body
has materially assisted us in the gather
ing of evidence. We are going to carry
this case through to the bitter end, and
/ hope that when 1t is over with an ex-
ample will be made of the officials of
the ice trust that will prevent any COM
bination of this nature in any other line
of industry in the future.
II am for the enforcement of law ire
spective of any consideration. l say, let
7 She ice trust have what it merits as the
tesult of it's violation of the Cartwright
Lnti-trust law.
yNoffice of the district attorneys office in
the city Jail within the near future.
1t is thought that Mr.. Blair will retain
his interest in the case as prosecuting at
torney, although it is possible that he
will be assisted by Deputy District At
torney Fleming.
According to authoritative informa-
tion the grand jury will probably remain
in session for the next few days, as a
number of things are ripe for investiga-
ton.
Mr.. Blair said that probably the next
thing that would come UP would be the
methods of the wholesale coal dealers
1t is thought that the inquisitorial body
will be more definite in it's investigation
of the coal dealers, as this case presents
different and more discriminating aspects
than the ice trust.