Viewing James Robertson (1869-1942).James Robertson (1869-1942).On the afternoon of September 29, 1912, employees of six milk companies met in a room in the Lumber Exchange Building in Minneapolis to raise the prices of milk and cream in the city. Sometime before that, James Robertson, the Hennepin County Attorney, learned the purpose and place of the meeting, and had a "dictograph" installed in the room. It was connected by wires to a receiver in an adjoining closet which was occupied by two detectives who listened and took shorthand notes of the conversations of the price-fixers. A grand jury indicted six corporations and eight individuals of violating the state price-fixing law. The Minneapolis Milk Company and an officer, Albert Ruhnke, were tried separately, convicted by a jury, and appealed. On December 12, 1913, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed their convictions.
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