Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-27
ATTORNEY FOR PACKERS TELLS
ON WITNESS STAND OF EARLY
MERGER.
$500, ,ooo, 900 COMBINATION
OF THREE eIetss ms
Early Packers Pool Had No : But
Wa. Known a. "Postoffiot ( x ear"
Merger Mover complet = Because
Of Famous Decision Of = Gross.
eup-FaiIsd to Buy Fov Company. =

Chicago. Dec. 27.-Halbert H. Weed
er, attorney for Swift & Co.. continued
his story of the operations Of the pack
ers prior to 1905 when the trial of the
ten Chicago packers was resumed to-
day.
The only name OF which the old
packers pool which held secret meet
ings prior to 1908 was known was
"Postoffice Box 247.' according to
counsel for the government. This mys-
terious gathering, which the govern
ment asserts sought to fix prices and
suppress competition at weekly meet
ings in the veeder offices, had no name
which Mr.. VeeGer in his early examina-
ton could remember.
Pierce Butler. special counsel for the
government, questioned Mr.. Veeder at
length regarding the agreement en-
tered into in 1902 between the Armour,
Swift and Morris interests to form a
$500,00O.000 merger of packing COM
panies.
Properties Wore Appraised.
The witness said an elaborate exam
ination Of the packers books was made
by expert accountants and the proper
ties appraised by a committee of ex-
perts consisting of Thomas Connor.
Thomas e. Wilson and Fl. c. Gardner.
WAS the appraisal of these proper
ties ever made?
II think the work was completed but
no final report ever was made" was the
answer.
Mr.. Veeder said that under the
merger agreement each of the contract
Mig parties was required to turn over
at least 30 per cent of the stock Of the
concern 1t was proposed to consolidate.
The witness said the combination be-
gan negotiations for the purchase Of
the Schwarzschild & Sulzberger plant
In. the merger suit but the purchase was
not made a.As
The government brought out that all
the contracts for the purchase of the
competing concerns contained a clause
which prohibited the persons making
the sales from engaging in the packing
business for period of fifteen years
after the date Of the sale.
EARLY History Told.
Unfolding Of all the history Of the
three quarter of billion dollar beef
trust" which failed Of consummation
in 1902 because of a zephyr in the
financial market" the zephyr" being
the famous Grosscup injunction, was
begun from the witness stand before
United States District Judge Carpenter
yesterday.
The nara tor of the remarkable story
was Albert H. Veeder. who is 6S years
old In the early sos he became coun-
sci to Gustavus Swift and remained his
legal adviser until Mr.. Swift's death.
With his son Henry. 45 years old. he
now is of counsel In the trial of the
ten indicted packers for the sons of the
late packing kings. Edward F.. Louis
+. and Charles II. Swift, who succeed
ed their father.
First Witness Called.
Mr.. Veeder was the first witness
called by the government. He took the
stand at the morning session, after the
counsel for the packers had made a
determined effort to exclude all evi-
dence OF illegal transactions in the
packing industry prior to July !. 1905
A claim Of immunity because of evil
dence given in the government investi-
CATION conducted by James r. Garfield
commissioner of corporations, was
made. Judge Carpenter denied the plea,
but permitted the packers counsel to
dictate into the record their objections
to all evidence introduced which dated
prior to 1905.
The ancient history" repeated from
the witness chair by Mr.. Veeder mark
ed the real opening of the trial. From
now on the packers are in jeopardy
and even supreme court ruling could
not stop the trial.
Lays the Foundation.
While Mr.. Veeder's testimony was OF
used in determining the guilt or inno-
cence Of the defendants, 1t bore on the
contention of the government that a
Of the present day packers which has
restrained the fresh meat industry by
devious means to this time.
Mr.. Veeder belied the Osler theory In
his appearance and demeanor on the
stand. Pitted against him was Pierce
Butler. who destroyed the flour trust
for the government. From the outset II
was battle OF one powerful legal
mind against another. Mr.. Veeder was
at all times careful and deliberate. II
not evasive in his answers and expla
nations.
Plan Gigantic Pool.
He modestly admitted having beer
legal advisor to Gustavus Swift, who
with j. Ogden Armour and Edward
Morris planned the gigantic fresh meat
octupus in 1902. His mind was fresh
as to every detail OF that great finan-
cial dream. Prior to that date his
memory failed him. He pleaded as ar
excuse, I've formed more than 12S
corporations and have the data in my
office. but can't remember the de-
tails" He strehuously denied having
been a party to the famous packe.
pool" prior to 1902, declaring Henry
was secretary OF that association and
can tell all about 1t.
Az a climax tn the remarkable story