9962. Adulteration of flour. V. S. * * * v. 1,222 Sacks of Flour. Of 988 sacks seized, default decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction "with respect to 417 sacks; action Quashed and product released with respect to 198 sacks; consent decrees of condemna- tion and forfeiture providing for release of 373 sacks under bond. (F. & D. No. 600-c.) On December 17, 1920, the United States attorney for the District of Porto Rico, acting upon a report by the Commissioner of Sanitation of Porto Rico, filed in the District Court of the United States for said district a libel, and on February 21, 1921, an amendment thereto, praying the seizure and condemnation of approximately 1,222 sacks of flour, remaining in the original unbroken pack- ages in part at San Juan and in part at Bayamon, P. R., alleging that the ar- ticle was adulterated in violation o.f the Food and Drugs Act. The article was in nine separate lots and labeled in part, respectively: " Saturno, M. L. Co."; " C. I. de Y. Gran Fuerza "; " Ilimotex, J. F. A." ; " S. R. Co."; "Almirante, E. O." ; " Golden Seal, M. R., Catano " ; " Bonanza, C. I. de Y." ; " La Puritana, C. I. de Y."; and " Star & Cresent, S. L. V. & Co." Adulteration of the article was alleged in the libel, as amended, for the reason that it consisted in whole or in part of a filthy, decomposed, or putrid animal or vegetable substance. On January 4 and February 4 and 15, 1921, respectively, 988 sacks of the product having been seized by the United States marshal, and Sucesores de San Miguel Hermanos, S. en C, Bayamon, P. R., S. Ramirez & Co. and Julio F. Anduze, of San Juan, P. R., respectively, claimants for 373 sacks thereof, having admitted the allegations of the libel so far as they concerned the said 373 sacks, having consented to the entry of decrees, and having agreed to denature the said product so as to render it unfit for any purpose other than agricultural uses, judgments of condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was ordered by the court that the product be released to said claimants upon pay- ment of the costs of the proceedings and the execution of bonds in the aggre- gate sum of $750, in conformity with section 10 of the act. On January 8, 1921, M. Lamadrid & Co., San Juan, P. R., claimant for 198 sacks of the said product, having filed a motion to quash the attachment on the grounds that a special examination of the said 198 sacks had shown the product to be fit for human consumption, judgment of the court was entered, ordering that the said attachment be quashed and that the said 198 sacks be returned to the claimant thereof. On February 21, 1921, no claimant having appeared for the remaining 417 sacks, judgment of condemnation and forfeiture was en- tered, and it was ordered by the court that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal. C. W. PUGSLEY, Acting Secretary of Agriculture. 88517—22 2