Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-28
Treasurer Adams Of Waters Pierce Concern
Will Be Placed on Stand Again.
HEARING is BEGUN f. ylAHomA CITY
Witness Says Mail of stane y. Company
Was Opened BY Waters-Pisn, e any
INSTRUCTED TO STEAL OIL
Former Agent Tells of Methods C.
tn Keep Track OF Business
of Independent Con-
serns.

ST. LOUIS Feb. s1.-rhe inquiry into
Standard OIL methods pursued N Missouri
will be resumed next Thursday H. Clay
Pierce former president of the waters
Pierce OIL company. and Charles Adams
present treasurer of the company, will
be called as witnesses.
During a former session of the hearing
Mr.. Adams refused to produce books and
records of the company bearing on its re-
lations with the Republic and Standard
oil companies and Attorney General Had
ley placed the matter before the supreme
court for decision as to whether witnesses
could be compelled to produce books and
records and answer questions at the hear
ing. Yesterday the supreme court ruled
in the Affirmative.
In speaking of the decision today Mr..
Adams said he would consult counsel for
the Waters-Perce company as to whether
the decision requires him TO answer aues-
tions in reference to the affairs OF that
corporation. II shall be governed solely
by the advice of our lawyers" said Mr..
Adams. Il have not as yet read the de-
csion, nor am l particularly concerned
about II, one way or the other
Hearing In Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA CITY, okl.. Feb. 27.-As-
sistant Attorney General Lake began taxi
ing testimony here today in the custer case
of the state OF Missouri against the stand
ard and other oil companies. John Bur
rows, a wholesale dealer, said that while in
the employ of the Waters-Pierce Oil com
pany part of his salary was paid by the
standard oil company. He had from time
40 time received instructions TO cut prices
10 Il point at which 1t was impossible to
independents to do business He was in
structed TO get samples of oils shipped in IL
he had to steal them. There had never
been any competition between the Standard
and the Pierce companies in Okla
homa
burrows said that oils used by the Inter-
national Harvester company in Oklahoma
was charged to the Standard on company.
The Waters Pierce people put labels on
their oils for harvesters, said Burrows
THE harvester people furnished the labels
y wffe1 the Watefs-f1erce company was
reorganized Barrows said he received n
letter from II. c. Pierce saying he was
going to retire on the ground OF I'll
health. There were three auditors, hc
testified. one of whom came from 26 Broad
way, New York. representing the STANDARD
company. and he always had credentials
Hc testified that Frank Norton. one of tbs
auditors for the Standard company. sait
In st. Louis ten years ago that all ol'
employees of the Waters-Pierce would have
TO go. the Standard had control o
Waters Pierce and the Standard had sen
a vice president out here When the Re
public oil company was organized. Mr.
Burrows said, he was told not to worr,
about competition from It, Mail addresse,
to Standard oil company. Oklahoma City
was put In the Waters Pierce box at tn
pOstoffice. he said. The Waters Pierc
company, he testified. said 1t was all righ
to open the letters
On cross-examination Burrows was asked
How did you know there was a reorgani
zation OF Waters Pierce company"
y Il got letter discharging me and an
other letter by the same mail hiring m
over again"
Who signed the credentials OF the Stand
ard OIL auditors?"
f. NJ. Vanhorton, assistant manager q
the Waters-Pierce company at Littl
Rock
Attorney General Talks.
- JEFFERSON CITY Feb. 27-rhe fo
lowing statement was made today by Al
torney General Hadl,y regar riding his Pre-