Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-12
STANDARD OIL
HEARING begun
EVIDENCE TAKEN IN SUITS TO
GUST COMPANY FROM
MISSOURI.
VIOLATION OF ANTI
TRUST LAW CHARGED
Concern May Lose License to Do BUSH
ness in State as Penalty-Promi-
nent New Workers. to Testify in
the Case.

New York, Jan. Civilian G..
Rockefeller, nephew of John D. Rookie
Teller, the president Of the Standard
OH company, was one of the witnesses
who attended the hearing Friday be-
tore Frederick w. Sanborn, a special
commissioners appointed by Gov. Folk
Of Missouri to take evidence In two
suits brought by the state Of Missouri
against the Standard Oil company and
companies alleged to be allied with 1t.
Other witnesses who are expected to
testify are H. H. Rogers and John D..
Archbold, vice presidents and directors
of the Standard Oil company. The
hearing was held in the office of Hen
ry Wollman, and E. T. Bedford, a di-
rector of the Standard Oil company,
was the first witness. Herbert s. Had
ley, attorney general of Missouri, con-
Quoted the case for that state.
Seeks to Bar Company.
The evidence was taken for use in
two suits which have been brought by
the state of Missouri. In one of these
suits the state seeks to bar the Stand
ard OIL company, Of Indiana, a branch
OF the Standard Oil company, which
transacts its business west of the
Ohio river, from doing business in Mis-
souri,. This action also aims to ex-
clude the Waters-Pierce Oil company
and the Republic Oil company from
transacting business in Missouri.
In the other action the state aims
to prevent the three companies named
from carrying out the terms OF an al
legged pooling agreement by which 1t
is charged that the business of their
competitors is crushed 1t is alleged
by the prosecution that the three cor
porations are federated for the pur-
pose of preventing competition and of
controlling prices in violation of the
Missouri antitrust law. The penalty
of such violation is forfeiture of char
ter or license to do business in the
state.
Trust Charged.
1t is charged that the corporations
have districted the western states, each
controlling the business of it's terri
tory, but all being in reality branches
OF the one trust. In the second suit
Attorney General Hadley named as
additional defendants H. c. Crenner,
doing business under the name of the
International Oil Works, and H. "A.
Williamson & Co. He alleged that the
two defendants also were dummy COM
petitors of the Standard Oil company
All the witnesses were taken to a
private room and sworn in behind
closed doors, the newspaper men being
excluded. The witnesses so sworn
were William G. Rockefeller, James A
Moffet, e. T.. Bedford, Howard Page
H. H. Rogers, John D. Archbold, Wade
Hampton, Frank O. Barstow and A. "
Jockel. Mr. Rogers asked that his
evidence be taken privately, but his re-
quest was refused.
Before Mr.. Bedford began his testi-
mony A. v. Jockel was first put on the
stand but was withdrawn upon agree.
ment that his evidence shall be sub
mitted in writing. Frank Hagerman
of counsel for one of the companies
said that he wanted to know if the
proceedings were for advertising pur-
poses. Mr.. Bedford refused to answer
most of the questions put to him on
the advice of his counsel.