Beck v. United States

MeDERMOTT, District Judge.

The plaintiff in error (hereafter called the defendant) was a real estate operator in St. Louis, of good character and standing. He conceived the idea of building houses for those desiring homes, letting the purchaser select his lot and general plan of his house. The idea consisted of doing this in. a wholesale way; employing a staff of competent architects working on a salary instead of a percentage; employing competent builders to supervise the construction, on a salary instead of a percentage; eliminating subcontractors’ profits by direct installation; purchasing…