Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-25
GRAND JURY READY
TO PROBE PACKERS
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION OF
ALLEGED "MEAT TRUST" TAKES
CONCRETE FORM IN CALLING
OF JURY TO HEAR EVIDENCE.

Chicago, Jan. Ia-WluSspio ooo 'oN
tation against the high prices of meat
made itself felt here today when pork
declined 675a to 771a cents from sat
urdays closing figures. Other proc
ucts also declined, but to lesser extent
January pork broke from $1,000, the
closing quotation Saturday, u
s2O.121a within the first hour OF trad
ing. May sold of from $21.25 to S2O.oo'
New York Attacks Problem.
New York, Jan. 24-New York today
lis in the thick Of the fray for the re-
duction Of the cost of living. A grand
Jury Investigation into the meat ques-
ton is pending and the prosecution
of an inquiry into the cold storage slt.
uation has been begun. Meetings OF
protest against the high prices OF 1000
products have been called and pledges
of abstinence from meat are being nu-
merously signed. Inquiry into the al
legged milk combine also has begun by
the grand jury. The city thus gives
ample evidences of deep seated inter
est in helping to find a solution OF the
problem which has aroused practical
ly the entire country to action.
Government Prepares Case.
Chicago, Jan. 24.-The work of pre-.
pairing the case of the government
against the four big meat packing con-
Germs of this city to ascertain whether
they operated to control the prices OF
fresh meats was begun in earnest IN
the federal court today. A special We
nire of Jurors appeared before Judge
lands and twenty-three men were
chosen to compose the grand Jury that
is to hear the evidence to decide
whether indictments shall be returned
against the packers.
Three Forms of Indictment.
That he might be prepared for any
emergency, District Attorney Sims has
decided on three forms of Indictment
to cover every phase of the evidence
to be submitted to the grand jury
which has been impaneled. Three
stenographers worked all yesterday
afternoon getting in shape the charges
and the legal points involved.
Mr. Sims discussed the cases at
length with his chief assistant, James
H. Wilkerson; with Robert W. Childs
the grand jury expert of the district
attorneys office, and with William r
Medaris, specially detailed on the
beef inquiry by the department of jus
tice at Washington.
Nearly thirty subpoenaes for wit
nesses to appear before the grand jury
have been prepared. Most of these
writs are for employees of the National
Packing company, which is aimed al
in particular by the government and
tt ose of prime Importance will be
served by deputies in the Office OF
United States Marshal Luman T. Hoy
Three Forms of Indictment.
There are three forms of indictment
which may be used by the government
If the grand jury finds the evidence
gathered by Mr.. Sims and his specia
agents to be as strong as the state
ments of Attorney General Wicker
sham would seem to indicate.
They are
Indictment of the packers as indi
vIduaIs.
Indictment of the Individual packers
collectively, on charge OF conspirac,
to violate the Sherman antitrust law
Indictment of the National Packing
company as a corporation, and also
perhaps, of one or all of the three cor
porations-Armour & Co., Swift G. Co
and Morris & Co.-officers and direct
ors of which are the official and finan
cial sponsors for the business operat
ed by the National.
Aimed at individuals Before.
IN tho first attempt at criminal pros
ecution OF the packers-the one tha
ended with Judge Humphreys immu
nifty decision, issued because the pack
ers made statements to Commissions
of Corporations, James R. Garfield il
his investigation of 19O4-19O5-
vidual packers and corporations were
named in the same conspiracy indict
ments. In order, however that ever,
loophole of escape may be covered
the government proposes to be read,
for any legal emergency.
BY the evidence gathered by the
special agent, who have been work
ing under Mr.. Sims direction within
the last year and more, the govern
ment expects to disclose to the grant
jury that there was a general agree
ment and understanding concerninI
prices of meats, regulated through
the medium Of the National Packin,
company, in the shipment and sale 0
meats to cities in every state in th'