The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-07
FIVE FE[0N|ES ON
PART Of PACKERS
Swift, Armour and Three
Others Accused of Con-
spiracy to Defraud
PAPERS OF COUNSEL
TAKEN FROM VAULT
Drastic Action Ordered by Judge Lands
in Chicago-One Charge of Felony Is
Storing for Purpose Of Limiting Sup

pAS.
CHICAGO, Feb. Five felonies on
the part of Swift and Company, pack
ers, are alleged in federal search and
seizure warrant issued by Federal Judge
Lands, giving authority for the tax
ing possession of documents, files, rec
ords 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:
l. The felony of storing goods, lin
iting the supply thereof and affecting
the price in commerce between the sew
eral states. Under the food act
>. The felony of wilfully making
false entries pertaining to the owner
ship and control of subsidiary corpora
tions. Under federal trade act.
3. The felony of wilfully making
| false entries in divers accounts, records
and memoranda of the corporation it
self. Under federal trade act.
f. The felony of wilfully failing to
make true and correct entries on ae
counts, records, memoranda and trans
actions Under federal trade act
). The felony of engaging in con
/ spiracv 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 % of the Grim
inal code
The seizure of the Needer vaults
which Francis J. Henry, general coun
sci of the federal trade commission, and
Charles f. Clyne, United States dis
/ trict attorney, believe to be a ''veritablt
mine of information, came as a com
plete and staggering surprise to the
Needer forces. They had believed tha
mandamus proceedings, with all thei
delays, would be the government !
course.
But they quickly rallied, and APP
peared before Judge Lands to pleat
! for a stay order to halt the taking an,
examination of records Attorney
John j. Healy and Elwood Goldman ap
peared for Eeeder Mr. Healv mad
these points:
First-That the papers are priv
legged, because of their relationship o
attorney to client
Second-That in any event they ar
the private papers of Mr.. Veeder.
Judge Lands ordered a suitcase 0
, letters and documents, taken from tn
Neoder vaults, held in the custody o
/ the court, and placed United State
deputy marshal in charge of the Eeede
vaults. He ordered an armistice for
, limited time.
! One felony on the part of Swift
Co, IS declared to be storing, for tn
. purpose of limiting the supply thereo
, to the public, and affecting the marke
, price thereof in commerce among tn
o several states of meats. canned veg
+ etables, canned fruit, canned fish, pou
@ try, cheese, butter, eggs and oleoma
. garinc.
The alleged conspiracy with the oil
: er concerns to defraud the Unite
States is said to have been effecte
h through collusive bidding on contract
q to be let to the lowest bidder, to fu
n nish large quantities of meats. hide
4 leather, canned goods, and other con
!. modities for the use of the military an
r naval forces of the country.