The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-15
JOHND.R OCKEFELLER INDICTED
MUST FACE OHIO JURY on 4
CRIMINAL TRUST CHARGE.
Three Directors Of the Standard OIL Con.
pany Also Indicte ed -sherin a War.
rants for Their Immediate Arrest
-BrIbe Onered to an OIL Case Juror.

charging violations of the Valentine anti
trust law we're returned to-day by the
Grand Jury against the Standard Oil Conn
pany of Ohio, John ID. Rockefeller. presidens
of the Standard Oil Company of New Jerssys
and M. G.. Villas, H. p. Mcintosh and J. 81.
Robertson, directors Of the Standard Oil
Company Of Ohio.
No immediate effort will be made to cause
the arrest Of Mr.. Rockefeller. who is now in
New York. as his attorneys are expected
to come here and enter his appearance. as
was lone when the information was filed
against him in the Probate Court. Should
they fail to do this steps will be taken with
out delay to apprehend him.
Within an hour after the jury had reported
Wesley Johns, deputy sheriff. was sent to
Cleveland with warrants for the arrest OF
Messrs. Villas. Mcintosh and Robertson.
He was instructed to bring the men to
Findlsy tomorrow if it is possible to hni
them and to accept no excuses. however
urgent.
This order was due to the course adopted
by these men in connection with the trial OF
the Standard Oil Company OF Ohio hers
last September. Subpenas left at their
homes and in Cleveland were ignored. In
W cases the subpDnas were torn up in
the presence of the Sheriff by women OF
their families.
Johns was instructed to advise Messrs.
Villas. Mcintosh and Robertson. in case
he found them, to bring bondsmen along
with them or to arrange in advance Of their
arrival for bondsmen here. 1t is not the
desire to lock up either OF the directors. bus
because of their former action they will
not be dealt with leniently.
Should immediate trial be demanded the
defendants will be accommodated. Other
wise il is probable hat their cases will
go over until the January term Of the
Common Pleas Court. There are a half
dozen criminal cases upon the docket this
term, but Prosecutor David is willing to
meet any demands they may make.
Indictments were not asked against the
several local subsidiary companies, for the
reason that ~informations are on file against
them already in the Probate Court and the
county prosecutor il confident thai tho
higher courts will sustain the Probate
Court in the disputed question OF juris-
diction.
The attorneys for Mr.. Rockefeller COM
planned that he had not been indicted"
said the Prosecutor to-day. We are the
most accommodating people in the world,
SO we have obliged them. II it suits the
peculiar pleasure of themselves and their
client to have him brought here under
indictment rather than under an informs-
ton they may now produce him with
satisfa ction.
The indictments in each case cover only
the period between July. I. the date to which
they stood charged in the infoTmations
file in the Probate Court, and November
IA. These indictments will in no wise
conflict with the Probate Court charges.
II the Probate Courts jurisdiction is main
tanned by the higher courts We can prose-
cute in both courts"
The indictments were secured in this
instance chiefly upon the introduction
before the Grand Jury of such portions
of the transcript Of the evidence adduoed
in the recent trial of the Standard as were
pertinent. In addition the petit jurors
were questioned relative to the correctness
of the recorded testimony.
The offences of the Standard Oil Company
of Ohio during the period from July S, 1903.
and July ., 1855, were ~disregarded. The
prosecutor holds hat under the Valentine
law, as worded, il would be impossible
to prove an offence upon any stipulated day.
so the fine of SIS 900 and costs will he per-
mitted to suffice for the companies aggrs-
gate offences for the three years.
Under this indictment however, it is
believed that the penalty Of S. 200 may be
imposed for every day covered in the indict-
ment should a conviction result. This fins
would apply also to the directors and Mr..
all of whom would be liable
to Imprisonment for from six
months TO one year.
Another Standard Oil incident OF to-day
was the declaration Of e. o. Myers that q
$500 bride for a disa greement of the Hancock
county jury, which tried and convicted the
Standard Oil Company Of Ohio m charges
of criminal conspiracy. was twice offered
TO him. He was one OF the twelve jurors.
The first Offer was made to Myers on thek
street, in the shadow Of the court house.
This was a direct proposition to pay $500 for
a disagreement.
Inc second oner was more brazen. It
was made in the basement Of the court
house, when a man at present unidentified
the juror a roll Of bills and rendered
them to him. Both offers were made by the
same man and both were declined.
The identity OF the wouldbe briber has
not been established. Myers says he does
know him. Prosecutor David and other
are familiar with the attempt 20
the jury, but refuse to discuss the
in any way. Though every effort Is
being made TO discover m punish the
briber. the State has carefully covered up
whatever clews II may have.
Investigation Of the affair will be pushed
by the Grand Jury. now in session, but IL
is likely that that body will not include in
its report the bribery phase Of its delibera-
tons. IL il believed that the Grand Jury
inv estigation is prosecuted merely to put
Prosecutor David in possession OF all OBJ
tainable facts, to enable him TO go after
any corruptionists that may be uncovered.
Al the time Of the Standard trial Findlay
was full Of oil men and rumors Of efforts
10 reach the jury were persistent, though