The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-24
PURE FOOD LAW
BROKEN, IS CHARGE
Government Files Notice OF Suits
Against Many Virginia
Dealers.
MINERAL WATERS HELD UP
Papers Allege That Products
Shipped Are Detrimental to
Health.

Health.
Inspections b. government experts
of goods shipped BY certain producers
doing business within the jurisdiction
Of the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Virginia
has disclosed facts, 1t is alleged. in
dicating that firms in Richmond, Alex.
andria and Norfolk have violated the
terms of an act OF Congress to prevent
the manufacture sale or transportation
of adulterated or misbranded or
poisonous or deletcrious foods. drugs
medicines and liquors, and for regulat-
Ing traffic therein.
lnformations, which are mere fore
runners to proceedings to be taken
later In prosecuting the alleged viola
tors, were filed in the United States
District Court here yesterday morning
against the Mecklenburg Mineral
Springs Company, of Chase City; the
stokes-Grymes Grocery Company, and
the O. L. Gregory Vinegar COMPANY.
OF this city: the Berry Hill Mineral
springs Company. of Elkwood, Chi
pepper county; Board-Armstronr 4.
company, of Alexandria. and i, u
Mueller, OF Norfolk.
ConsiSnccs rs Witnesses.
IN many cases the papers contain
several counts, and In each the ale
cation Is that tho terms OF tho Art
have been ignored. rho w1tnerses
cited are FOR the most part inspectors
and analysts of the Department OF
Agriculture; but in several instances
The consignees have been cited, which
indicates that they have assisted In
protecting themselves
Each OF the shipments has been mace
IN interstate commerce, and in every
case the consisnments were billed
from ono or another of the Virginia
points to wholesalers or retailers in
some locality outside, No papers have
been served on the companies COM
planned OF. but as the penalty is n
me. and the concerns are responsible
financially. there is no danger that any
defendants VIII attempt TO evade pro-
cess.
Calls Water Injurious.
The allegation against the Meclilen-
burg Mineral Springs and Hotel Com
pany Is that. on January Q, 1909. II
caused an adulterated article OF rood
to be shipped to E. S. Leadbcater &
Son, of Washington. in consignment
labeled "Mecklenburg Chloride Calci-
UNI Water" in that It contained AN
excessive number OF organisms, In
members of the bacillus coli
group. in sufficient number to indi-
cate pollution OF such a nature as
TO render the water unfit for human
consumption, and consisted in part of
filthy decomposed and putrid vegeta-
bic substances, and deleterious ingrc-
dents, rendering the water injurious
to health" The witnesses are John r..
Earnshaw, inspector. and G. W, Stiles,
analyst, of the Department OF Agricul-
ture, and Il. $. Leadbeater.
The Information against the Stokes
Gyrmes Grocery Company is of a diff
terent nature. ana alleges that on
April 90, 1909, the Richmond whole
salers shipped Or caused TO be shipped
to Lackey Brothers, at Haialet. ~ C.,
a package labeled zone pound Dixie
brand choice winesap evaporated ap-
pies" and that 1T really contained .sA
of pound. There are two counts in
the information, but the alleged viola
ton Is practically tho same in each.
H. RI. Wagner, Inspector. and r. j..
STANLEY. analyst, are witnesses.
Apple Cider Vinegar Case.
The .. L. Gregory Vinegar Company
is alleged to have violated the pure
foods act by causing to be shipped an
article labeled "Elko brand apple cioer
vinegar whereas 1t is claimed a sub
stance had been substituted In part for
the article, which contained dilute
solution OF acet.c acid and a foreign
material high in reducing sugars The
information contains two counts, and
the shipment is said to have been made
on March s. 1905, and consigned to
the Southern Pure-Food Company, of
Durham, n. G.
The information against the Berry
Hill Mineral Springs Company, OF Elk
wood, Culpepcr county, alleges facts
similar to those charged against the
McclSlenburg Mineral Springs Com
pauv. 1t is claimed the company
caused a consignment OF water to be
shipped to w. II. Ring. at washington
ID. C., on August l6, 1909, which con-
sisted in part OF dccomposed vegetanle
and animal substances, which might
no Injurious to health Inspector EARN
shaw. Analyst stiles and w. I. Rlhs
arc named as witnesses.
some Other Allegations.
Two sets of papers, covering fou ,
shipments, are filed against the Boaru-
Armstrong Company, OF -AeHanuIia ID
each arising from shipments OF An
article purporting TO be apple ciaer
vinegar, but which are alleged to nave
been packed with a substance TO re-
duce and lower its quality, and TO et-
feet its quality and strength Ine
consignees We're d. Il. Johnson son
OF Raleigh, n. G., and the Wrighl-
Clnrkson Company, Of Duluth, Min MINI.
The alleged misbl .nded articles are
said to have been labeled Robin HOOD
and White House brands, pure apple
cider. D. NJ. Walsh, inspector, and X,
w, Balloon, analyst, of the Department
of Horticulture, and A. II. SkOoS, OIL