New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-09
WAS MRS. GIRTY ROBBED
HER CHARGES IN A SUIT AGAINST THE
STANDARD OIL COMPANY.
HER REMARKABLE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE
TRANSFER OF HER PROPERTY IN
DECENTRALIZATION BETWEEN
THE RoCKEFELLERs AND
HER HUSBAND.

THE ROCKEFELLERS AND
HER HUSBAND
core remarkable facts concerning the manage
ment of the Standard OIL Company's business were
made public yesterday when a motion for jury
trial was made before Judge Cullen In the supreme
Court In Brooklyn by Wahle Stone. the counsel
for Caroline T. Gir,y. Suit agains; the Standard
Oh Company Is brought b. Mrs. Girty 10 recover
nronerty in Cleveland. which she declares was
fraudulentIy transferred to the company eleven
years ago. Mrs. Girty. who lives IN Brookl!h -
the aged widow OF George W. Girty. the former
treasurer and cashier Of the Standard OH Company
In her complaint she declares that her husband was
the man who really made the company. and that
when he began business with the Rockefelers IN
Cleveland their only possessions were an Ola desh'
a pine chair and yellow dog.
When the affairs OF the concern had become more
prosperous Mr.. Girty received an annual salary OF
SO OOO and he kept in position Of trust and
responsibility. Mrs. Grty declares that she had
property Of her own which was Increased by speeu-
lation and that her money was used In the pur-
chase OF lots In Cleveland and In the erection OF
handsome house the lots The house alone cost
$4,000 and all Of the property was In her own name
At the time of the alleged fraudulent transfer or
the property TO the Standard oil Company in 1888.
she declares the lots valued at $1,000 and the
entire property is now believed TO be worth about
100000 ~ oo -
husband and the Rockefellers were in deal to cor
ner the oil market and her husband was squeezed
so badly that ne lost Of his own property but
there no lien on the property when she owned
one day in 1883 her husband appeared at their home
IN New-York in state OF great nervous repression
nearly bordering on insanity. and declared that
there had been threats by the Rockefelers to rum
him He said he had been accused OF being "A de-
faulter and had been threatened with inprisoh-
ment and disgrace. He had with him some papers
which he said she must sign at once. lie talked
wildly of suicide. and she was Induced by Tear 10
sign the papers without having read them
1t was not until years afterward that she knew
that the papers were deeds transferring her prop
erty in Cleveland to the Standard OIL Company she
first heard In 1859 that her house. when had cost
$40 co. had passed INTO the haLds or the company
She tried 10 get an explanation from her husoah''
but whenever she mentioned the subject ne became
xc,,sd and renewed his talk Of suicide, and she de-
sisted from ANNOYING him because she was AFRAID
that he would carry out his threats III was not
until after his death, In January Iast thdt shc ""7
informed that the lots in Cleveland also had peen
| transferred to the Standard OIL Company III i''''
She declares that when she had asked the Rocke-
.uo.. ahout her house before her husband died
she had been Informed that II would be restored to
her She had been told by her husband also 'ha'
she would lose nothing by signing the papers "hicn
he had presented TO her. The claim ~ "aue VI"
| she never had legally acknowledged her sigha'ur'
o After The death OF her husband In January en-
| told that the property hdd DeeH ,ahc ~ W,
| comnany I'm part payment Of money when nah peer
/ embezzed by her husband In 1888 she began w On,
s,i, for the recovery OF her property. or OF lts
value and the answer made that IN loo5 IL d,
| discovered that Girty had robbed the company VI
! $4,000 ..,o,, chat IN.
Counsel for Mrs. Girty said yesterday that tn'
companys answer signed by William Roche hl i,
/ The president OF the company was refrarhapie, ~
view Of the fact that Mr. Grty had been Tr.a,hes
In his positon Of trust and responsibility, IraWint
his salary year after year from 1873 until the nm
! of his death When Mr.. Grty was dead the con- h
nanv spent about 81 900 on his funeral. sendhs III
| body to Cleveland In a special car and puyihs ''""
| ers in abundance. D.. .ho oo,,
many by Evarts Choate Ieaman MT. Cnoal
/ Opposing the motion which was MADE peiore 'uus
| Cullen yesterday. .,.., oos
Judge Cullen decided that IT was an equity cas
and should not be tried before jury. IN s', h
! case tried with jury after the Verdict ia" ooe'
found he had to set IL aside.