The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-22
ARGUMENTS WILL
BEGIN TODAY IN
GROCERS' CASE
Celebrated Trial Resumed i'm
Federal Court Here
Yesterday
WILL BE CONCLUDED
SOME TIME TOMORROW
Counsel Had Tilt Yesterday Over the
Cost of Case to Government.
President McLaurin on
Stand Again

The conclusion OF the celebrated case
against the Southern Wholesale Grocers'
association. alleged to be in contempt of
the federal court for violating restrain
ing decree issued in 1912. will start this
morning when argument by counsel Will
begin. That the attorneys arguments Will
start this morning is the opinion of every
one interested In the hearing resumed
yesterday after a weeks intermission be-
fore Judge w. l. Grubb. The case Will
be concluded. it is believed, no later than
tomorrow afternoon and it may be over
by noon Wednesday,
The resumption of the case yesterday
afternoon was official when Deputy
United States Marshal George Brown In
voked the blessings of God upon the court
The first witness was the president of the
association, j. II. McLaurin, whose testi-
mony was concluded after a short redirect
examination by Walker Percy for the de-
fense. He was not quite through when
the case was adjourned one week ago, and
District Attorney Street cross examined
him again yesterday afternoon. The
questions were wholly uninteresting so
far as arriving at the meat in the case.
and were quickly over. During the ex-
animation Mr.. Street commented upon a
list of donations that had been made for
the defense of the srocers from members
and manufacturers. No donation ex-
ceeded $3.50, but was made much of by the
government. Gen. Luke Wright for the
defense observed:A
Inquiries About Expenses
II would, like 40 see list of the gov
ernment expenses in this case"
ut is very little compared to other
trust cases" shot back o. d. Street, dis
trict attorney.
Seriously, If the court pleases," said
General Wright, II would like to ascer-
tain how much this fooishpess has cost
the government of the United states.p
Mr.. Street: "The government has spent
very little"
| The court only smiled at the financial
discussion.
| After the examination of Mr.. McLaurin
| the government finally closed its case OF
prosecution against the grocers. The de-
| fense placed two additional witnesses on
the stand. One of them, Mr.. Hobson
from Opelika. swore that he was not a
HefnDef OF tue association, WAS not the
| official directory and could buy whatever
he wanted whenever he wanted to do SO.
Not Influenced
An agent for Gordan & Co. of New Or
| leans testified in respect to some letters
| that tine grocers had no influence in the
| policy of his company, and no effort was
| made by the association to dictate any
selling policy. Two additional witnesses
will be examined by the defense this
morning when the defense will close, and
the arguments will begin. 1t was Officially
announced that the case will be argued
| it being observed by one of the counsel
| that the lawyers must speak - order to
| earn their fees" Mr.. Street will naturally
open for the government He will be fol-
lowed by either General Wright or Mr.
| Burr for the defense, and Mr.. Percy will
probably close for the defense Mr.. Street
will have an opportunity OF answering the
attorneys for the defense with closing re-
marks
| The case so far as the attendance in the
court room goes 10 show Is of slisht in
terest. Only two spectators were present
! yesterday outside the railing where the
attorneys and court attaches ara seated.