The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-27
OIL TRUST MEMS
MEMORIES POOR
Tlford Faces Hadley and Fails to
Recall Even His Own
Letters. -.

New York, March 27.-When the pro-
ceedings by which Attorney General
Hadley Of Missouri seeks to GUST from
the state companies controlled by the
Standard Oil company were resumed
today, counsel for the Standard Oil
company delivered number Of letters
which had been requested by Mr.. Had
ley. Many Of these requested were
missing, but the Standard Oil compa-
ny's counsel said Mr.. Hadley could use
the copies he had, as the originals
could not be found.
H. M. Tilford Of New York, was the
first witness today. He said he is the
president of the Continental Oil COM
pany, which does business in Colora-
do and the west, and also is connected
with a second company engaged in the
poration incorporated in Iowa. He said
that he had an office at 26 Broadway.
Committee7 What Committee?
Upon being asked if he was mem
Der of the domestic trades committee
Of Standard Oil, Mr.. Tilford said he
did not know what was meant by the
term committee He said he had
heard 1t used, however.
~ mean experts who handle the af-
fairs of Standard OIL" suggested Mr..
IT do not know anything about the
domestic trades comm1ttee,O said Mr..
Tilford. He said the Contine Oil
company does not do business in Mis-
souri,. F.. ...".,,. :. =. :: : =,
Mr.. Hadley then showed Mr.. Tilford
q letter written by the: witness to r.
H. Hochs, in which suggestion Of the
domestic trades was quoted, and Mr..
Hadley asked the witness to explain
1t. Mr.. Tilford said it had escaped his
memory. -*~s . D.
The witness said he could not recall
letter from A. M. Finley, who, in
1908, was vice president Of the Waters
Pierce company. Neither could he re-
call having written to President Druitt
|'of the Waters-Pierce company to come
to New York on similar business.
Mr.. Tilford said R. II. McNall was
at first connected with the Pratt Oil
company, and then came to the wit
ness Office to assist him.
| And he had desk in your office up
to the commence Of this suit, did
the commercial agent Of the Waters.
Pierce company9V was asked. -
| Mr.. Tilford said he could not remem.
| Der meeting attended by H. H. Rog
ers, John B. Archbold, H. Clay Pierce
and himself, at which the reorganiza
ton Of the Waters Pierce company was
discussed. When that company was re-
organized the witness said he sold the
one share Of its stock which he held fol-
5000. ~. = n
Forgotten! Forgottenl
The witness was shown a number Of
letters, some signed and others, un
! signed. purporting to be written to o.
| by the witness in connection with the
! business of the Waters-P Pierce company
and the Standard Oil company. Some
of the letters had to do with expenses
of men employed by the Standard Oh
and others requested lists Of employees
of the Waters-Pierce company and tn,
salaries paid them. They were initiated
by both witness and his brother, w. H
Tilford, but Mr.. Tilford disclaimed al
knowledge of them. The witness sait
that w. II. Tilford is treasurer Of tn
Standard Oil Of New Jersey.
i "Where is s. Fl. McNall9o aske,
Mr.. Hadley.
i ct dom f know
i Didn It he leave for Greenfield
Mass, about the time the suit com
] meneed to warm up a ittles'
I don't know. -