The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-22
DESTROYED THE BOOKS
A Sensation in the Standard Oil
Investigation.
ORDERED BY THE COURT
The Attempt to Show Whether or Not
the Company Paid Dividends on
Trust Certificates Defeated.
Laborers Won't Testify.

SitNtitnus UNIV ~
ments of a most sensational nature In
the Standard Oil Investigation came to
light to-day when Attorney General
Monnett began taking dispositions for
the purpose OF proving that the Stand
ard Oil company, just previous to the
issue of the supreme court writ that the
books of the company be produced in
court, a destroyed a large number
of it's books. Upon the strength Of the
information received by the attorney
general from reliable business men and
attorneys that it could be proved that
the Standard Oil company had burned
a large number OF it's books, journals.
ledgers and other valuable books. the
state served notice upon the STANDARD
Oil company that dispositions would be
taken before a notary In this city to-
day.
During the Investigation of the stand
ard OIL trust before Commissioner Bris-
made, a few weeks ago, the
refused to produce it's books
in evidence. The matter was taken 10
the supreme court and on December
that court ordered the OH
10 produce its books covering
the period from 1892 to 1897. to show
whether the Standard company had
paid dividends to the holders of the
trust certificates. Previous to the de-
cision of the supreme court. Virgil b.
Kline. attorney for the Standard, spent
several days in Columbus, and 1t is al
legged that he received Information he
forehand in regard to the courts decis-
ion and at once notified the officials OF
the Standard Attorney Gen
eral Monnett expects to be able to prove
that the officials of the standard de-
stroyed their books three or four nights
before the supreme court ordered the
secretary of the company to produce
the books In evidence.
The taking Of dispositions to prove
Attorney General Monnetts allegations
was commenced before Harry c. Ma
son to-day. The most important Wit
ness produced was John Darmstetter,
a rabbi of a Bohemian church. RAD
bi Darmstetter testified that one even
ing three or four weeks ago he went
into the saloon of II. II. Pollock to see
Pollock, who is an official Of his church.
He said that at the time Pollock was
waiting upon several Bohemian labor
ers. who were employees or the Stann,
ard Oil and he sat down untll
the saloon keeper got through with his
customers. Darmstetter said that one
of the men in the saloon was quite nj
larious and was asked: why are you
fellows doing so much treating? TWO
of the men then engaged in a converse
ton and flashing a roll Of bills said that
they had got some good stun WORKING
overtime. one Of them, who was a
teamster. said that he and another
teamster had loaded up a lot of books
at the Euclid avenue office of the stand
ard Oil company and had taken them
to the ~company's furnace. where they
were burned. Attorney General Non
nett secured the residence ana name
of one Of the drivers, and when a con-
stable went to subpoena him to-day the
man exclaimed: MY job Is gone X
have TO testify" Another of the EN-
ployes OF the oil company, when inform
ed that he would probably be called
upon to testify. is reported TO nave
said. They can't catch me. Wha
we took were boxes and l can't tel
what they contained
Rabbi Darmstetter, when placed up
on the witness stand was very unWll
ling to testify. saying that II ne dlt
so il would injure the members OF III
congregation, many OF whom were eIl
ployes OF the Standard Oil company
The dispositions of five other witnesses
were taken to-day. but nothing import
ant was brought out. An effort wa
made to subpoena F.. II. Pollock, the sa
loon keeper, to-day. but he was SAID u
be out of the city, or at least could 10
be found. IN of the teamsters, wh'
Is claimed TO have taken the Standar'
company's books to the furnace, testi
fed this afternoon. Frank Rocketellei
I. III. Severance and +. II. Squires nav
been subpoenaed as witnesses.
, Edward O'Hearn. n teamster in the en-
, nlov of the Standard Oil company, wa
> found and placed on the witness stant
, lie testified that on Saturday befor
| Thanksgiving day he was ordered TO go
l the office of the company on Euclid ave
! nue. and carry some boxes from there !
5 the company's warehouse, on lndepenc
D ence stree. He said he got the boxes, 10 J
number. and delivered them as ordere'
I He did not know the names OF the en-
= ployes who turned the boxes over TO MI
nor OF those who received them AT VI
$ warehouse. He declared that ne uld h'
. know what was i'm them ana denied nay
= ing made the declaration I'm a saloon th'
{ thsv contained account books.