People v. Crawford Distributing Co.

Following a jury trial, the defendant, Maurer Distributing Company, a corporation, was convicted in the circuit court of Macon County of engaging in a conspiracy in restraint of trade, in violation of section 3(l)(a) of the Illinois Antitrust Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 60 — 3(l)(a)) and fined $10,000. The appellate court affirmed the conviction with one justice dissenting (65 Ill. App. 3d 790), but granted a certificate of importance, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 316 (58 Ill. 2d R. 316).

Before considering the merits of the case, a procedural matter warrants mentioning. The…