Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1903 — INDIANA COAL MEN ARE NOT GUILTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIANA COAL MEN ARE NOT GUILTY

Chicago Judge Holds Illinois Courts Have No Jurisdiction in Trust Case. DEFENDANTS ARE SATISFIED Attorneys Who Drafted the Contract Give Unmistakable Evidence of Their Joy—Consul for State Downcast by the Result of the Ruling. Chicago dispatch.—The trial of the Indiana coal operators, indicted by the grand jury for illegal combination and conspiracy in restraint of trade, came to an abrupt termination. On the ground that the transactions which formed the basis of the charges were interstate commerce, and, as such, were cognizahle only by the Federal courts, the case was taken from the jury on an instruction to return a verdict 'of “not guilty," and the-defendants were set at liberty. Is a Surprise. The extremely flat* ending of the much-talked-of coal conspiracy came as a surprise, although the lawyers who have followed the trial from the first have been confident that Assistant State’s Attorney Barnes had not made out a case against the operators. It was expected, however, that Judge Chetlaiu would leave the matter in the hands of the jury and not throw the case out of court. Judge Chetlain based his decision on tlie point that the operations of the Indiana coal men and their agent.

Walter S. Bogle of Chicago, were not subject to the statutes of Illinois, but were solely under the jurisdiction of the Federal laws governing interstate commerce. Cost to the State. The case has cost the state over $5,000. Weeks of work have been put upon it by Assistant State’s Attorney Barnes, and thirteen panels of 100 veniremen each were examined before a jury was secured. The decision caused the operators the greatest Satisfaction and Attorneys Hacker and Hamill of the defense, the latter being the lawyer who drafted the contract that caused all the trouble, gave unmistakable evidence of- joy. Only the imperturbable Judge Wing remained unmoved. He scribbled indifferently on his writing pad and did not so much as lift his gaze from the table. Blow to Attorneys. To State’s Attorney Deenen and his assistant, Mr. Barnes, the act of Judge Chetlain in throwing the case out of court came as a crushing blow. They saw the work which has occupied their minds since Jan. 19 ‘ toppling over in ruins. Mr. Deneen refused to discuss the decision. Mr. Barnes said: “The decision was rendered upon a nice point. I suppose there will be much adverse criticism of me, because I brought a case for the jurisdiction of a Federal court into a state court, but every one has to be criticised more or less, you know, no matter what he does.”

Uncle Sam: “Don’t you worry. There’s enough left." —Chicago Inter Ocean.