The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-10-12
GRAND JURY
Will PROBE
COAL PRICES
Judge William A. Bond Also
Orders Investigation Of
Municipal Light Plant Coal
Contract Letting.
TO EXAMINE EXPENSES

grand jury 1nVesuSdIon OF dH
alleged combination of some Rich
mond coal dealers to keen the price
of that fuel above its normal cost to
the consumer was ordered by Judge
w. A. Bend of the circuit court when
he instructed that body Wednesday
morning.
He also instructed the grand jury
to Investigate alleged purchases of
coal for the municipal electric light
plant directly from dealers without
competitive bidding, as required by
law
The specific charge on which the
| investigation of the alleged combina-
. tlon of some local coal dealers is TO
be conducted, as set out in the charge
of Judge Bond, is that of combination
IN restraint of trade. to control the
price of merchandise, particularly
, coal.
Text of Charge.
The charges OF Judge Bond relative
! TO the investigation of the letting of
the coal contracts for the light plant
| and the alleged dealers combine fol
| low:
The court has received information
| through the public press and other
wise that coal for the municipal cleo
| trio light and power plant of this city
| has for a considerable time been pur-
chased and paid for without compet-
etive bidding therefor. 1t is your duty
! to investigate this matter and to as
| certain whether or not crime has
i been committed in connection there
! with, and if so, to present an indict-
ment against any and all persons
whom you believe from the evidence
before you, to be guilty of any crimi-
nal action in regard thereto.
Some information has been re-
/, ceived by the court to the effect that
some illegal scheme, design, under
standing, contract or combination ex-
lists among certain persons, firms and
corporations for the purpose of unlaw-
| fully increasing, fixing and controlling
the prices of certain kinds of mer-
chandise, especially coal. You are
/ therefore instructed to make a full in
yestigation of all such matters and to
return indictments against any and all
persons whom you find to be probably
guilty of any criminal acts in relation
thereto"
i There has been a great deal Of
talk about purchasing coal out of the
public funds without letting con-
tracts" said Judge Bond after the
grand jury had retired. There may
be something in it and there may not,
but l believe the people have right
to see that it is cleared up. Talk of
collusion between coal dealers also
should be investigated in order to de-
termine if it is true. The public has
right to know about these things"
Violation of the corrupt practices
act, in that candidates for the primary
election failed to file returns of their
expenses incurred during the August
campaign, was another charge ordered
, investigated.
Guy Anderson was appointed fore
man of the grand jury. Among wit
nesses subpoenaed to date are: Joe
Bates, John Trump Howard King,
August Goebel, Herbert Thomas and
Henry Fields.
Order of Business
The order of business laid down by
the Judge for the jury Wednesday was
as follows: Investigation of all cases
of persons imprisoned for criminal Of
fenses and not indicted.
Investigation of all cases of persons
r under bail to answer criminal charges
: and not indicted.
Misconduct in office of public Off
cia1s and charges against them for ex-
l tortion.
4 Inspection of the public prisons and
i. poor houses of the county.
:. Investigation of all cases of viola
tions of criminal laws of the state.
Refers to Alleged Staying.
Y Information has reached the court,
, through the public press and other
sources that homicide has been com
4 mitted since the last court session,
2 said Judge Bond in the course OF his
q instructions. For the guidance OF the
jury in this case, he then gave a list
of the circumstances determining the
various degrees of murder, in the first
and second degree, and voluntary and
5 involuntary manslaughter. He gave a
5 careful definition of each.
{ The homicide referred to by the
1 court was one which occurred last
summer when Lon Leach, crossing
i watchman employed by the PennsyI.
e vania railroad, is said to have killed
i Leroy Brown, early one morning.
t The grand jury will visit county IN
p stitutions. pass on their management
t and make recommendations for the
+ future before adjournment. The jury
e will probably remain in session the
rest of the week.