The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-17
WAYS THAT ARE DARK
ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN TRODDEN
BY THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY.
Attempt to Get at Facts by Bribery That
Would Enable 1t to Fight an I'm
terprising and Successful
Rival.

CLEVELAND. March IA sensation in
business circles came to light Sunday IN
which the Standard OIL company Is In
volvel. The details Of The matter come
from the other party to the affair, but they
are backed by an excellent business
reputation and affidavits. Scho-
field. Shurmer & Teagle are e
large oil refiRins f9m here, the only
rivals, in fact, ts.hs Standard. In the past
the firm has become famous by its war
against the Standard ana suits against the
railroads ceatering here in regard to dis
examinations in freight rates. IN these suits
they have invariably been successful f.
b. Squire, the new secretary Of the Stand
ard, was at enc time in partner
snip with SchcGali Shurmer s. Teagle,
and the firm now ch&rgs that he and
nissagents have approached the bookkeeper
Of the firm, J. IL Needing, and made an
agreement with hin to pay him certain
sum per month if he would give the details
OF tie firms bushes Neoiling makes a
statement III w1ich he says he was ap-
preached by J. F. Squire and offered $50 per
month to furnish the following information
to +. b. Squire, OF the STANDARD:
What is the result # last year, business,
transcript Of daily shipments, with net
prices received for same. Wat is the cost
Tor manufacturing outside of CTude2 What
ale the kinds of gasoline anil naphtha made,
and percentages and net prices received for
same. What do they do with tar, and per-
| centage Of samel What i the percentage
Of waterwhte ami watsrwhts Michigan'
How much oil WIS exported last year: This
information, as far as received, 70 be mailed
TO Box, lOk Cleveland pOstOtiica
For this he gave Needing SIS then. and
$40 more day or two afterwarl. Need
ling then, later, wrote as follows to F. b.
| Squire:
f. B. S-DEAR SIR: I made partial ar
rangement through your brother 10 give
certain information for GXed sum, on
which he has paid me sl5 down, promising
to meet me the next Saturday and pay tl0
| more. l wrote and directed hm-care of
| Box Lotto meet me before tat tima but
| he did not show ~. nor have received any
thing through mail l wish, il anything
! further Is egsscssd Of Ple, THAT the matter
would be attended t.. J. h
On March Needliag took a ride with F.
B. Squire, during which Squire handed him
! $40 aud told him he vas going to leave the
| city for few days and wanted al the in
formation l could gather In the
meantime He sad the Standard
would take care OF is and added thai
it had the capital sni capacity to do all the
! oil business, would not tolerate any out
siders, and a. soon 81 they could receive any
! information that outsiders were making any
money they would lower the market price
| for oil March u handed 70 my employers
! w. c. Schofeld and JOHN Teagle, the fol
lowing letter:
| F. b. S.-DEAR SIR: Inciosed return tbs
S2j received from You, hating informed my
| employers Of tbs full prvcs edAgs and actins
| under their orders after the first visit from
! your brother. l now refer you to then
direct for any further information.
J. II. NEEDING.
The affidavit is sworn to before W. ID
McReynolds notary public, and dateC
March II, The balance is told i'll q state
ment signed by W. S G,hg&e,d and JOIN
! TeaGle as follows:
Thursday evening March 10 we called
! on F. b. Squire, secretary Of the Standard
! Oil company, at his kou.s, aud handed hiu
the lstteT written by oar bo0kkeep0r and
asked for an explanation Altar reading the
; letter he dsniad ANY knowledge OF It. ani
asked what u mespt, wssreupou We stated
( some facte Ia tbs Csc which he could no
deny, and he fnsiy adBittsl the truth o.
tho transaction. We taea requested him L
keep the SIS, which ~ declined to do bu
after further pe@suasleu On cur part he tool
| Sla and asked us TO forward the sl5 10 hi
| brother There tue sbattsT TeatS for I'll;
! present. w. $ SCHOFELD,
"IoHN II y