Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-26
Long Trial Of Chicago Beef
Barons Ends in Verdict Of
ACquittal After Jury Delib-
crates Nineteen Hours.
COLLAPSE OF CASE
COMES AS SURPRISE
Leading Members Of All Meat
Concerns Of Country Among
Defendants in Celebrated
Trust Prosecution.

my ANenAnh AAeg@i8 A. = Leased WAfef
Chicago, March 26.--Not guilty was
the verdict which the jury returned
today In the trial OF the ten Chicago
packers accused BY the government
Of violation OF the criminal sections
OF the sherman ANTITRUST act.
The verdict was returned before
United States District Judge Carpen-
ter after the jury had dellberated
more than is hours.
The ten defendants accused by the
government and acquitted, are:
Swift group--I0uis F. Swift. presi-
dent Of Swift ana Company; Edward
+ Swift vice president OF Swift and
Company; Charles II. Swift, director
Of Swift and Company; Francis A,
Fowler. manager dressed beef de-.
partment Swift and Company.
Armour group, Ogden Armour
president Armour and company; Ar
thur decker. director and general
manager Armour and company
Thomas , Connors, director and gen
eral superintendent Armour and Com
pany.
Morris gr0up--Edward Morris,
president Morris and company; Louis
"a. Heyman, manager dressed beef de-
partment; Edward Tllden, president
of National Packing company.
Thomas J. Connors and Edward
Iilden were the oriy defendants M
court when the verdict was read.
They were soon after iOiRed BY Ed
ward +. Swift. Charles h. Swift.
Francis A. Fowler and J. Ogden AR
mour, who hurried 10 the court room
on receiving notice thst the Jury had
reached a verdict
Edward Morris, Louis H. Heym8n,
Arthur Mecker and Louis r. Swift
did not reach the federal building un-
III after the proceedings In the court
were completed.
There was no excitement although
each defendant smiled and some
shook hands with their attorneys
The court room wes crowded and a
hurried exit Of many from toe room
when the verdict was read was check.
ed by the Judge.
The verdict came as a surprise to
many who had been watching the
case, and had feared that the i0-hour
wait meant a long drawn battle In
the Jury room.
Three ballots were taken today on
the question OF guilty or not guilty.
The FIRST ballot resulted eight for ac-
quiital and four for conviction. The
second ballot showed eleven for ac-
al trlf4t no
third ballot was unanimous for acquit.
tai. The only ballot taken last night
was on the question whether II one
was guilty all we're guilty. This bali
lot stood ten to two Ia favor Of the
proposition.
The verdict was handed to the
clerk OF the court By Juror J. II.
Harvey, who was selected foreman.
II read:
I'VE the jury and the defendants
not guilty
United States District Attorney
James H. Wilkerson vas deeply az.
feoted by the verdict he jumped TO
his feet as the words sounded through
the court room ana tears filed his
eyes.
II have nothing 10 say" was his
only comment as he walked from the
court room.
The court session occupied less
than ten minutes
J. II. Edwards of Strcator, one og
the jurors discussing the proceedings
In the jury room, said;
The reasOn on which the acquittal
was based was that we gave tho Dc.
PENDANTS the benefit Of the doubt We
aid not believe that the government
had made out & strong case. The
people had not suffered and we could
not see our way clear to convict the
defendants, under the evidence pre-
sented. We did not attempt to ANA.
lyEs the figures presented by the
government and decided the case ON
the broad lines OF the arguments in
stead Of the testimony which we
s...a ;