Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-26
JURY OUT NINETEEN HOURS
Verdict Comes as Surprise to Many
Who Closely Watched Case.
CHARGES OF CRIMINAL NATURE
Prosecution Held That Defendants
Violated Section of Sherman
Antitrust Law.

CHltAGO, March c6.-Not guilty was
the verdict which the jury returned to-
day in the trial of the ten Chicago pack
ers accused by the government of vio-
lation Of the criminal sections of the
Sherman antitrust act
The verdict was returned before United
States Judge Carpenter after the jury
had deliberated more than seventeen
hours
The ten defendants accused by the gov
ernment and acquitted are:
Those Who Stood Trial.
Swift group:
Louis F. Swift, president of Swift & Co.
Edward F. Swift, vice president of
Swift & Co.
Charles II. Swift, director Of Swift &
Co.
Francis A. Fowler. manager dressed
beef department Swift & Co.
Armour group
G. Ogden Armour, president Armour &
Co.
Arthur Meeker. director and general
manager Armour & Co.
Thomas ]. Connors, director and gen.
eral superintendent Armour & Co.
Morris group
Edward Morris, president Norris & Co.
Louis H.. Heyman, manager beef de-
partment. Morris & Co.
Edward Tilden, president Of the Ma
tional Packing Company.
Only Two Defendants Present.
Thomas J. Connors and Edward Tilden
were the only defendants in court when
the verdict was read. They were soon
after Joined by Edward F. Swift, Charles
Suiff
Armour, who hurried to the courtroom on
receiving notice that the jury had reached
a verdict. Edward Morris, Louis H. Hey
man, Arthur Meeker and Louis F. Swift
did not reach the fededal building until
after the proceedings in court were COM
pleted. The courtroom was crowded.
The verdict came as surprise to many
who had been watching the case, and
had feared that the nineteen-hour wait
meant long-drawn-out battle in the
The verdict was handed to the clerk
of the court by ]. E. Harvey the fore
man Of the jury.
1t read. I'VE, the jury. find the de-
PENDANTS not guilty"
Affected by the Verdict.
United States District Attorney James
H Wilkerson was deeply affected by
the verdict. He jumped to his feet as
the words sounded through the court
room, and tears filled his eyes
Il have nothing to say" was his only
comment as he walked from the court
room.
The court session occupied less than
ten minutes.
Three ballots were taken today on the
question OF guilty or not guilty. The first
ballot resulted eight for acquittal and four
for conviction. The second ballot showed
eleven for acquittal and one for convic-
tion. The third ballot was unanimous for
acquittal.
The only ballot taken last night was on
all were guilty. This ballot stood ten to
two In favor of the proposition.
History Of the Case
The trial Of the packers was on charges
of conspiracy in maintaining a combina-
ton in restraint of trade by violation of
the criminal provision Of the law. The
trial began December 6.
The government contended:
That prior to 1902 prices were fixed.
shipments regulated and territory divided
by the old beef pool which met every
Tuesday afternoon.
That after the old beef pool dissolved in
1902 the packers held secret meetings at
one anothers' homes.
That the National Packing Company
since its organization in 1908, has been
used as the clearing house" for the al
legged combination.
That the packers adopted a test cost
and margin system, which was used In
the purchase of cattle and the sale of
fresh meat.
Charged "Cost" Fictitious.
That the allowances made for hv
products in figuring the test cost were
inadequate, and the cost used by the
packers was fictitious and higher than
the actual cost.
That the representatives of the diff
ferent companies in New York. Boston
and other eastern cities exchanged in
formation in regard to prices and ship
ments and telegraphed the figures to
their superiors in Chicago.
That the violation of the Sherman law
by the packers has been continuous
and practically uninterrupted since 1898
1t is estimated that the trial cost the
packers $5OOOOo and the government
about $1OO,eoO.