Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-23
THEY BURNED THE BOOKS.
Standard Oil Co.'S Employees al Cleveland Sc
. Testify in Court.

Cleveland, Ohio. Dec. 22.-The taking OF
dispositions by Attorney General Monet;
TO attempt to prove that the Standard
Oil Co. had destroyed q lot OF its books
and papers few days before the SUI
preme court ordered the books TO be pro-
duced as evidence in the investigation Of
the Standard Oil Co.. was resumed, to-
John McInerney testified that he had
been in the employ of the Standard Oil
co. for over two years. He said thai,
Saturday morning. Nov. 10. he was or
dered TO burn lot of the Standard Oil
Co.'S. books. He burned them in the fur
naces Of the car shops: Later It in the day lay
Euclid avenue offices and get some boxes.
The boxes were taken down from tn"
fifth floor in the elevator. but some one
front door. Thereupon the boxes were
taken back to the fifth floor. McInerney
said that he remained around the Euclid
avenue office until 8 O'Clock that after
noon and then the boxes were lowered
by rope and tackle from one Of the win
dows. He was assisted by four other en-
ployes of the company. The boxes were
taken TO the company's warehouse. They
remained there until Monday The Wit
ness said that, Monday morning. he and
a man named Moran took the books out
of the boxes and burned them in the fur
naces. There were nine boxes Of books
and six sacks of papers. Some of the
books were about 20 inches high and oth-
ers were much smaller. Mclnerney said
tnal Tie DDDkS lIidL WcEe Jul ileu Sttui
day morning. were taken from the Euclid
avenue office. Friday night. He received
his orders to get the boxes from George
Fields. the car shop foreman.
On cross-eXamination. Mclnerney said
that he and Moran burned the books that
were destroyed Saturday morning.
The regular Standard Oil inquiry before
Special Master Commissioner Brinsmaid
was not taken up. today, because Messrs.
Rockefeller, Squire and Severance, who
were wanted TO testify. could not be
found. Attorney General Monnett desired
to proceed with the hearing and to sub
poena book-keepers and other employees
of the Standard. Attorney Kline for the
Standard objected and argued for more
delay.
Said Mr.. Monnett: I'VE have been n
year and two months getting three days
testimony. We have met with nothing
but delays and the state is ready to go
Mr.. Kline stated that to the best of his
knowledge Secretary Squire would return
to Cleveland. Jan. 4. He said Mr. Sever
ance had been out of the city for several
months and he did not know where Frank
Rockefeller was. He said that none OF
these gentlemen had left the city to pre-
vent service beng secured on them
Master Commissioner Brinsmaid or
dered the investigation postponed until
Jan. 4.
At 4 O'Clock, the taking of testimony
before Notary Mason was resumed
ploy of the Standard Oil Co, was the
only witness examined. He had been in
the employ of the company for q years.
He said he gave orders. in accordance
with instructions. to George Fields to
| burn the accounts and books in the boxes
hauled from the offices of the company
to the Independence street house.
The boxes, he declared. contained 8
miscellaneous collection of papers and d
few books which might have been letter
press books, stock books or order, copy
books. He declared positively that NJ
ledgerS or Journals We're burned. The
burning of this material. he said. was OF
no consequence and was according &c
custom. In July. 1896 he said, lot oil
similar material was burned, and in 1895
more accounts and books were destroyed
This last time number of account books
were burned.
Hogan said he had been requested tic
look at the books before destroying them
| and not burn any that were less than II
years old. He said he saved a few less
| than 10 years old that had been set aside
by mistake
The hearing before Notary Mason will
be resumed, tomorrow.