The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-03-26
U, s. JURY FINDS
HUGE COAL PLOT
indictment Charges 125 Miners
and Operators With Conspira-
cy Against Consumers.
MANY WARRANTS ARE ISSUED.
True Bills Returned Following Long
Investigation in Central Competi-
tive FieId-Agreement to Re-
strict Prices, Accusation.

Indianapolis.-An Indictment charg-
ing conspiracy in violation OF the Lever
fuel control act and the federal GRIM
inal code, naming 125 coal operators
and miners as defendants, was return
ed by a special federal grand jury,
which has been investigating the coal
industry since December II, 1919.
More than half of the defendants are
operators, it is said.
Bond was fixed by United States Dis
trict Judge A. B. Anderson at $4,000
in some of the cases and at $4,000 in
Others The defendants will be ar
raigned May 4. Names of those indict-
ed will not be made public until they
are arrested.
1t is understood many of the viola
tions charged have no connection with
the strike of bituminous miners, but
occurred prior to the signing of the
armiStice.
The Indictment, which has IS counts,
charges in general that miners and op-
orators conspired to enhance the price
of necessaries by restricting distribu-
ton, limiting manufacture and by
other means, and by conspiring to COM
NIT offenses against the United States
as designed in the criminal code. The
penalty on conviction is fine not eX-
ceeding $4,000, imprisonment for not
more than two years, or both fine and
imprisonment.
While no names were made public,
it was learned that almost all those
facing charges are active in the cen
tral competitive field, which embraces
Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania. The grand jury was in
structed to go fully into all reports of
violations of the Lever law without
regard to the place of origin of the
reports.
1t is not expected that any arrests
will be made Immediately, as two or
three days will be required to prepare
the papers for serving.
The investigation was in charge of
Dan w. Simms of Lafayette. Ind, spe-
cial assistant United States attorney
general appointed to enforce the in
junction order of the court against Of
fcials of the United Mine Workers of
America at the time of the coal strike,
and L. Ert Slack, former United States
attorney.
1t was said the grand jury examined
800 persons, including DR.. Fl. A. Car
field, former federal fuel administra-
tor; Cyrus Garnsey, assistant to DR..
Garfield, and many coal operators and
mine union officials.
Judge Anderson's determination to
call the grand jury was based largely
on the alleged facts disclosed in an in
formation filed with the court in con-
nection with the coal strike.
In this information it was set forth
at great length that the officials of the
miners union had violated the injunc-
ton issued by the court, and that there
were indications that a conspiracy to
violate the Lever act might be traced
far beyond the officers of the United
Mine Workers of America and the mine
workers themselves.
The information set out the alleged
acts of the defendants and others,
showing that the injunction had not
only been disobeyed, but that the Lever
act had been, and was then being,
grossly, openly and deiantly vio-
lated"
Judge Anderson instructed the jury
to inquire into all those matters, and
also to investigate fully the defiant
attitude" toward the laws of the coun-
try as indicated by the leaders of the
United Mine Workers of America after
they were enjoined and were inundated
to cancel the strike order.
'In form only the orc r to cancel
was complied with" the court said.