Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1906 — JURY FINDS BIG PACKERS GUILTY [ARTICLE]

JURY FINDS BIG PACKERS GUILTY

Armour, Swift, Cudahy and Morris Are the Defendants. BURLINGTON'S CASE IS NEXT Packers Are Convicted of Accepting Concessions from ths Railway Company. President* of Big Coal Carrying Road* To Be Given an Opportunity to Appear Before Interstate Commission. • Kansas City, June 13.—Armour & Co., Swift & Co., Cudahy & Co., and the Nelson Morris Packlug company were found guilty in the United States district court here of accepting concessions from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railway on export shipments on packing house products. The case was given to the jury at 10:40. The verdict was returned at 11:40. Judge McPherson of lied Oak, la., the presiding judge, stated that sentence would not be assessed until the case against the Burlington railway, which is charged with granting the concession to the packers, is concluded. The Burlington's trial will bagin at once. The law in the present case provides, for a fine only, and not a jail sentence. Big Bugs May Be Head. Philadelphia, June 13.—The presidents of the big coal carrying railroads will be given an opportunity to appear before the interstate commerce commission and make any statement they may desire. Commissioner Cockrell said that invitations would be extended to the presidents of the Pennsylvania. Baltimore and Ohio, the Norfolk and Western, the Chesapeake and Ohio, and New York Central railroads to appear before the commision. No subpoenas will be issued for the heads of these roads and their appearance will be entirely optional with the officials. "You cannot condemn a man without a hearing,” said Commissioner Cockrell. ‘‘lt has been the purpose of the commission to permit the presidents of the coal roads to make any statements they may desire, but we are not yet ready. We want all the testimony we can get from the subordinates and then the case in its entirety will be before the commission and the railroad presidents.” Burlington Road Found Guilty. ~ Kansas City, June 14.—The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway company was found guilty by a jury in the United States district court on four counts of granting concessions on packing house shipments for export to the Armour Packing company. Swift & Co.. Cudahy & Co., and the Nelson Morris Packing company. The conviction carries with it a fine ot from SI,OOO to $20,000 on each count. Judge Smith McPherson, the presiding judge, deferred sentencing the defendant until June 22, All four counts are practically the same.