The Detroit times., 1910-03-07
TO JAIL, \
BEEF PACKERS
Prosecutor Garven, Who Indicted
Armour, Morris ct al, Tells How
He Will Prove Conspiracy
BY w. G. SHEPHERD.

JERSEY CITY, n. j., March T.
Enter Pierre F. Garven. son of a
blacksmith. self-made. seii-reliant, in
To the arena where is fought the bat
tie OF the people against privilege.
Uniquely. along new lines. this
county prosecutor in New Jersey has
brought about the indictment of the
beef trust ringsters. Bringing up an
old point I'm old English law. in new
way, he has focused upon himself the
attention of the country.
II hope TO punish the whole OUTFIT,
he told me emphatically in an inter
view
What is the new point of law
you've brought up against the meat
fellows?'
why. it's an old point. You see
New Jersey is under the old common
law of England That common law
says that no two or more men shall
band together TO conspire TO do any
mischief TO the public or to any In
dividual.
"Of course they didn't have trusts
in those days But sometimes men
used To form little bands To conspire
against tue pupllI. IL was 'phSpAioN'
10 form a band for robbery, even II
no real robbery was committed. The
intent was enough.
And so I've taken this old law and
I hold that the meat trust was form
ed TO keep up prices. make artificial
scarcity OF food by means OF cold
storage: ard thus do mischief to
many citizens OF New Jersey
why is the new point you raise
any better than the points that are
made under the Sherman antitrust
lave"
Cases under that law are compli-
Gated. compared with the cases | have
to present. Look here:
First. under the old English law
have to prove that the men who
are now under indictment formed an
organization That's easy enough.
because their books show Il and
have that evidence.
Second will have 20 prove that
the purpose OF their organization was
20 bring mischief against the public
or against individuals.
See how simple that is? All !
have 10 prove is that mischief has
been wrought upon the public and
upon individuals.
I'VE went to cold storage ware
houses and found vast quantities OF
produce stored there. being held un-
IN prices justified sending IL out
Suppose all Of the 10000 900. eggs
We found, for instance, were to be
suddenly put upon the market How
the price OF eggs would fall And
how many people could have eggs who
do not have them now. II is working
mischief against the public 10 keep
eggs out Of their reach.
who's doing this cold storage
business ! naturally inquired. |
found behind il the meat trust so
have the band Of conspirators and
the mischief!
III we win. it means that j ogden
Armour Louis F. Swift. A. Watson
Armour Edward Morris. Edward
Swift. Edward Tildcu. L. II. Carton.
Ira y. Morris. Iemuel b. Patterson.
Chas IT, Swift, H. III. Heyman. Thos.
J. Counors Arthur Meeker, Thos. VIII
son-the whole band of them in Chi.
cago-are simply on the same level
with a pirate crew.
Three years in Jail each or a thou
saud-dolar fine Is the punishment
prescribed by law"
All America will look on while
Pierre Garvcn, two years ago mayor
of Bavonne. a little New Jersey town;
ONLY two years before that lawyer
in the Jersey Central railroad Offices;
only two years before that a self-sup-
porting student in the New York law
school and two years before that the
plain son OF the Bayonne blacksmith,
and only "a years ago babe In its
mothers arms-all America is goinS
10 watch Garven take his fing at the
trusts.