Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-08
Letters in Packers Case to
Stand, Judge lntimates.
PRATT's TESTIMONY OUT
Judge Withholds Final Decision
Until More Has Been Heard
From Him.

CHICAGO. January 8.-United states
District Judge George A. Carpenter
today indicated that he would rule out
of the record in the trial of the ten
Chicago packers the testimony OF Je-
rome III. Pratt Identifying the hand
writing OF J. Ogden Armour and
Thomas ]. Connors on certain letters
introduced in evidence by the govern
ment.
The writing of Arthur Meeker, an
other defendant. on one Of the letters
in question. which was positively
identified by Mr.. Pratt. will, ii is be-
Iieved. be allowed to remain in the
record.
The letters over which counsel for
both sides have argued strenuously
were offered by the government Sat-
urday and will remain a part Of the
record
Pratt, who was formerly connected
with the dressed beef department of
Armour & Co. testified that he wrote
three letters giving the record OF the
weeks business and mailed them to
the defendants named.
Later they were returned to him
containing figures in pencil indicating
the firms percentage of shipments
and profit margins for the current
week as agreed OH III the 1ucSOdy All
ernoon meetings Of the packers.
Withholds His Ruling.
Later Judge Carpenter said he would
withhold his ruling on the disputed point
cluded.
Judge Carpenter said
The purpose of tiese papers is not
70 chnyv "a M "a mol
as to show that the pool was continued
through the National Packing Company
after its organization in 1903.
so far as the existence of any agree
rnent prior to the three years covered by
the statutory period Is concerned. these
letters are not important. The govern
ment does. however. need something to
connect the old period with the new
only one of these letters has been
positively identified by the witness Pratt
being In the handwriting Of these de-
PENDANTS In regard to the other two
letters, the witness does not swear whose
handwriting il Is. He has an opinion who
wrote the figures. but that opinion was
obtained in the ordinary course Of busi-
ness
His opinion cannot go in the record
under these circumstances"
Pratt Recalled to Stand.
After the opinion of the court had been
given. Mr. Pratt was recalled to the stand
and questioned by District Attorney VIII
kerson.
The witness said that after the issuance
Of Judge Grosscup's injunction In 1902.
restraining the packers from continuing
the pool, the packers held their meetings
to fix prices and apportion business at
the homes of the members.
How many Of these secret meetings
were held?'
About five, think
What was done?''
We discussed the beef situation for
the current week and decided on the ship
ment percentages and profit margins to
DE charged.
WAS there any particular difference in
the meetings held at members houses and
those held down town.
No" *
Describes Shipping Methods.
The witness described in detail the
method Of making shipments TO branch
houses. The district and branch house
managers. he said, received instructions
in regard to the margin price to be
charged at the time shipments were
made
These margins and shipment percent
ages. the witness said. were based on
Tuesday afternoon meetings.
Il got no figures and instructions for a
while In 1902, when the meetings were
being held at the members homes" said
the witness. THAT was during the
period of the Grosscup injunction. In
1NS and thereafter I got my figures and
instructions from Arthur Mecker.