Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-04
Ten Individual Tradesmen, Eleven
Members Of Copartnerships and
Ten Officers of Corporations.
BENCH WARRANTS ORDERED
Justice Gould Takes Steps for Ar
rest Of Alleged Offenders-Bail
in Sum of 50, 900 Arranged for
Appearance in Court.

udy ny IHc slduu JURY oA d CHdi 90 VI
violating the Sherman antitrust law
in combining to regulate the purchas-
ing and selling price of foodstuffs All
the accused are engaged in the busi-
ness Of selling produce on commission.
Ten are individual dealers. eleven are
members of copartnerships and ten are
officers of corporations.
The action of the local grand jury is
said to be forerunner of similar prose
cutions In other large cities and is the
outcome Of President Wilson's request
to former Attorney General McReynolds
to make inquiry into the reasons under
lying the increase Of prices in foodstuffs
following so closely on the beginning OF
the European conflict. United States At
torney Wilson and his assistant, S. McCo-
mas Hawken., are being congratulated
on the expedition with which they han
died the Washington end of the investi-
gation. The grand jury's prompt return
of an Indictment is also highly commend
ed by the Department Of Justice.
List of the Accused.
The accused individuals are Daniel
P. Collins. Frank B. Guest, James w.
Beasley. John w. Lynn, David w. Bal
linger, Alonzo R. Lawrence. William
Brayshaw. Andrew w. Kelley, oliver
o. spicer and James M. Holloway
The firms indicted are B. D. Stro-
hecker & Co., composed of Brevard D.
Strohecker and T. Hamlin Strohecker;
johnson & Jesse. comprising William
NJ. johnson and J. Edward Jesse;
krey, Price & Co., comprising Louis p.
Krey and Albin Price; Crovo & Price,
composed of John F. Crovo and Harry
prising Theodore F. Simons and John
H. Carter. and Joseph E. Folk, trad
Ing as G. K Andrews & Co.
The officials Of corporations indicted
are:
Thomas P. Hickman, president, and
Roy M. Hickman. secretary and treasur-
er of the Hickman Company; Willis S.
Hoge, president; James NJ. Hoge. vice
president and Willis S. Hoge. jr., secre-
tary of w. s. Hoge & Bro; Albert J.
retary, and Louis P. Krey. treasurer of
A. ]. Simons & Company: Robert A.
Golden. president: William G. Carter,
first vice president, and William A.
Sacks. treasurer, of Golden & Company.
Accusations in Indictment.
The scheme Of the alleged unlawful
combination is set out in the indict-
ment 1t is charged that the accused
between January 2. 1914. and the pres
ent time ''in the capacities indicated
have been carrying on in this city the
business of purchasing country produce,
including eggs, poultry, live stock and
vegetables, from raisers and shippers
thereof and dealers therein, and selling
the sams, In the markets of said Dis
trict, to wholesale and retail dealers
and consumers. although said defend
ants have then and there pretended to
the public, and particularly to said
raisers. shippers and dealers, to be re-
ceiving and selling such produce only
as commission merchants acting for
their principals for a fixed compensa-
tion Of per cent: and that in so
carrying on said business said de-
fendants, at the time and place afore-
said, have been carrying on trade and
commerce of said District within the
meaning of the third section of the
act of Congress approved July 2, 1890,
and entitled an act to protect trade. and
commerce against unlawful restraints
and monopolies: and, further, that ac-
cording to the long established course
of trade of said District, consumers of
such produce have necessarily depend
ed for their supplies of said produce
upon said defendants. engaged in the
business aforesaid. and a few genuine
commission merchants, and that of the
total volume of said produce supplied
to consumers in said District during
said period of time said defendants
together have been the channel for
furnishing the major part, to wit: IS
per cent thereof
"And the grand jurors aforesaid, upon
their oath aforesaid, do further pre-
sent, that said defendants. continuously
and at all times during said period of
time, at and within said District of
Columbia. each well knowing all the
lawfully have aneared in a combina-
tion In restraint Of said trade and COM
merce, and which in fact has SO re-