Show investigating THE BEEF TRUST IN NEW YORK albany N Y may 15 former court justice judson S landon as referee today began an investigation under the provisions of the donnelly antitrust anti trust law to determine whether or not an illegal combine to manipulate the price of meat exists among the larger packing houses of the west attorney general bavis attorney J newton fiero as counsel appeared on behalf of alie state subpoena has been issued for arthur colby who it is said acted as agent for the packers in fixing prices to be charged for beef and for the busi ness managers and in this state of armour the cudahy company nelson morris swift and the G II 11 hammond packing company aliese corporations do business in this state as foreign corporations po rations and it is stated that if the attorney general can secure evidence to substantiate his claim eliat a combine exists he will apply to the supreme court for an order revoking their certificates permitting them to do business in this state alfred epstoin Ep a ev boik attorney was called sir yo asked him if it waa true that lie had in lis possession letters and communications with reference to the operations of the beer combine ho said he had not although he ad seen what purported to be a book containing which passed between sir cudahy and his confidential man E L hutch this book never had been in his possession but belonged to a client he declined to name his client claiming that hia knowing was in the nature of a confidential communication justice landon overruled the objection and ordered him to answer he refused and the attorney general asked that he bo adjudged in contempt the witness then stated eliat the federal government now had of the alleged evidence and asked again that the question tie not pressed attorney general davics renewed his motion that the witness be declared in contempt but consented to an adjournment in order that mr epstoin could prepare a brief showing why the question was not a proper one |