The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-05
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
IS FOUND GUILTY
Convicted of Conspiracy in Re.
straint of Trade.
JURY SANG RELIGIOUS SONGS
Penalty For Violation of Antitrust
Law a Fine Of From $50 to
$4,000, or Imprisonment of From
Six to Twelve Months.

H.-sH
Findlay, ohio.-After singing re-
ligious songs for a period Of two
hours in the Court House here, the
jury in the case of the State of. Ohio
against the Standard OIL Company
returned a verdict Of guilty on the
charge Of conspiracy to, restrain
trade in violation OF the Antitrust
laws Of the State. The trial of John
D. Rockefeller on the same charge
follows, probably after appeals in
the present case are taken.
The jury was out thirty-two hours
and returned the verdictlof guilty at
4.30 o'clock a. m. Attaches of the
Court House had given up all hope
If an agreement after the jurymen
reported to Judge Banker that they
could not agree on a verdict. The
Judge sent them back and told them
TO try again.
Nothing was heard fronnsthe jury
room until supper time, when supper
was served to them. They. tmmedi-
ately started arguing the case after
eating their supper, and the argu-
nent was kept up most OF the night. ,
Suddenly, when all was still about
the Court House, a song broke the
stiffness and the startled attaches
heard the words of the hymn, Near.
sr, My God, to Thee" RAJ
The song was followed by many
other good old Methodist hymns, sung
with the fervor of revival times.
This was kept up from about 2 to 4
o'clock a. m. Then one Of the jury
men got on his feet and made an ear
nest speech to his fellows. Hand
clapping and other demonstrations
Of approval were heard from the jury
room. flS
the jury announced that they were
ready to give their verdict. The bal
lift summoned Judge Banker, County
Prosecutor David and Attorney
Troup, for the defense,
Judge Banker, when he arrived.
said: Gentlemen. have you agreed
upon a verdict?"
"Your Honor, we have" respond
ed Foreman Bales.
What is the verdict?"
The foreman sent the Court q type
written form which had been filled
out, and the Court read it, as follows:l
I'VE, the jury in this case, find
the defendant guilty in the manner
and form as the defendant stands
charged on the information.
"a. l.. BALES, Foreman"
Judge Banker addressed the jury:
please accept my gratitude and
thanks, which are due you for your
patience and close attention to this
case" he said, "and I want to thank
you, and in that word I express all
there Is in 1t and all I can express.
You may now be discharged and go,
to your homes"
Attorney Troup for the Standard
Oil Company made a motion for 8
new trial.
The penalty for violation Of the
Valentine law is fine of not less than
$50 and not more than $4,000, or i'm
prisonment for from six months 10
one year, or by both such fne and
Imprisonment. Further, any person
injured by violation Of the Valentine
law may recover damages double the
amount Of such injury.
Seven farmers and five business
men made up the jury which thus de-
liberated for thirty-two hours before
finding the Standard Oil guilty OF
conspiracy in restraint of trade. Tho
scenes accompanying the return OF
the verdict, which the attorneys for
the prosecution predicted would
sound the death knell for the Stand
ard Oil Company, were sufficiently
dramatic. The hymn singing was
startling in itself. The echoes OF n
speech made in the closed room, ana
the applause Of the jurymen them
selves as they reached the verdict,
were plainly heard by the few per-
sors remaining outside. /,