The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-03-28
JURY HOLDS FATE
OF MEAT PACKERS
Iona Trial of "Beef Trust" Is
Near to End.
WAS BEGUN TEN YEARS AGO
Judge Carpenter In Charge-PaneI
Not to Sacrifice Their Self Re-
spect In Trying to Reach
Speedy Verdict.

Chicago, March 26.-The trial OF the
ten Chicago meat packers, commonly
known as the beef trust" on the
charge of violating the criminal sec
ton of the Sherman antitrust law has
reached a crisis and the fate Of the
accused is in the hands of the jury.
Following Judge George A. Carpen-
ters charge IN the federal court, be-
fore whom the trial was begun on De-
cember last, the IL men retired TO
deliberate Oh verdict.
The trial was one of the most pro-
longed in the history of the federal
courts. The transcript of evidence
submitted since 1t began numbered
3,661,750 words and its cost up to
date, both for prosecution and defense.
has been close to $1,000,000.
Judge Carpenter began his charge,
which occupied but forty minutes. i'm
mediately upon the conclusion of the
address OF Pierce Butler, the govern
ments special prosecutor.
Judge Carpenters instructions.
After thanking the jurors and con-
graduating them on having had the
opportunity to perform great public
service, Judge Carpenter said:
You must realize, and | so instruct
you, that yours alone is the right,
power and duty to determine from the
evidence what are the real facts in
this case. Mine Is the duty to advise
you of the law as applied TO these
facts.
Il wish you to understand this clear
ly, and, no matter what | may say In
these instructions of the facts or the
witnesses, no word of mine is permit
ted to influence you in any way so far
as the determination of any material
fact is concerned.
The guilt Of the defendants, if they
are guilty, can be established only by
evidence admitted at the trial, and
then only If such evidence satisfies
you beyond reasonable doubt OF the
charges in the indictment or in some
of the counts thereof
Must Be Convinced Beyond Doubt.
the law, is presumed to be innocent of
each and every charge of the indlct-
ment, and each one of the defendants
Is entitled to that presumption of in
nocence at your hands until the gov
eminent, by evidence, has convinced
you beyond reasonable doubt to the
contrary.
"A reasonable doubt In law means
substantial and well founded doubt,
and not the mere possibility of doubt
not sympathy, superstition or preju-
dice.
The law demands a conviction
wherever there is sufficient legal evil
dence to show the defendants guilt
beyond reasonable doubt, and cir
cumstantial evidence is legal EVIL
dence"
After discussing the Sherman law,
under which the indictments were
brought, Judge Carpenter concluded In
part, as follows;
Il charge you particularly that the
defendants are not to be convicted
merely upon suspicion they are not to
be convicted merely because you think
such a conviction might be popular.
Cannot Consider High Cost
And here let me say that the mat
ter of high cost of living. of which we
have heard and read so much in the
last year or more, has nothing what
ever to do with this case.
II beg of you to exercise at all times
your best judgment on the whole case
and under no circumstances to surren-
der it until you are convinced to the
contrary by what seems to you to be
better judgment.
ut Is not necessary that all the par
ties should have been doing the same
thing at the same time. The case is
not being tried on civil act. These
defendants are charged with a crime.
DO not sacrifice your self respect by
any Of the facts In an at.
tempt to return a hasty verdict"