The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
CRIMINAL ACTION AGAINST GROCERS May Follow End of DissOlu-
 tiOn Suit NEW POINT IS RAISED Interesting Developments Likely to Follow Litigation Which Begins Tomorrow Before Special
 Examiner Bell

Practically all written exhibits in the case of the United States against the Southern Wholesale Grocers' association are ready for introduction and other de- tails have been shaped up in readiness for the opening here tomorrow by Ex- amner Robert N Bell of the first real trust busting case ever begun in Bir mingham or the south.
 It is expected that over 4000 written documents will be introduced as evidence against the grocers association by the attorneys for the government before the case is completed. Of this number there will be large amount of documents dealing, it is alleged, with yelled threats against wholesale grocery merchants and other compromising matter which has been held in check by the government since the beginning of the litigation.
 The federal authorities expected o. E. Harrison, assistant attorney general, in the city this afternoon. He will be here all during the progress of the case and will remain with it until the supreme court of the United States passes upon the validity of various points to be rais- cd. However, District Attorney Oliver D. Street who arrives this morning will conduct the examination Of all witnesses and will have direct supervision of the evidence to be offered by the govern nent.
 It was pointed out yesterday that the case against the Southern Wholesale Grocers' association involves a more se- ri01g ha In pforra1 from the investigation thus far It IS stated that the evidence to be brought to light here during the trial is for the purpose simply of dissolving the asso- citation as an enemy to trade and as existing in direct violation of the Sher- man antitrust regulations. However, the significant point was made yesterday that Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell and other labor leaders went sentenced to jail for committing an offence which is said to be no greater than that which the government will try to prove on the part of the grocers. In the case of Gompers ct al, in which the Buck Stove and Range company was interested 1t was alleged that the labor leaders ad- yised a discriminatory attitude against that concern because of certain dis pleasing attitudes of the Buck company toward labor unions. It is stated that the Southern Wholesale Grocers association may be charged with having violated more flagranty than ever the points held valid against the labor men and that it would not cause surprise if the criminal aspect entered into the case before it is finally completed.
 As to this criminal point the govern ment men will not talk but it was given out by Assistant Attorney General liar rson several weeks ago that if the United States department of justice found at the conclusion of the case that the offence merited further punishment and that they had actually violated the criminal statutes he presumed the gro cers would be prosecuted criminally
 This new aspect of the case, when dis oussed yesterday created the idea that perhaps after the dissolution case is over there will be still further investigations by the department of justice.
 Examiner Robert N Bell will convene court in the federal building at o'clock tomorrow morning for the beginning of the case. The first session here will not last longer than two or three days, after which an adjournment will be taken per haps to Ney' Orleans or Memphis. Pres ident J. H.. McLaurin of the Southern Wholesale Grocers association will arrive in Birmingham this morning from Jack sonvile, his home, and will remain in constant touch with the case.
 General Luke E. Wright and Caruthers Ewing of Memphis, attorneys for the defendant companies, will reach the city this afternoon, if not they will be here on the Frisco train tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock.