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A grand jury investigation of an alleged combination of some Rich mond cecal dealers to keep the price of that fuel above its normal cost to the consumer was ordered by Judson 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 Night Plant directly from dealers without competitive bidding, as required by law. The specific charge on which the investigation of the alleged combina tion 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 elec tric light and power plant of this city has for a considerable time been pur chased and paid for without compet etive bidding therefor. It is your duty to investigate this matter and to as certain whether or not a crime has 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 ists 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 vestigation 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.” “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 I believe the people have a 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 a 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 under bail to answer criminal charges and not indicted. Misconduct in office of public offi cials and charges against them for ex tortion. Inspection of the public prisons and poor houses of the county. Investigation of all cases of viola tions of criminal laws of the state. Refers to Alleged Slaying. “Information has reached the court, through the public press and other sources that a homicide has been com mitted since the last court session.” said Judge Bond in the course of his instructions. For the guidance of the jury in this case, he then gave a lot of the circumstances determining the various degrees of murder, in the first and second degree, and voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. He gave a careful definition of each. The homicide referred to by the court was one which occurred last summer when Lon Leach, a crossing Watchman employed by the Pennsyl vania railroad, is said to have killed Leroy Brown, early one morning. The grand jury will visit county In stitutions, pass on their management and make recommendations for the future before adjournment. The jury will probably remain in session the rest of the week.
Newspaper Details
Richmond Palladium
Richmond, Indiana, US
Wed, Oct 12, 1921
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Daniel H.
USA 30 Jun 2026
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