The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-03-19


ferent companies in New York, Bos-
ton and other eastern cities ex-
changed information in regard to
prices and shipments and telegraphed
the figures to their superiors in Chi
cago.
That the violation of the Sherman
law by the packers has been contin-
uous and practically uninterrupted
since 1898.
A chronological history of the gov
ernment's investigation and prosecu-
ton of the men alleged to control the |,
fresh meat industry of the country is
as follows:
July 1, Injunction issued by
Judge Grosscup restraining the pack
rs from entering into combination.
Feb. 20, t905--lnyestigation of al
legged combination begun.
July l, 19O5-Sixteen packers and |
/ four corporations indicted
Dec. 81. bookcases called for trial. |
March u, 1906 Judge Humphreys
renders the immunity bath" decision,
freeing the indicted packers.
Dec. 90, 90S-Tnvestigation taken
up by federal grand jury, but soon
discontinued without indictments be-
ing returned.
Dec 49, 909-Investigation resumed
by the federal grand jury.
March 81, acknowledgements re-
turned against the National Packing
Company and ten subsidiary concerns
and bill in equity filed asking that
the National Packing Company be
dissolved.
June "a, Embellishments against
the National Packing Company
quashed by Judge Lands and spe-
cial grand jury called to renew the
investigation
July IA, 1910-Special grand jury
impanelled and inquiry begun.
Aug II, 1910-Thomas G. Lee, man
ager Of the dressed beef sales depart
ment of Armour and Company, indict-
ed for perjury and Alfred R. Urion,
chief counsel for the company and
three employees charged with destroy
ing stenographers' notebooks contain
ing important information desired by
the government
Aug. Is, 1910-Attorney Urion dis
charged with a reprimand and the 9TH
err respondents held for further hear
ing.
Sept ~, Embellishments returned
charging ten packers with conspiracy
in maintaining a combination in re
straint of trade.
Dec. 6, 1911-Trial of the ten pack
ers begun before Judge Carpenter.
The trial was one of the longest
criminal trials in the history of the
federal courts. 1t began Dec. 6, 1911
and the jury was sworn in Dec. 10
The first witness was called by the
, government December 26. The gov
eminent put 40 witnesses on the stand
and introduced 1883 documents in evil
dence. The record of the case con
tains 100000 words.
1t is estimated that the trial cost the
packers 100000, and the government
y about 100000
= The first witness called by the gov
eminent was Albert H. Veeder, the
dean of counsel for the packers and
personal legal advisor of the late Gus
"A tavus F. Swift, founder of Swift and
Company. He gave a graphic descrip
ton of the old packers pool which me
every Tuesday afternoon prior to 100:
, and gave the details of the methot
by which the fresh meat business o
the country was controlled. He de
e clared that no attempt was made t.
fix prices and divide territory afte
ai the old packers pool was dissolved Il
1902 He also told of the attempt o
the Armour, Swift and Morris intel
~ ests to combine the packing industr
III into billion dollar corporation an
e' how the plan was dropped because c
the inability of its proomters to +
10 nance it.
ct Nearly every witness called in tn
government in the trial was either a
III employee or former employe of on
10 of the corporation controlled by tn
70 defendants.
The defense cross examined ever
's' witness at length and in this way 81
III much of its side of the case before tn
- jury.
The jury which heard the case we
" composed of the following:
ne ]. E. Harvey, SO years old, groce
o Wilton Center, Ill.