Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-03-12
INDIANAPOLIS Jury
HOLDS COAL BAR0NS
AND UNION CHIEFS
FEDERAL GRAND JURORS INJECT
MEN ON BOTH SIDES OF RE
CENT STRIKE CONTROVERSY
TRUE Bills CITE TEN OVERT
ACTS.

Indianapolis, Ind, March Fan IN
dictment lharSing conspiracy N 'ioi&
ion o.. the Lever food and FUEL con
troll uc ana the federal criminal coHc
naming ~ coal operators an miner
as defendants, was returned IL lrdtfs'
court late Thur lay h. special grand
jury which has been investigating ihr
coal industry since Dec. II. l9l9. More
than half ui the defendants are Upc'
utois. 1t Is said.
Bond was fixed by t'n4ted States
district Judg" i. b. Anderson a 81 -
900 in some Of the cases ana ut $',UV-
in others. The defendants will be ar
raienei On May 4. Names Of those
indicted IS i'll not be made pIblic uAui
they are arrested.
Ten overt acts are charged aaaius,
the coal men IN the indictment, which
contains eigil cen counts II Is under
TODD that many of the violations
charged have no connection with IN"
strike Of bitumiuuuS miners, but uc
CURED prior to the signing Of the
armiStlct.
Tho Indictment was brought under
sections and . Of Inc Lover act ana
section %, q. the criminal code ana
charges in general that miners and op-
orators cOnSpircd to enhance the Price
OF necc5sarirs BY restricting distribu-
ton, limiting manufacture and by
other means, and by con piring 10
commit UllenSes against the t.nited
States as defined IN the criminal code.
The penalty on conviction t. iinr
not exceeding $500, imprisonment
for not more than two years, or both
fine and Imprisonment
While no names we're made public.
it was learned that practically al
those facing charges are active in rhn
central competitive field, which en-
braces Indiana. Illinois ONO ann
Pennsylvania. The grand jury was in
structed to go fully into all report
OF violations Of the Lever law ithOut
regard to the place Of origin Of the re-
ports.
Ii was not expec ell that any arrests
will be made this week, as tNo or
three days will be required 10 prepare
the papers for serving.
The grand jury was called into spe-
cial session for the sole purpose OF in
yestigating the affairs Of the Goa! on
orators and miners The jury offered
its report fortyninc days later. II
was convened ON Dec. II, 1919. bat
adjourned from time to time to give
officials an opportunity TO obtain w.t.
nsSses and to prepare records.
The investigation was in charge o.
Dan w SimmS OF Lafayot G, Ind, spe-
cial assistant United States attorney
general appointed to enforce the III
junction order OF the court against o.
licials Of the United Mine Workers Ell
America at the time Of the cCal strike.
1t was said the grand jury examined
more than 5Cl persons. Included
amcng them were Dr.. H. \. Garfield
former federal meI administrator,
Cyrus Garnsey, assistant to Dr. Gar
field, and many coal operators and
mine union officials.
Judge Anderson made the announce
ment that federal grand jury inVes-
legation was to pc made ON Dee, t.,
1919, at which time t.. Err slack. then
district attorney, issued Il written
statement setting forth the purpose
and scope OF the proposed inNesti9a-
tiCn. The fundamental purpose thas
set forth was to determine 'Whethet
this is government OF law or group
of men"
Judge Andcrson's determination 10
call the grand jury was based largely,
according to MIR. Stacks statement, on
the alleged facts disclosed in an in
formation filed with the court in con.
nection with the coal strike.
In this information Is was set forth
that the officials Of the miners union
had violated the injUnC ion issued ~;
the court and that there were ndica-
lions that a conspiracy to violate the
Lever act might he traced FAR beyond
The officers Of the United Mine Work
ers of America and the mine worker
tho msclves.
The information set cut In" alleged
acts of the Defendants and others.
showing that the injunction had not
only been disobeycd but that the
Lever act had been and was then
being grossly. openly and deliantly
violated
Judge Anderson instructed the jury
ITO inquire into all those matters ana
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 Ame'icu
after they were enjGined and were
inundated to cancel the strike order
'In form only the order to cancel
was complied WITH the court said.