Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-15
OIL KING INDICTED
OHIO GRAND JURY ACTS IN VAL
ENTINE ANTITRUST CASE. :

Ter, head Of the Standard Oil Company, was
indicted at Findlay, Ohio. for violation of
the Valentine antitrust law, his eldest
daughter, Mrs. c. A. Strong, died in
Cannes, France. She had been suffering
from serious nervous trouble for two years
and was on the verge of mental break
down.
A telegram from Findlay says:
Indictments charging violations of the
Valentine antitrust law were returned by
the grand pury today against the Standard
Oil Company of Ohio, John D. Rockefeller,
president Of the Standard Oil Company Of
New Jersey and M. G. Villas, H. P. McIn-
tosh and ]. NJ 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 done in the case of the information
filed against him in the probate court
Should they fail to do this steps will be
taken without delay to apprehend Mr..
Rockefeller
Wesley Johns, deputy sheriff, was sent to
Cleveland within an hour after the jury had
reported, with warrants for the arrest Of
MeSSrS. Villas, Mcintosh and Robertson He
was instructed to bring the men to Findlay
tomorrow, If 1t was possible to find them,
and to accept no excuse, 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 here
last September. Subpoenas left at their res
licences in Cleveland were ignored. In two
cases the subjoenas were torn up in the
presence Of the sheriff by women of their
families.
Deputy Sheriff Johns was instructed to
advise Messrs. Villas, Mcintosh and Rob-
ertson, in case he found them to bring
bondsmen or to arrange in advance of
their arrival for bondsmen here. 1t is
not desired to lock up either of the direc-
tors. but because of their former action
they will be dealt with summarily.
Ready for Trial.
Should immediate trial be demanded the
defendants will be accommodated. Other
wise it is probable their cases will go over
until the January term of the common
pleas court. There are half dozen crimi-
nal cases on the docket for this term, but
Prosecutor David is willing to meet any
demands the Oil men may make.
Indictments were not asked against the
several local subsidiary companies because
informations are already on file against
them In the probate court, and the county
prosecutor is confident the higher courts
will sustain the probate court in the dis
puted question of jurisdiction.
The indictments were obtained in this in
stance chiefly upon the Introduction before
the grand jury of such portions of the
recent trial Of the Standard as were peril
nent In addition, the petit jurors were
questioned relative to the correctness Of
the recorded testimony.
Offenses Of the Standard Oil Company Of
Ohio during the period from July 5, 1908, to
July 6. 1866, were d,sregarded. The prose-
cutor holds that under the Valentine law
1t would be impossible to prove an offense
upon any stipulated day, and the fine of
5000 and costs will be permitted to suffice
for the company's aggregate offenses for
the three years.
Under this Indictment, however, 1t is be-
lieved the penalty of 5000 may be i'm
posed for every day covered in the indict-
ment should a conviction result. This fine
would apply also to the directors and Mr..
Rockefeller, all of whom would be liable
in addition to Imprisonment for from six
months to one year.
Attempt to Bride.
A bride Of $500 for disagreement of the
Hancock county petit jury which tried and
convicted the Standard Oil Company of
Ohio on charges of criminal conspiracy
was twice offered to C. o. Myers one of
the twelve jurors, during the trial of the
case, according to Mr.. Myers own state
ment.
The first offer, the juror declares, was
made to Mr.. Myers in the street, in the
shadow of the court house in which the
case was being tried. This was in the
for a disagreement.
The second offer was made in the base
ment of the court house, when some man.
at present unidentified, showed the Juror.
the latter asserts a big roll of bills and
rendered them to him. Both offers were
made by the same man, and both were
declined.
The Identity Of the would-be briber has
not been established. Mr.. Myers says he
does not know him. Prosecutor David and
other officials are familiar with the alleged
attempt to corrupt the jury. but refuse to
discuss the matter In any way. Though
every effort is being made to discover and
punish the briber. the state has carefully
covered up whatever clues 1t may have
gained.
Investigation of facts will be pushed by
the grand jury, now in session. but it is
likely that body will not include in its
report the bribery phase of it's delibera-
tons. 1t Is believed the grand jury in
vestigation is conducted merely to put
Prosecutor David in possession Of all OBJ
tainable facts to enable him to 20 after
any corruptionists uncovered.
At the time Of the Standard trial Findlay
was full of oil men and rumors Of efforts
to reach the jury were persistent though
they could never be verified. Prosecutor
Davids move in summonging before the
grand jury the members of the petit jury
has borne rich fruit. Mr.. Myers appeared
before the grand jury yesterday after
noon, being one Of the first examined
DAUGHTER rs DEAD