The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-12
Attorney General Hadley Has
Located a Witness
From Whom He Expects to Oh.
tain Desired information.
WORK FOR STANDARD.
He Handled All the Company's
Reports for Years.
Has a Good Word to Say for
John ID. Rockefeller.

John D. Rockefeller.
New york, Jan. 1z-Through an
anonymous letter signed "A Wall Street
Clerk" Attorney General Had1ey of
Missouri, has discovered witness
whose testimony, it is declared viii
probably do more to disclose the secret
workings of the Standard OIL company
than that of all the witnesses who have
hitherto been examined in the inquiry
before Commissioner Sanborn.
This witness. John Corkhiu, began his
business career as John D. Rockefeller s
Office boy and worked his way up until
he was confidential man to W E. Benis.
manager of the Standards clearing
house, where the relations between the
subsidiary companies and the Standard
corporation are laid bare. Mr. CorkhiH
continued with the Standard until John
d. RockefelIer's retirement from active
management. Then followed a period
of retrenchment and he resigned.
The writer of the letter to the attor-
uey general said that he feared he would
lose his position if his identity became
known but he wished to help the in
vestigation and so suggested COrkhiH
as valuable witness. Immediately
upon its receipt Mr. Hadley turned the
letter over to Rush Lake. assistant at
torney general of Missouri and before
the day was over Mr.. Corkhin was To-
Gated.
Mr.. Corkhill," said the assistant at
tOrney general, the state of Missouri
has instituted proceedings to show that
the Standard Oil company of Indiana,
the WateTs-Pierce Oil company and the
Republic Oil company are all part of the
Standard Oil trust. [ understand that
you know something about the opera
tions of these companies and desire to
call you as a witness.
COflzllif Says: .'Sure."
sure" said Mr.. CorkhiU. They're all
at rs Broadway. While I was with Mr.
Henlis ais their reports passed through
The Office. I don't know about testifying
though I guess you had better talk
The lawyer referred to was called into
the conference and said he could see no
reason why Mr. COrkhil should not tell
what he knew He advised. however
that his client think it over. This was
agreeable to both parties, and an en-
gagement was made whereby 1Ir. Cork
hill was to meet Mr. Lake this after
noon at 2:SO o'clock and accept service
of the subpoena which was issued for
him when Mr.. Hadley received the in
formation regarding him
John ID. Rockefeller was the best
friend the Standard Oil employees ever
had Mr. Corkhill said, after his talk
with Mr.. Lake.
He never was too busy to listen to
you if YOU wanted advice or anything
else. While he was running things it
was very dlnerent from what it is now.
y es, if my attorney says SO, I will
tell all I know
When news of the discovery of
Corkhil and what the latter said was
brought to Attorney General Ead1ey he
was iubilant.
HE viii make the best witness we
have had he declared. This OBJ
structive policy does not always pay.
Tt appears to me, from the days de-
velopments, that it is a distinct ad-
vantage. OF course I secured the is
suance of a subpoena for W. E. Bemis
without waiting a second. [ hope we
catch him.
Trying to Wear Him Out
'I am rather under the impression, -
MI HadIey continued, and referring to
the pOstponement of the hearing yes
terday, that the attitude of the Stand
ard oil attorneys is dictated by the be-
lief that if they can stave off testimony
taking until after the proceedings in
the supreme court, I will be so anxious
to get home that Mr.. Archibald. VII
liam G. Rockefeller and others who
have been subpoenaed and not vet
placed on the stand, will escape ex-
animation.
IT am anxious to get home. but 7
to interfere with the inquiry Mr.
Rockefeller, Mr.. Archibald and all the
other Standard Oil men I can catch
with the witnesses outside of the
Standard forces viii be examined be
fore L leave New York
Mr.. Hagerman, who has been the
head of the Standard attorneys since
the hearing before Special Commits
sioner Sanborn began, had no hesi-
fancy in admitting that in the event
of an adverse ruling by Justice Glider
sleeve, Mr.. Rogers case would be
taken at once to the appellate division
of the supreme court.
Anything for delay" said Mr.. Had
ley. when he was told of this. s'No
matter how long it takes. though.
We'll get at the facts"
Attorney General Hadley and Attor-
nev General Mayer of this state had a
talk at the Waldorf last night. Mr.
Mayer said that the meeting had been
purely social. He was desirous OF
knowing Br. Hadley The STANDARD
oil case had been talked over, as a
matter of course. but there was no pos
sible part for his Office to play in it.
FAST N VTHFT SAND