The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-27
BEEF BlRONs ARE
FOUND INNOCENT
District Attorneys Eyes Fill
With Tears When Ver-
DICT Is Read
TOOK THREE VOTES
TO DECIDE VERDICT
Nine Years are Consumed in
Bringing Case to a Con-
clusion-Interesting Hi
tory Of Charges

CHICAGO, March 2e.--Not guilty
was the verdict which tho jury re-
turned today In the trial of the ten
Chicago packers accused by the gov-
eminent OF violation OF the criminal
sections of the Sherman antitrust
act.
The verdict wac returned before
United States Judge Carpenter after
the Jury had deiiberated more than
seventeen hours.
The ten defenda nts accused by the
government and acquitted are:
Those Who stood Trial.
Louis r Swift, president Of Swift
Edward r. Swift. president of
Swift 4 Company.
Charles II. Swift. director Of Swift
4 Company.
Francis A. Fowler. manager dress
ed beef department. Swift 4 Com
pany.
Armour group: -.
@. Ogden Armour, president Ar
mour & Company.
Arthur Meeker, director and gem
eral manager Armour Company.
Thomas J. Connors. director and
general superintendent Armour
Company.
motifs group. @
Edward Morris, president Norris g.
Company.
Louis II. Heyman. manager beer
department. Morris & Company.
Edward Tiiden, president of the
National Packing Company.
Thomas J. Cennefs and Edward
Tilden were the only defendants IN
court when the verdict was reaG rney
were soon after Joined by Edward
IF. Swift, Charles II. Swift. Francis
A. Fowler and J. Ogden Armour, who
hurried TO court room on receiving
notice that the jury had reached
verdict. Edward Morris. Louis y.
Heyman. Arthur Meeker and LOUIS
#. Swift did not reach the Federal
building until after the proceedings
In court were completed. The court
room was crowded.
The verdict came as surprise 70
MANY who had been watching the
case. and had feared that the nine
teen hour wait meant long Drawn
out battle In the jury room: a.
The verdict was handed I'm, 70 .ne
clerk of the court by 4. II. harNe'
he foreman of the jury.
It read: We. the jury hnd the
defendants not guilty.
Affected by the Verdict.
United States District Attorney
lanes II. wilkerson was deeply at
fected by the verdict. He jumped 10
his feet as the words sounded through
the courtroom and tears filled MS
eyes.
Il have nothing to say was his
only comment as he walked from tire
courtroom.
The court session occupied less tnai.
ten minutes.
Three ballots were taken today on
the question Of guilty or not guilty
for conviction. The second ballot
showed eleven for acquittal and one
Cor conviction. The third ballot was
unanimous for acquittal.
The only ballot taken last night was
on the question whether II one was
guilty all were guilty. This ballot
stood ten to two In favor OF the prop
oxition.
History OF the Case.
The trial Of the packers was on
charges Of conspiracy in maintaining
a combination In restraint OF trade by
violation OF the criminal provision Of
the law. The trial began December 8.
The government contended:
That prior to 1909 pricea were fla
ed. shipments regulated and terri
tory divided by the old beef pool
| which met every Tuesday afternoon.
mat dttct tue Oiu Uocl poot uic-
solved in 1892 the packers held secret
meetings at one another's homes.
That the National Packing Com
pany. since its organization in 1908.
has been used a. the clearing house
for the alleged combination
That the packers adopted test
cost ana margin system. which was
used In the purchase OF cattle and the
sale of fresh meat"
Charged Cost" Fictitious.
/, That the allowances made for by
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
I fErsnr compan fes IN New York, hos
i. tar s,and other EastaED, cities eN-
changed Information in regard to
, prices and shipments and telegra phed
the figures to their superiors in t-ai-
cAec.
! That the violation Of the Sh.v--
man law by the packers has peen
| continuous and practically uninter-
rupted since 1898.
II IL estimated that the trial asst
the packers $500. eco and the CO.. IN
ment about 100000. ..ue>,. 'r..4~-st.r