Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-26
FOR CONSPIRACY
IN COAL TRADE
indictments Are Returned
Against 226 In In
dianapolis, Ind.
ARRAIGNMENT MAY 3
of Violating the antitrust
Law-High Union Officials Among
the Defendants

Indianapolis, rep. Zn.-1o-upeta-
tion between coal operators and mi
ncrs in six States TO force hlgn prices
for soft coal by restricting produc-
ion was charged yesterday by
Federal grand jury Indictment re-
turned in coIrt here. Two huRdred
and ,wenty-six defendants, including
l27 operators and miners and 90 cp-
orators associations or companies,
were accused OF conspiracy to vio-
lat the Sherman Antitrust law. The
defendants live in Missouri, Illinois.
Indiana, kentucky, Ohio and Penn
cylvania.
Judge A. p. Anderson, who re-
ceivel the indictment, set May for
arraignment, and in issuing capiases
fer arrest of the defendants he fixed
the bond of each at $4,000. Names
Of all defendants, except -. we're
made public hy District Attorney
Van Nuys.
Pominent operators. including
Thomas 7. Brewster, Edward I.
Searls, Jackson Dcring, Phil Penna
and William X. Kavanaugh and high
officials Of the United Mine Workers
Union, including its president, John
l.. Lewis, and secretary, ! William
Green. we're among the defendants.
The National Coal Association was
among the corporate defendants.
The indictment covers specifically
the last %hrec wears n the >Dai in
1ustrv and follows an Investigation
that has been cnndIcied almost con-
-iruously the last Is months by
agents of the Federal Department OF
Justice. The charge is made by the
Indictment that AT various JOINT con-
rcrerccs the miners and operators
agreed to be partners in mining and
distributing coal, and that they would
aid one another in plans to increase
wages, increase prices, create a short
age and otherwise limit production
and distribution. Creation Of flctl-
tious market prices and the provoca-
ton of miners strikes by operators
also was charged by the Indictment.
Most of the persons indicted as
individuals in the neg bill we're
among those named as defendants IN
the Indictment returned some time
ago charging violations of the Lever
act. Trial Of that case has heen
postponed indefinitely and It was
said unoflicially that it might be
dropped in view Of the new charges,
The five counts in the Indictment
charge:
/. Restraint of trade.
,. Restraint Of commerce.
3. Restraint Of trade ard COM
mcrce.
/. Conspiracy 70 monopolizc.
;. Monopo!izing.
Included among those lnGlcted are
John L. Lewis. president of the
United Mine Workers Of America;
William Green, secretary of the Uni
Fed Mine Workers Of America. ana
Percy T;,tlow. statistician OF the
United Mine Workers of America.
Pennsylvania Joseph NJ. Arm
strong. John A. Donaldson. William
X. Field. William H. Henderson,
Henderson Coal Company, FREDERICK
B. Lincoln Coal and Coke Company.
William a. Lace, Lackawanna Goa!
and Coke Company, Ellsworth Col
lieries Company, James G.. Patter-
son, Jesse H. Sanford, Carnegie Goa!
Company and Charters Creek Coal
Company.
/. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS J. Hackett. the
! Big Four Coal Company. Caledonia
! Mining Co., f. J. Hickey Trans
nortation Company and the Kentucky
( River Coal! Mining Company.