My America

For the Northern Securities Company, to prove that it did not violate antitrust laws, and to sue the Minnesota public prosecutors for abuse of public power, and for Prosecutor General Douglas, his goal was the opposite.

From the beginning, the two sides entered into a fierce debate, showing the evidence held by their own side, explaining each relevant law. Although it was a war of words, it made the lawyers on the scene very addicted. For lawyers who come for various purposes, the lawsuit has benefited them a lot.

The court was unable to calm down from the beginning. Everyone who entered was a lawyer who understood the law. Although they maintained their cultivation and tried not to disturb the two parties, they would use their own legal knowledge to discuss each other once the tit-for-tat debate occurred. Of course Most of the lawyers stand on the side of the Northern Securities Company with a clear stand.

A large group of lawyers attending the court is a huge and invisible pressure in itself. This pressure is on anyone, not a person. For both the prosecution and the defense, this is a worthy effort. confrontation.

"The establishment of the Northern Securities Company was not a day when the railway acquired another competing railway and became a family. It was just a company with only two railways at the same time, and nothing more." James was indifferent in front of many lawyer groups He said calmly, "Because he is not a so-called trust company, there is no provision in Minnesota laws that an investment company cannot invest in two projects in one field at the same time. It is well known that my client, Mr. Morgan It is an excellent and widely respected banker. This kind of investment behavior is very normal. This is a normal business behavior. "

"From the foundation of the founding of the United States, our ancestors have always been concerned about the abuse of public rights and want to lock their rights in cages. The right to interfere in economic behavior is a very dangerous trend. Mr. Judge, now is not just It is a matter of litigation. The entire civic class is watching you. Many companies are also assessing at this time. What impact will your judgment bring? This judgment will definitely become an important day in history. "

"Okay!" I don't know who sent the applause. The entire group of lawyers in the auditorium applauded James' words.

Within this range, the first day of the lawsuit ended, James ’lawsuit on behalf of the Northern Securities Company quickly spread throughout the United States, and in the face of the prosecutor General Douglas ’s trouble, the image of calmly responding appeared in many newspapers. .

Because the parties involved are not ordinary people, it is impossible to expect that the lawsuit will have a result in a day. Compared with many congratulatory lawyers, as the chief lawyer of Northern Securities, James knew that this was not enough, and the confrontation would be fierce the next day.

Sure enough, just after the lawsuit began the next day, Douglas presented a series of evidence he collected, including evidence from the Federal Ministry of Justice, showing that the Northern Securities Company was by no means a so-called pure investment company. In fact, it was a railway system. Of monopoly trust companies.

Since the two railways were taken into account by the Northern Securities Company at the same time, the pricing of the railway freight was unreasonable, causing huge losses for many small and medium-sized farmers. These people could not fight against the behemoth of the Northern Securities Company.

"This is unfair in itself. The establishment of the Northern Securities Company has put the entire northern railway line in the hands of a company. If it is legal, it can continue to legally control the national railways." Prosecutor Douglas confronted The judge said, "This prospect has to be worrying."

"The prosecutor's worries are based on assumptions. We are in a real world, but we use assumptions to evaluate problems. Isn't that a joke?" Douglas just finished his thoughts, and James was calm. Xian retorted, "Legal is legal, and illegal is illegal. Now I want to talk about another issue. Minnesota's unwarranted lawsuit against Northern Securities Company caused the company's stock price to plummet, and countless investors lost their money and suffered. When it comes to huge losses, who will be responsible for this loss? "

"Mr. Judge, and many of the law-savvy colleagues present, this is the typical fact that public power causes major losses to private companies, and it is happening before you now. Please pay attention to a basic principle, constitutional amendments, Article 14 The first paragraph, no state shall deprive anyone of his life, freedom or property without due process of law. "James walked to Douglas with a rather condescending attitude," Can you understand this meaning, Mr. Attorney General? Private The property is sacred and inviolable ... "

The auditorium of the Sao Paulo Court heard endless applause at this time. After receiving all the evidence and debates submitted by the two parties, Judge Lochien announced that he would adjourn the court and wait for the final day of the trial tomorrow.

Article 14, paragraph 1 of the Constitutional Amendment, which came into force in 1868, was born in the United States or naturalized under the jurisdiction of the United States and is under the jurisdiction of the United States, all citizens of the United States and the state in which he resides. No state shall enact or enforce any law that deprives citizens of the United States of America of privileges or immunities; no state shall deprive anyone of their life, freedom or property without due process of law; nor shall they refuse to give to anyone under its jurisdiction Protected by the same law.

This lawsuit that has attracted national attention has also become a resource for slave owners and friends. Carter believes, "Morgan ’s attorneys have come up with a constitutional amendment, which is legally invulnerable, private property is inviolable, and who dares Against? "

"Who dares to object!" Sheffield tilted his head holding Apple in one hand to replenish energy. "Your car collided with others on the road, private property was infringed, the state levied taxes and raised money from large companies. Military pay is a legal infringement of private property. When is it inviolable? For the country, we are just more powerful than ordinary people in protecting our private property. "

Crunch! Sheffield took a bite of the apple and said vaguely, "If the federal government is playing rogues, the law is a piece of waste paper. I think President Roosevelt is a special rogue."

When Alice Roosevelt was away, the slave owner recovered his former self-confidence. He didn't have to think about what he could say or what he couldn't say. She said it, and Sheffield felt it.

The litigation for three days in a row has been widely concerned by the entire citizen class. All the focus is on the Sao Paulo Court. The last day is when the answer is revealed. Before the final result came out, everyone held their breath and waited for the final verdict.

At this time, the two sides changed their previous swords, and their confidence and arrogance disappeared. Both James and Douglas have suffered and suffered. This is the most important lawsuit they have faced in this life, more important than ever. Both victory and defeat will record an important sum in their resumes.

Under the attention of everyone, Judge Lochien solemnly pronounced, "After discussion with other judges, the São Paulo Court accepted the interpretation of Northern Securities Company. Northern Securities Company did not use one railway to buy another railway that was competing with it. It ’s just a company that holds two railroad stocks, so it ’s not a monopolistic alliance that restricts trade. It does n’t violate any Minnesota law, nor does it violate the terms of antitrust laws. The Minnesota lawsuit against Northern Securities Company is not established. Once again, the Minnesota State Government lost the case. "

As the attorney of the Northern Securities Company, James raised his arm high and waved fiercely, venting his joy, gazing provocatively at Douglas, and then withdrawing his humble opening, "Dear Mr. Judge, this is A very fair sentence. "

By this time, the entire court was in a state of joy, and everyone strode out of the court, leaving only the lost attorney general Douglas.

This victory of the Northern Securities Company against the Minnesota government was quickly spread to all parts of the country. Wall Street and trust companies located everywhere are delighted, and because of this news, the shares of Northern Securities have become the most popular investment options.

Morgan became an invincible representative in the newspaper and enjoyed unparalleled praise. The news that Douglas lost the case also reached the White House in Washington, which made Attorney General Knox look somber.

The attorney general supported by the federal government actually lost to a lawyer commissioned by a banker. How can he accept such a result? Roosevelt, who was also informed of the news, also knew that this was definitely bad news, and said, "Is it very difficult?"

"Huh?" Knox nodded honestly. This ending is undoubtedly a knockout, making it difficult for the federal government to win the same type of lawsuit in the same court. This is because of the existence of case law, and it is difficult to obtain the same kind of litigation. Contrary to the previous judgment.

Although he didn't want to admit it, Knox knew that this time Morgan won, and then went to court from Minnesota, but only lost one more time.

Compared with the silence on the side of the White House, Morgan celebrated champagne openly and seemed to be announcing that he had been defeated. As a lawyer representing this lawsuit, James also benefited a lot. Although he has long been a well-known barrister, he also made a name for himself at this moment.

"William, what do you say now?" Carter was proud of his judgment, especially in front of Sheffield.

"Haha!" Sheffield smiled inexplicably, and asked, "You think such a big lawsuit will be finished in three days?"