The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-04
WANTS HIS SALARY
S. w. Ashford Sues Standard
Oil Company for S3,200~
ACTED AS A "SPOTTERp
To Ascertain Who Were Buy
ing Other Oils.

S. W. Ashford, one of the proprietors OF
the feed mill on North Main street, has
sued the Standard Oil company for sal
airy due for work performed for the COM
pany in this city. The petition was filed
in the United States court yesterday by
Blake & Ayers, and recites some Of the
peculiar dealings of the Standard Oil
competition. In this connection the Pc
tition is one Of much interest and is
herewith printed almost in full. Mr..
Ashford claims the company is indebted
to him in the sum of 1890. and he asks
the court for that amount with interest
thereon from the 31st day of May, 1897.
The amended petition as filed yesterday
is as follows:
In the circuit court of the United States
for the district of Kansas Second d.
vision
S. W. Ashford, Plaintiff,
vs.
Standard Oil Company, Plaintiff
Plaintiff for cause Of action and amend
ed petition alleges:
That defendant is now and at all the
times hereinafter mentioned was cor
poration duly organized and existing
under and by virtue of the laws of the
state Of Indiana, having and maintaining
a branch Office and Ding business in the
state of Kansas and in the city Of Wichi-
ia therein.
That defendant Is indebted to plaintiff
for services performed by plaintiff for
defendant, at the special instance and
request Of defendant, for the purpose OF
procuring for defendant certain informa-
ton relative to- competition shipments
and the grocery retail trade. in the sum
Of thirty-two hundred dollars ($8, 200 as
shown by statement thereof attached
hereto, duly verified, marked Exhibit
"A" and made part hereof.
The plaintiff was employed by defen-
dant, by oral contract made and entered
into by plaintiff and defendant on or
about the first day of March. 1892, to OBJ
tain certain information more fully here
matter set forth, for which defendant
agreed to pay plaintiff the sum Of $50
per month; that plaintiff continued in
said employment from the first day of
March, 1892 to the first day of July, 1897;
that said contract and agreement was
made with plaintiff by A. NJ. Dunks,
agent and general manager for defendant
for Wichita, Kansas, and territory tribu-
tary thereto, duly authorized by said de-
PENDANT for said purpose.
That plaintiff was employed on the
foregoing terms for the purpose of pro-
curing for defendant, and acting under
the instructions said manager did pro-
cure and report to said manager the fol-
lowing information, as nearly as practi-
cable. relative TO competitive sales and
shipments of OIL gasoline and other
goods handled and produced by defen-
dant to-wit: The name and location of
parties buying gasoline and other pro-
ducts of defendant from competitors iof
defendant, together with name of com
petitor amount and kind of goods, desti-
nation, name Of carrier, and all other
obtainable information relative to such
sale or shipment. Plaintiff was required
under his employment to, and as nearly
as possible did, obtain the foregoing in
formation of all sales and shipments Of
the competitors of defendant in said ter
ritory.
That plaintiff was employed on the
foregoing terms for the purpose of pro-
curing for defendant and acting under
the instructions Of said A NJ Dunks,
manager as aforesaid, did obtain and re-
port TO said manager the following in
formation. as nearly as practicable, rela-
tive to the retail trade of grocers selling
and handling the oils, gasolines and
other products of competitors of the
Standard Oil company, to-wit: The
amount and kinds Of oil. gasoline deliv-
cred to grocer or dealer IN oils. gasolines
by any competitor Of defendant, together
with the name of competitor, retailer or
dealer; the name and address of the Gus
toners of retail dealer handling the
goods Of the competitor or competitors
of said defendants, and all other informa-
ton obtainable relative to the sale of
goods TO grocers or dealers in oils and
gasolines and the customers Of such re-
taller or local dealer in said goods. Plain
tiT was further required 10 arrange with
merchants to solicit the trade of the Gus
toners of dealers handling the goods OF
of the defendant or TO fur
nish goods to such customers at greatly
reduced prices.
That the foregoing employment was en-
tered into by agreement with and the in
formation obtained hereunder was re-
porte 20 A. NJ. Dunks. agent and manager |
Of the Standard on company. at Wichita /
Kansas. That said agreement was not |
in writing.
That plaintiff is owner and holder OF /
said account: that the same IS due and |
unpaid and that defendant has neglected |
and refused and now refuses TO pay the |
same.
Therefore. plaintiff prays judgment !
against defendant for the sum OF three |
thousand two hundred dollars Cs2.20o /
with interest thereon from the first day /
y July. 1897. at S Per cent per annum and /
Tor the costs Of this action.