LIST OF CASES INSTITUTED BY THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE FEDERAL ANTITRUST LAWS

President Harrison's Administration, March 4, 1889, to March 4,

1.

2.

1893

[WILLIAM H. MILLER, Attorney General, March 5, 1889, to March 6, 1893]

2a.

2b.

United States v. Jellico Mountain Coal Company. Petition filed, October 13, 1890, in the Circuit Court at Nashville, Tenn., against the members of the "Nashville Coal Exchange," composed of various coal-mining companies operating mines in Kentucky and Tennessee and of persons and firms dealing in coal in Nashville, formed for the alleged purpose of fixing prices and regulating the output of coal. In an opinion handed down on June 4, 1891, the court held the combination to be in violation of the antitrust law and enjoined the further carrying out of the agreement. A decree to that effect was entered June 17, 1891.

United States v. Greenhut et al. Indictment returned May 16, 1892, in the District Court at Boston, Mass., against the officers of the Distilling and Cattle Feeding Co. (Whisky Trust) for alleged monopolization of the manufacture and sale of distilled spirits. Indictment held insufficient in law and ordered quashed.

In re Corning. Application to District Court, Northern District of Ohio, June 11, 1892, for a warrant of removal from Ohio to Massachusetts to answer to the indictment found in the Greenhut case. Application denied and prisoner discharged.

In re Terrell. Application to Circuit Court, Southern District of New York, June 28, 1892, for a writ of habeas corpus to secure a discharge from arrest and

2c.

3.

4.

5.

6.

detention upon a warrant for removal from New York to Massachusetts to answer to the indictment found in the Greenhut case. Petitioner discharged.

In re Greene. Petition to Circuit Court, Southern District of Ohio, August 4, 1892, for writ of habeas corpus to secure release from the custody of the marshal, by whom he was held awaiting an order for the removal of Greene to Massachusetts to answer to the indictment in the Greenhut case. Prisoner discharged.

United States v. Nelson. Indictment returned January 20, 1892, in the District Court, District of Minnesota, charging a number of lumber dealers with conspiring to raise the price of lumber. Demurrer to indictment sustained.

Tnited States v. Trans-Missouri Freight Association. Petition filed January 6, 1892, in the Circuit Court, District of Kansas, to enjoin the operations of a combination of railroads engaged in interstate commerce, formed for the alleged purpose of maintaining "uniform rates," etc. Petition dismissed by Circuit Court; decree of dismissal affirmed by Circuit Court of Appeals, and reversed by the United States Supreme Court. Final decree entered June 7, 1897.

United States v. Workingmen's Amalgamated Council of New Orleans et al. Petition filed March 25, 1893, in the Circuit Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, to restrain defendants, a combination of workmen, draymen, etc., from interfering with the movement of merchandise in interstate and foreign commerce through the city of New Orleans. An injunction was granted on March 27, 1893, and the decree was later affirmed by the Circuit Court of Appeals.

United States v. Patterson et al. Indictments returned February 28 and June 7, 1893, in the Circuit Court, Dis

18981-28--7

7.

trict of Massachusetts, charging the defendants with entering into a combination for the alleged purpose of controlling the price of cash registers. Letter of Attorney General dated October 16, 1893, shows case was allowed to lapse because of reconciliation of complaining witness with defendants. Nolle prossed November 10, 1894.

United States v. E. C. Knight Company. Petition filed January 30, 1894, in the Circuit Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to enjoin the operations of an alleged Sugar Trust. The petition was dismissed January 30, 1894. On appeal the decree of dismissal was affirmed by both the Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

President Cleveland's Second Administration, March 4, 1893, to March 4, 1897

[RICHARD OLNEY, Attorney General, March 6, 1893, to June 7, 1895; JUDSON HARMON, Attorney General, June 8, 1895, to March 5, 1897]

1.

1a.

2.

United States v. Eugene V. Debs et al. Petition filed July 3, 1894, in the Circuit Court, District of Indiana, seeking to restrain interference by American Railway Union and forty-nine individual defendants with mails and interstate commerce carried by all railroads operating in Indiana. An injuction was issued on July 3, 1894, which was continued in force until September 19, 1898, when the case was dismissed at the instance of the Government.

United States v. Agler. Information filed July 12, 1894, in the Circuit Court, District of Indiana, charging contempt of court in disobeying an injunction restraining Agler and others from interfering with interstate commerce and obstructing the mails. Agler was a member of the American Railway Union, the members of which had been enjoined from interfering with the carrying of the mails and from obstructing interstate commerce. Agler adjudged in contempt. Sentence and judgment suspended during good behavior.

United States v. Elliott. Petitions filed July 6 and October 24, 1894, in the Circuit Court, Eastern District of Missouri, to restrain Elliott, Debs, and others, members of the American Railway Union, from carrying out an unlawful conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce and to obstruct the carrying of the mails. Preliminary injunction granted. Final decree entered April 6, 1896, against 295 defendants, and temporary injunction made permanent.

(87)

3.

3a.

3b.

4.

United States v. Debs et al. Petition filed July 2, 1894, in the Circuit Court, Northern District of Illinois, alleging conspiracy to obstruct the mails and to interfere with interstate commerce. A temporary injunction was issued on July 2, 1894, for violation of which contempt proceedings were instituted. Original petition dis-· missed on July 28, 1899, at the instance of the Government.

United States v. Debs et al. Proceedings in contempt instituted in the Circuit Court, Northern District of Illinois, December 14, 1894, to punish Debs and others for disobeying an injunction restraining them from interfering with interstate commerce and with obstructing the mails. Defendants found guilty and punished.

In re Debs, petitioner. Application to United States Supreme Court July 2, 1894, for a writ of habeas corpus to secure a discharge from imprisonment for disobeying an injunction of the Circuit Court for the Northern District of Illinois, restraining Debs and others from conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce. Petition for the writ denied.

United States v. Cassidy. Indictment returned in July, 1894, in the District Court, Northern District of California, charging defendants with conspiring to obstruct the mails of the United States (sec. 5440, R. S.) and combining and conspiring to restrain the interstate and foreign trade and commerce of the United States. The prosecution grew out of the great Pullman strike in California in June and July, 1894, which was mainly supported and carried on through the organization known as the American Railway Union. The trial resulted in a disagreement of the jury on April 6, 1895, and a nolle prosequi was entered on July 1, 1895.