The Detroit times., 1910-12-22
TO RAKE BOOKS OF.
TOWNS TRUST
FOR EVIDENCE
Local Hearing Ended and Real Fire
works Are Expected When Gov
eminent Begins Probing of Rec
ords in Cleveland, Jan. 8.
Capt. James Davidson, Vice President
of Great Lakes Concern, Proves Star
Witness For Prosecution.

With the testimony or four vessel
captains, which was for the most part
OF minor Importance. the local hear
ing in the governments suit TO dis
solve the Great Lakes Towing Co on
the ground that II Is an illegal com
bine, came to an end. Thursday morn
ing. Several OF the witnesses who
had been subpened were not called.
as the testimony they had TO offer was
largely of cumulative nature, and
In view OF the damaging evidence
given by Capt. James Davidson. Capt.
Harris w. Baker and others against
the alleged trust, United States At
torney William l.. Day, in charge OF
the case for the government decided
1t was not necessary.
An adjournment was taken until
Jan. 3, at $3.50 a. m. in Cleveland,
when the real fireworks are sched-
uled TO be touched off. The officers Of
the Great Lakes Towing Co. have
been ordered to bring their books and
records into court at that time, and
the evidence TO be adduced from them
is expected to practically "cinch" the
case.
In the defense will have it's inning,
which probably will mean another
trip to the various ports, including
Detroit. The company will attempt to
show by witnesses that 1t does not en-
joy monopoly Of the harbor towing
on the great lakes, but that, on the
other hand, II has active competition
In the more important ports.
When the taking Of testimony on
both sides is finally completed. it will
be written up and submitted to
Judges Severens, Knappen and War
rington, Of the United States court OF
appeals, sitting especially as a circuit |
court, together with the arguments.
If the court decides that the company
Is trust, criminal prosecutions are
likely to follow.
Some evidence tending to show that
the alleged trust maintains blacklist
was brought out, Thursday. Capt.
John McArthur,- of Port Huron, owp--
er of the barge Dobbins, testified that
he had commanded the tugs Pallister
and Nelson, owned respectively by
the Sullivan and Thompson lines. on
two trips last summer. Capt. David
Of the Dobbins, was then put
on to show that, on one occasion dur
Ing the season Just closed. the Great
Lakes Towing Co. refused to tow him
out OF Lorraine, o., unless he paid the
bill in advance.
He did not have enough money with !
him and was delayed several hours
while the matter was being adjusted, |
the captain OF an incoming steamer |
going good for the amount. Capt |
Murray said that on this occasion he |
was told by the trust manager at |
Lorraine that his boat was on the I'M |
fair list. The government will attempt |
to show that the Great Lakes concern |
against the Dobbins be- |
cause the owner, Capt. Macarthur, had |
been in command of the independent |
tugs previously mentioned
Capt. Edward j. Donahue, OF De- |
troit, testified that in 1906, when he |
was in charge of the schooner Aurora,
Of the Weineman feet, he was obliged |
to lay several hours outside the har-
Dor at Toledo before a tug came TO
tow him in, although the Crete, which |
arrived outside the harbor an hour
later than he did, was taken care OF |
promptly.
lOiu tue lug CdpldlH IL was Gus
tomary to pick up the boat that ar.
rived first, but he said he didn't give
D damn what the custom was" the
witness testified. He had orders to
get the Crete and he was going to
obey orders. he said"
The captain admitted that he had
not telegraphed ahead for tug. Mr..
head of the fleet of which
he Aurora was part, was one OF the
witnesses against the trust. There
was no evidence. however, to show
hat the Great Lakes people had any.
hing against him at the time OF the
Aurora incident
Capt. Frank G. Stewart, of the d.
z B. steamer, Western States, the first
witness of the morning. testified that
he Great Lakes Towing Co. always
handled his boat entering and leaving
Buffalo. There we're no other tugs
engaged In the vessel towing business
n Buffalo as far as he knew
How the Great Lakes Towing Co,
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