The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-22
Cash REGISTER MENSENTENCED
PATTERSON AND OTHERS OF Ma
TIONAL COMPANY ORDERED
TO PRISON.
Judge, I'm Pronouncing Sentence, De-
nounces Defendants for Their Bus
iness Methods. Appeal and Motion
for Arrest of Judgment.

CINCINNATI, FeD. lI.-JOhn III. Pat
terson OF the National Cash Register
company OF Dayton today was sem
fenced TO serve one year in the coun-
~ Jail at Troy. Ohio. and to pay
fine Of $1,000 for violation OF the
sherman antitrust law.
Twenty-eight other officials and
employees of the company were given
jail sentences varying from three
months To one year and were ordered
To pay the costs OF the prosecution.
The sentences were pronounced
after United States Judge Hollister
had scored the defendants bitterly for
their business methods, methods
which. ne declared. were needless in
a concern where millions OF dollars
could have been made legitimately
and without violation of the law.
Judge Hollister declared that the
maintenance OF the competition de-
partment with its gloom room" and
'morgue" constituted business me-
thods that should not be counteuan-
ced
Technically there are three Of
fences. all practically the same" he
said. To sentence on each count,
however. would be unjust. Therefore
1 shall consider you as guilty of but
one offense and there shall be no Gu
nNaIn fNFA AnNn N IL.
cases an example to others who are
engaged In the same kind of business.
The penalties / impose must stand
out as a warning To those who would
try TO violate the law of the land in
this manner.
"I have never heard Of q legitimate
concern having a competition depart
ment, whose sole duties are not TO sell
goods, but to prevent the sale Of goods
by competitors" said Judge Hollis
ter. THE only way that / can criti-
else them Is to stN that they were
petty and mean.
This concern made a cash register
which was OF such value to the busi-
ness world that millions OF dollars
could have been made legitimately.
and such methods would not have
been needed.
"yUu men belong to the walk Ct
life which should SET the example. Yet
yOu have lost the opportunity that
wAS given ~ you by the methods
which you pursued. In your desire for
gain you forget everything else"
motion for the arrest of judg-
ment was filed this afternoon by at
torneys for the convicted offici, Is.
One OF the reasons set forth ia the
motion was that the sherman anti
trust law. In so far as II attempts TO
create offenses and impose penalties.
Is repugnf.nt to the constitution of
the United States. especially TO sec
tion 1, article o. and TO the fifth
amendment. which says that no per-
son shall be deprived OF life. liber-
~ or property without due process of
law. II Is also said that the sentence
conflicts with the tenth amendment
In that the averments OF the court
were general. vague indefinite and
uncertain I'm informing the defendants
OF the nature and cause OF the ac-
cusation.
The government Is trong enough
to protect It's people whether this pro-
tection extends GO the transportation
OF dynamite across the land for the
purpose OF blowing up bridges. or the
laying OF the hands upon men who
seek 20 stiie competition by illegal
business methods"