The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-07
FIVE FELON|ES
LAID TO GREAT
PACKERS OF US.

Chicago, Feb. Give felonies on
the part of Swift & Co., packers, are
alleged in a Federal search and seiz-
ure warrant issued by. Federal Judge
Lands, giving authority for the taking
possession of documents. files, records
and letters in the vaults of Henry
Veeder, the packers attorney.
One of these recites a conspiracy
on the part of the five big packers to
defraud the United States government
in supplies for the army and navy.
In this Swift & Co., Armour & Co.,
Morris & Co.. Wilson & Co., and Cud-
ahy & Co. are named.
A summary of the five accusations
made is as follows:
1. The felony of storing goods, lin
iting the supply thereof and affecting
the price in commerce between the
several states. Under the Food Act
2. The felony of wilfu1ly making
false entries pertaining to the owner
ship and control of subsidiary corpor-
atoms. Under Federal Trade Act.
3. The felony of wilfu1ly making
false entries in divers accounts, rec
ords and memoranda of the corpora
ton itself. Under Federal Trade
Act.
4. The felony of wilfully failing to
make true and correct entries on &C.
counts, records, memoranda and
transactions. Under Federal Trade
Act.
5. The felony of engaging in a con-
spiracy with Armour & Co. and other
packers named, to defraud the United
States through and by means of COL
lusive bidding under contracts, to fur
nish commodities for the use of the
military and naval forces of the
United States. Under section II of
the Criminal Code.
The seizure of the Veeder vaults,
which Francis J. Heney, general coun-
sci of the Federal Trade Commission,
and Charles F. C1yne, United States
District Attorney, believe to be a
"veritable mine of information" came
as complete and staggering surprise
to the Veeder forces. They had be-
lieved that mandamus proceedings,
with all their delays. would be the
Governments course.
But they quickly rallied, and after
5 o'clock last night appeared before
Judge Lands to plead for stay or
der to halt the taking and examina-
ton of records. Attorneys John J.
Healy and Elwood, Goldman appeared
for Veeder. Mr.. Healy made these
points:
First-That the papers are privi-
legged, because of their relationship o!
attorney to client.
Secondhand in any event they
are the private papers of Mr.. Veeder
Judge Lands ordered a suit case OF
| letters and documents, taken from the
Veeder vaults, held in the custody OF
the court until 1890 today and placed
United States deputy marshal in
charge of the Veeder vaults. He or
dered an armistice until the same
| hour.
One felony on the part of Swift &
| Co. is declared to be storing, for the
purpose of limiting the supply thereof
| to the public, and affecting the mar
ket price thereof in commerce among
the several states, of meats, canned
vegetables, canned fruit, canned fish
poultry, cheese, butter, eggs and oleo-
margarine.
| The alleged conspiracy with the
other concerns to defraud the United
| States is said to have been effected
| through coIlusive bidding on con-
tracts, to be let to the lowest bidder
to furnish large quantities of meats
hides, leather, canned goods, an6
other commodities for the use of the
military and naval forces of the coun-
| try.