The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-03-27
MEAT PACKERS
NOT GUILTY IS
JURY'S VERDICT
CASE AGAINST PACKERS RESULTS
IN A VICTORY FOR
MEAT PEOPLE,. =
United States Attorney Who Prose-
cuted the Gases Shed Tears Upon
Hearing the Verdict When Rendered
by Jury.


Chicago, March 26.-"Not guilty"
was the verdict which the jury re-
turned today in the trial of the ten
Chicago packers accused by the gov
ernment = { violation of criminal Sec
tions Of the Sherman antitrust act.
The scr .Ct was returned before
United States Judge Carpenter after
the jury n10 deliberated over nineteen
hours
All the defendants were in court
when the verdict was read. Each
defendant smiled and some shook
hands with their attorneys. The
courtroom was crowded.
The verdict came as a surprise to
many who had been watching the
case and had feared that the nine
teen-hour wait meant long-drawn
battle in the jury room
Federal Attorney James H. Wilker-
son was deeply affected by the YER
dict. AS the words sounded through
the courtroom tears filled his eyes.
He declined to talk.
Three Ballots Taken.
Three ballots were taken today on
the question of guilty or not guilty.
The first ballot resulted eight for ac-
quittal and four for conviction. The
second ballot showed eleven for &C
quittal and one for conviction. The
third ballot was unanimous for ac-
quittal
The only ballot taken last night was
on the question whether, if one we're
guilty, all were guilty. This ballot
stood ten to two in favor of the prop
osition.
Jurors Statement.
j. H. Edwards of Streator, ILL.,, one
of the jurors, discussed the proceed
ings in the jury room, said:
I'VE gave the defendants the bene-
fit of the doubt. We did not believe
the government had made out a very
strong case. We did not attempt to
analyze thS figures presented by the
government and decided the case on
the broad lines of arguments and the
testimony which we remembered. We
We're all nervous and anxious to get
home, and avoided any unpleasant de-
bate in the intervals between the bal
lots
Counsel for the defendants were
iubilant over the verdict. George T.
Buckingham, who throughout the
trial represented the Swift interests,
said:
The verdict was what I expected.
The government failed to make out
case. and for that reason we declined
to offer any evidence"
John S. Miller of counsel for pack
ers, said:
Extremely Grateful.
I'VE are extremely grateful. The
government ought to be satisfied also,
and this should put an end to the
long drawn out attack on the beer In
dustry I could see no other verdict
possible under the evidence present.
ed although, Of course, the dalibera-
tions of any jury are uncertain"
The instructions Of Judge Carpenter
laid special stress on the question or
reasonable doubt and the jurors we're
told that if they had such a doubt OF
the guilt of the defendants, they
could not return verdict of guilty
AS the jury filed into the box the
members showed the effect OF the
strain of the trial.
Meat Prices Go Up.
After the announcement of he YER
dict in the packers trial, provisions
advanced all around The rise was 10
cents for pork and bacon and 112al0
cents for lard.
The addition to the cost Of packing
house products was attributed on
change to active covering by shorts
and TO sympathize with a bulge in the
| price of corn.
Swift & Co. shares advanced ; -
points on the CHICAGO Stock EX-
! change an hour before the verdict
After the jury had come in further
| lump upward occurred, making a totai
advance OF points.