Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-30
FORMER EMPloYE or GEORGE
BIRREL. INC, CHARGES VIOLA.
TON or ANTl-rRusT LAW.
WANTS $4,000 DAMAGES AND
s,o,27s FOR SERVICES
Petition Filed in District Court Charges
Combination Was Formed For Pur-
pose Of Controlling Button Trade Of
v. s.-Plaintiff Says His Business
Was Ruined a. Result.

Muscatine. Aug. so.--violation Of
the antitrust laws OF United States,
and a conspiracy Of Muscatine button
manufacturers to control absolutely
the pearl button industry. is charged by
E. Z. Thomas. OF Paducah. KY, for
mer employee OF George Birrell. Inc, in
a suit for $4,000 damages and sl0,2'6
alleged due him for services filed In
the district court here today with
George BGreli, Inc, +. C. Vetter. 4. {.
Adams and Henry Umlandt as defend
ants.
Combination Charged.
The petition alleges that in the
early part Of June, 1917, the co-defend-
ants, for the purpose of controlling
the market for mussel shells In the
United States. secured control Of the
George Birreil Company, and there
after. without knowledge Of the plain
tiff. arranged to reduce the price OF
shells to the button manufacturers, In
which business the individual defend
ants named herein were engaged.
And that the defendants, desiring
to eliminate competition in the buying
OF shells. arranged to take over the
management and control OF the said
George Birrell, Inc. and run the same
in such way that II would buy all OF
the shells needed by practically all OF
the manufacturers of pearl buttons In
the United States; and in this way
destroy competition and wholly elimt-
nate the same in the purchase OF
shells thruout the United States, and
particularly in the southern part Of the
United States. where the plaintiff was
operating"
Tells Of Agreement.
Mr.. Thomas further charges that by
an oral agreement between the defend
ants and himself, 1t was arranged
that he should purchase shells for
George Birrell, Inc, and for that pur-
pose $4,000 was advanced to him.
He claims In his petition that he was
to be given - a ton commission for
buying the shells, and was to receive
necessary travelling expenses when
making trips at various times 10 meet
the defendants. Mr.. Thomas says he
received from the defendants s60.5o0.
but that he should have received &c.
IT'S.
Mr.. Thomas alleges that the com
oination was for the purpose OF re-
ducing the price OF shells. and for the
purpose Of controlling absolutely,
turnout the ulussel shell producing ter
ritory in United States. the industry,
and output OF the button industry.
He charges that the alleged COM
bination was successful. and that the
defendants did control absolutely, the
prices Of the product Of the mussel
shell diggers, and those engaged in
that industry, fixing the prices to sun
themselves, placing every restriction
they desired"
As result of this alleged combina-
ton he claims that it was impossible
for him to buy or sell any shells. save
for or to the George Birrell Co, and
only at prices fixed by the company.
He claims that the alleged combina--
ton has caused the ruin and demon
aliZation of HIS business, that he was
forced to sell his entire equipment to
the George Birrel Co. and was forced
to retire from the button business.