Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-02-29
INDICTMENTS
BY WHOLESALE
OFFICER AND AGENT IN BILLS
. AGAINST NATIONAL CASH REG
ISTER OFFICIALS.
ONE FROM MINNEAPOLIS
Adams Express Company Accused Of
Charging Excessive Rates..
Federal Grand Jury Does
Much Work.

Cincinnati, O., Feb. 23.-Thirty in
Aictments charging conspiracy to OBJ
Btruct and monopolize the cash regis.
ter business in violation of the crimi-
nal provisions of the Sherman anti
trust law were returned against Of
6cials and sales agents Of the Ma
uonal Cash Register company.
At the same time the first move of
the government to present violations
of the Interstate commerce law regu.
lating express charges resulted in an
indictment with eleven counts against
the Adams Express company. The
company was charged with having
sxacted more than the published rates
from shippers. Six Cincinnati manu-
featuring concerns were indicted, al.
legged to have violated the Interstate
commerce law by obtaining low trans
pOrtation rates through under-valua-
ton and one individual> connected
with one of the companies was in
dicted.
The National Cash Register men
indicted and their relation to tho
concern were: TAI
John H. Patterson, president; I'D.
ward A. Deeds, vice president; George
Q. Edgeter, secretary; w. +. Bippus,
treasurer; William III. Muzzey, di-
rector; William Pflom, director; Al
fred A. Thomas, director, all of Day
ton, Ohio; Robert Patterson, direo.
tor, Chicago; Thomas j. Watson,
sales manager, Dayton; Joseph e.
Rogers, assistant sales manager, Day
ton; Alexander G. Harmed, secretary
sales department, Dayton, and 10
sales managers of branches, includ-
ing J. c. Laird, Philadelphia, and n.
n. Epperson, of Minneapolis.
The sales methods of the company
were the chief causes of the indict.
ment, according to United States Dis
trict Attorney Mcpherson, who de-
elared competitors of the company
had been harassed out of the field.
Bribery Alleged.
"This restraint has been in opera
ton for the last 20 years. he said.
ALTHOUGH the specific charge is con-
fined to the last three years. The prin-
cipal unlawful means outlined in the
Indictment are the bribing of employ
ees of competitors and of transporta-
ton, telegraph and telephone COM
panies; the hiring of employees away
from competitors, the requiring OF
agents to interfere with sales and
libel the machines of competitors,
outing prices, selling limitations of
competitive machines made to use as
Knockers and injuring competitive
machines whenever possible"
The second and third counts charg-
ed defendants with monopolizing the
cash register trade by use of the
same means.
No date has been set for a hearing
before United States Judge HOLSTER,
but it was said the defendants would
be notified to come into court on a
date to be set next week.
The indictments against the ex-
press company were the result of an
investigation made here by special
agents Of the commission, P. F.
Marsh and attorney A. G.. Guthrem.
The indictments alleged that the ex-
press company collected 81 per hun
dred pounds on shipments from In
dianapolis, Ind, to Franklin, Pa,
while the rate between the cities
is $1.75.
Six manufacturing concerns of this
city were charged with having VIC
lated the interstate commerce law by
undertaking goods for shipment in
an effort to get lower transportation
rates.