The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-26


day in the packers trial.
All the defendants were in court
when the verdict was read. The de-
PENDANTS smiled and shock hands with
their attorneys
The verdict was a surprise TO many.
The jury was out nineteen hours.
Federal District Attorney Wlkerson
was deeply affected by the verdict.
Tears filled his eyes. II have nothing
TO say" was his only comment.
Three ballots were taken. The first
resulted eight for acquittal and four
for conviction; the second eleven for
acquittal and one for conviction; and
the third was unanimous for acquittal.
Long Legal Battle.
The trial of the ten Chicago packers
on charges Of conspiracy in maintain
ing a combination in restraint of trade
In violation of the criminal provision
of the sherman anti trust law. which
began Dec. 6, was the closing chap
ter Of a long legal battle waged by the
government against the big packers.
The heads OF the packing companies
IN the proceedings were named as indi-
vidual defendants and verdict of
guilty would have made them
liable TO either a fine OF $1,000 each,
or Imprisonment for one year or both
penalties.
The ten defendants were:
J. ogden Armour, president Armour
and company.
Arthur Meeker. director and gen
eral manager Armour and company.
Thomas j. Connors, director and
general superintendent Armour and
company.
louis r. swift,,president Swift and
company
Edward J.. swift. vice president
Swift and company.
Charles II. Swift. director Swift and
! company.
Francis A. Fowler. manager beef de-
partment Swift and company.
Edward Morris, president Morris
and company.
Louis ii. Heyman. manager beef de-
partment Morris and company.
Edward Tilden. president National
Packing company
Contention Of Government.
The government contended:
That prior to 1902 prices were fixed,
shipments regulated and territory di-
yided by the old beef pool which met
every Tuesday afternoon.
That after the old beef pool dissolved
i'm 1902 the packers held secret meet
ings at each others homes.
That the National Packing company
since its organization in 1903 has been
used as the clearing house" for the
alleged 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.
| 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
ferent companies in New York, Boston
and othed 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 contin-
uous and practically uninterrupted
since 1898.
Resume Of the Case.
A chronological history of the gov
ernments Investigation and prosecu-
ton Of the men alleged to control the
fresh meat industry OF the country is
as follows:
July 1. l9OS-Injunction issued by
Judge Grosscup restraining the pack
crs from entering into a combina'
ton.
Feb. 20, characterization of alleged
combination begun.
July 1. 19O5-Sixteen packers an'
four corporations indicted.
Dec. 81. 19O5-Cases called for trial
March 21. 1906-Judge Humphrey
= renders the immunity bath decision
: freeing the indicted packers.
: Dec 20, 19OS-Investigation taken N
, by federal grand jury but soon discon
: tinued without indictments being re
: turned.
2 Dec. Is, 1909-Investigation resume
by the federal grand jury.
March 2i, i9l0-Indictments return
}. ed against the national packing com
pany and ten subsidiary concerns an
4 bill in equity filed asking that the Ma
tional Packing company be dissolved
Q June "a. Indictments agains
II the National Packing company quash
e ed by Judge Landis and specis
grand jury called TO renew the inves
tigation.
July IA. 19l0-Special grand jur
2 impanellcd and inquiry begun
Il Aug. n. 191O-Thomas c. Lee MAJ
= ager of the dressed beef sales depart
Ie ment of Armour and company indicts
e for perjury and Alfred r. urion. chi
counsel for the company and three en-