Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-10-06
THE STANDARD.
raE rnvEsriuAr,ON uviNG uS.
rue Testimony OF uowen aud Patterson Be-
tore tue Committee Yesterday at
EhIlaheInhIh.


tore tue Committee Yesterday at
rhiisdeIphiA,
The legislative committee appointed to
investigate franklin II. GDweu's charges
that L q, Patterson, who was employed
10y eX Attorney General Palmer Ia 1881 to
collect evidence In suit for taxes against
the Standard oil company, betrayed the
state by selling the result Of his research
To the company. met yesterday morning NJ
the st. George hotel, Philadelphia
Nv Gpwen testified My statement
was based upon the sworn testimony of MIR.
Patterson himself in cross examination
against the TidcwatCr canal ut MGadytlle.
| was not present, but sent for copy OF
tho evidence certified aud sworn 10 b. the
official stenOgraphcr. Tho words of MIR.
Patterson are as follows " was not IN
the service of the attorney general, but IN
the service of the state. For some reason
or other, never could produce the testi-
mouy collected, aud it was never called
for. proposed 10 attack, aud the uego.
tiatiOu was whether anyone would give
me as much as should receive from the
state ii did not attack. find that the
steuOgraphers notes Of the civil suit Of
lSS2, to recover taxes from the company,
we're filed on February 23i of that year.
On April the opinion of the court was
fled. 1t was while the case was In this
stage that the alleged agreement between
Patterson and the company was made. ca
April 81 the exceptions to the suit were
filed by the defense. | propose to show
that on April II, II or l3 Patterson made
an agreement Tn 10 longer pursue the
company in consideration Of 81, 800 in cash
and subsequent sums of -, 900 aud Sj OO).
DO we understand you to say" asked
Senator Herr, that you will give this
committee the names Of witnesses whose
testimony will support this statement Of
Patterson ''
" Yes, =" answered Nj. Gowen They
will probably b6 unwilling witnesses, but
they can be brought here. have the
affidavit Of Louis Kopprnhoulgr, detcC
tive employed by Mr.. Pukortou. in whose
hands | placed the matter. This docu
meut COTrobUratgs PattCrsou'S assertion
tnat he sold out, and states that the de.
pOucut expect to be able to prove a con.
spiracy between Patterson and the Stand
ard oil company. The principal value Of
! the Information Is in giving the names Of
persons to be subpUnaGl. | shall ask for
some subpUlas in blank. as, il they are
aware they are wanted, the proposed wit
| nesscs may pat some trouble in the way Of
| our reaching them"
"You said that you bad testimony con-
vctiug mau and now you admit that you
only have his own statement Nr Nc
Murtrie pursued.
"UudOubtcdly,' rejoiued Nh GOweu,
"that IS the very best kind of evidence"
Elisha &. Patterson was questioned by
Senator Herr. He went over the CiTCum
stances of his employment by the com.
monwealth TO collect evidence against the
Standard and stated that bis contract,
through an oversight, had never been sign
ed. He gave all the evidence he got to
ex Attorney General Palmer. Much of the
information was given by word of mouth.
IL concluded the names OF standard oil
company men. who would make good
witnesses, such as Warden and E!kus, Of
Philadelphia Lockhart, Of Pjttsburg, and
Nandergriit, OF Oil City. Tao attorney
general expressed himse.f / as exceedingly
gratiled at the information. AL had
t. do," continued the witness was 10
prove that the company did business in
this state, aud there nay duties ended.
never received a letter or telegram from
Mr.. Palmer calling upon me to sign the
contract | had made with him. | had
never made any objection 70 signing it.
was 10 establish the claim ofthe state, Tor
| which | was TO get 90 900 for expense,
vided the amount paid me did not exceed
500 600.
" On the 18Th day Of April. 1Ss2, was
| in the Glrard house of this city. Mr.
Arhibald, who | believe was associated
| with the STANDARD oil company, was at the
Continental. \ mutual friend came - mo
and said tho Standard wanted peace, aud
Arch bald would like to see me. | went
Palmer had previously written to me say
ing that the state was under 10 obligation
to me for what had done, in spite of the
money | had spent. Archibald said to
me II you will stop fighting us for a
term OF years, we will guarantee you
against loss in this matter This was the
the CXtcnt Of the interview. Next week
| met him in New York, and the week
after that our agreement was ConEum.
mated by his paying me $500 for my
expenses
Where did you travel ."
Between Pittsburg, uarrlbOlrL, Phil
adelphia and New York, from May 1881
to May 1889"
Did your travelling expenses reach
II, 600 ,"
Really, havn't any information. My
total expenditure was $1,000.
Was there any consideration for any
thing other than these expenses ?"
. can't give you anything in detail ;"
persisted Mr, Patterson. " 1t was stipu-
lated that | should get 81, 500 more. got
it,"
"You got $lj, 900 for travelling aud a
little legal advice"
1t was agreed" Mr. Patterson went
on, THAT should desst from all aggres-
sye acts against the Standard oil com
pany, and that | should be reimbursed for
my expenses"
Had you any information damaging
10 the company at that time, which IL
was to the interest Of the state to oh.
tain ?'
"No."
Il want to know what that Sl5, 900 was
paid you for" Mr.. Walker pursued.
II don't understand what you expect
me to say" Mr., Patterson reioined. "fhc
company paid me to get rid Of my enmity
To them"
"Were you TO receive from the Stand.
ard or any OF its representatives or affilia
ted companies any consideration other than
the Sl5, ,000?" Mr.. Gowen asked
81 should like to know how far this
examination is going into my private
affairs" answered the witness. Ultimately
he said, "There was an additional amount
OF s. 600 to be made over to me-"
You have then been paid $40, 000?"
Yes"
"What is the sum total of your receipts
from the Standard oil company ?"
The witness asked for time to consult