The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-13
TELLS SECRETS
Of DUKES TRUST
WAR METHODS
Retailer Declares Brand Was
Duplicated to Kill Off SOuth-
ern Competition.
AGREEMENT BROKEN
OPENLY, MERCHANT SAYS
Trust Demanded Bigger Profits
from Company 1t Had
Taken In.

Trust methods, whereby the business
of its competitors was ruthlessly de-
stroyed. despite secret agreements,
were today exposed in the suit brought
before Vice-Chancellor Howell by the
American Tobacco Company against
the r. P. Richardson Company, of
Reidsville, N. 9
The retailers story of how the tobacco
trust crushed competition was told to-
day on the witness stand by Percy b.
King. of jackson. Miss, a witness for
the Richardson's who were 'competi-
tors" OF the monopoly, as far as the
public was concerned.
At the time the Richardson Company
was operating as an Independent con-
Germ, 80 per cent. OF its capital stock
was secretly owned by the trust, who
had agreed, according to the testimony
of r. p. Richardson, to cease its war
Of determination" and withdraw its op-
position.
James B. Duke, president of the
American Tobacco Company, is suing
to have the 60 per cent. owned under
the secret agreement made August 12,
1902 transferred on the books of the
Richardson Company. This is resisted
by the Richardson's, who claim Duke
broke his agreement, and instead of
Withdrawing opposition, tried to drive
them from the field.
II had sold Old North State tobacco,
made by the Richardson's exclusively
until 1901" King testified today. when
Bull Durham. made by the trust, in
vaded the field
Il was paying 64 cents a pound for
old North State and getting two
ounces free with each pound paid for
at that time. The trust offered me
Bull Durham at 60 cents a pound,
giving two pounds free with each
pound paid for Besides they wanted
to paint sign on the side of my store
advertising Bull Durham For this
privilege they wanted to pay me $100,
but I wouldn't permit it, as I was a
friend of one of the Richardson's.
Trust offered Duplicate.
Between 1900 and 1906 was assured
by the trust salesman that old North
State would soon be driven from Mis-
sissippi. l was offered an exact dupli-
cate of Old North State made by the
trust at 60 cents a pound with free
goods"
Robert p. Richardson testified that
at this time the agreement between
himself and the trust was supposed to
be operative, and that a part of the
understanding was that the trust
would not oppose the sale of "Old
North State"
When the "exact duplicate" of "Old
North State" was offered King, the
trust was in possession of the "Old
North State" formulas, Richardson
testified. They had been sent to the
American Tobacco Company on its
representation that such information
was necessary and that it would not
be used to duplicate his brand.
Mr.. Richardson was put back on the
stand after Mr. King had concluded
his testimony. Kings evidence was
admitted by the court after lengthy
wrangle between John r.. Hardin, for
the Richardson's, and Attorney General
Robert II. McCarter, Richard V. Lin
dabury and Charles l.. Corbin, for the
trust.
Richardson, on the stand, told of let
ters which had passed between himself
and Pcrcival S. Hill president of
tho American Tobacco Company, and
of a conversation In which Hill had
expressed dissatisfaction at the man
ner in which the affairs of the Rich
ardson company were conducted.
you have to make fifteen cents a
pound, net profit, on "Old North State"
tobacco, Hill told me-" said Richard
son.
II told him that the best we could
hope for was ten cents a pound"
Richardson said. "whereupon he OBJ
jected. saying that our management in
the past had not been bowling sue
cess and we should do better in the
future"
On examination Mr. Richard
son was shown samples of Bull Dur
ham" tobacco which his counsel had
submitted as evidence.
rs that tobacco damaged?" ques-
toned Mr.. Lindabury
ut is"
what is the flavor of Bull Dur
ham'?''
1T Is favored, | believe. with tonka
bean and rum