The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-07
MISSOURI PROBE
INTO OIL TRUST
HITS STONEWALL
Vicepresident of Rockefeller
+! Combine Dehes, Storms,
Dodges.
Admits His Memory Is
Good, but Declines to
Answer.
Mention of Lawson's Name
Only Brings Smile to
His Face.
Clash of Lawyer and Inquisi-
tor Almost Results in
Fist Fight.
New York Herald Special Service.

the witness stand today before Commits
sfoner Frederick II. Sanborn, who is
taking testimony in the case of the
State Of Missouri against the Standard
Oil company and subsidiary companies
at No. "a Broadway, the persistent in
terruption of William v. Rowe, Mr..
Rogers counsel, who repeatedly dl-
rected his client not to answer ques-
tions, resulted in a wrangle between
the lawyer and Commissioner Sanborn,
which brought the two men almost to
blows.
The commissioner declared that if the
lawyer interrupted again he would be-
compelled to leave the room. Mr.. Rowe
replied to this, and there was an indica-
tion of a personal encounter when a
truce was effected by the calling of a
recess of an hour.
Rogers Defiance.
But this incident was child's play
compared with the cumulative defiance
of Henry III. Rogers, for the Missouri
inquisitors. After waiting under sub
pena during part of two days, while
other witnesses testified, Mr.. Rogers
was called. After a wait Of two or
three minutes, Mr.. Rogers not appear
ing, a clerk was sent into the private
room where the Standard Oil official
was. Instead of taking the seat usu-
ally reserved for witnesses, Mr.. Rogers
sat with his back against the sidewall
in the seat usually occupied by Herbert
S. Hadley, attorney general of Missouri.
In this position Mr.. Rogers did not d.
rectly face the reporters and others who
were in the room, but looked toward the
table at which his counsel were seated.
Indignant at Once.
On taking his seat he folded his arms
and leaning back, looked out from I'M
der his Shaggy eyebrows at the Stand
ard Oil attorneys, who had suddenly be-
come intensely alert. At the very first
question, Mr.. Rogers became indignant.
Attorney, General Hadley asked his
name and address and occupation. Mr..
Rogers sat very straight, and said in a
calm, well controlled voice, which did
not, however, fail to show his indigna-
ton:
"That is no question to address to
me.'
The attorney general slowly said that
he insisted upon the question being an
swered. Commissioner Sanborn said
that the question should be answered.
Mr.. Rogers answered, giving his name,
and saying that he was in the oil
business, Immediately after declining to
say what oil company he was connected
with and when asked whether he re-
fused to answer because his answer
might incriminate him, slowly arose and
objected to having artists in the room
sketching him.
Sat Down, Muttering.
The commissioner asked the artist to
give his word that he would q no fur
ther with the drawing. He agreed and
Mr.. Rogers sat down, .muttering that
the man should have been put out OF
the room.
When quiet had been restored and the
artist had hidden his big pad of pape,
uuucf q odIC, luC dGtOIuOy SOuCidA doh0O
Mr.. Rogers if he would refuse to answer
the question should he be ordered to dc
SO by the supreme court of the state Of
New York. Each of the numerous law
yersttook a hand at objecting to this
question. But the commissioner ordered
that it be answered.
"That,' answered Mr.. Rogers
suavely, "would be answered at tn,
time
"By whom7" asked Nj. Hadley.
"That ~also,'' was the reply, "woul'
be determined at the time"
edo you know what person or com
pany owns the majority Of the stock o
the Standard Oil company of Indianaf'
81 decline to answer that question,
said Mr. Rogers.
Wrangle with Lawyer.
Here a wordy wrangle ensued be
tween Lawyer Rowe and Commission
Sanborn. The commissioner ordere
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