Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-27
LETTERS PUT IN EVIDENCE
H. H. Tilford the First Witness on
the Stand.
ASKED TO EXPLAIN SOME THINGS
Confessed to Poor Memory in Defin-
ing Status Of the Domestic
Trades Committee"

NEW YORK, March 27.-When the pro-
ceedings by which Attorney General Had
ley of Missouri seeks to oust from that
state companies controlled by the Standard
OH Company were resumed today, counsel
for the Standard OIL Company delivered a
number of letters which had been requested
by Mr.. Hadley. Many of those requested
were missing, but the Standard Oil Com
pany'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 president Of the
Continental Oil Company, which does bust
ness In Colorado and the west and also
connected with second company engaged
in the oil business in the Pacific states, a
corporation Incorporated in Iowa. He said
that he had an Office at 20 Broadway.
Upon being asked If he was member OF
the domestic trades committee Of Standard
oil, Mr.. Tilford said he did not know what
was meant by the term COMMITTEE" He
had heard 1t used, however. he said.
II mean experts who handle the affairs of
Standard OIL" suggested Mr. Hadley
Il do not know anything about the domes-
tic trades committee" said Mr.. Tllford. He
said the Continental OIL Company does not
do business In Missouri
Escaped His Memory.
Mr.. Hadley than showed Mr.. Tilford a
letter written by the witness to #. H.
Hochs in which a suggestion of the domestic
trades committee was quoted, and Mr.. Had
ley asked the witness to explain 1t. Mr.. TIL
ford said 1t had escaped his memory. The
witness said he could not recall letter
from A. NJ. Finley, who, in 1908. was vice
president of the Waters-Pierce OIL Com
pany, In which Mr.. Finley wrote that 1t
was inconvenient for him to come to New
York to see Mr.. Tilford about the business
of the Waters-Pierce Company. Neither
could he recall having written letters to
President Druitt of the Waters-Pierce Com
pany to come to New York on similar busi-
ness.
Mr.. Tilford said that R. H. McNall was
at first connected with the Pratt Oil Com
pany, and then came to the witness Office
to assist him.
And he had a desk in your office up to
the commencement of this suit, did he not
after he had been appointed the commercial
agent of the Waters-Pierce Company" was
asked.
Yes"
Mr. Tilford said he could not remember
a meeting attended by H. H. Rogers John
D. Archbold III. Clay Pierce and himself. at
which the reorganization of the Waters
Pierce Company was discussed. When tina t
company was reorganiZed, the witness said,
he sold the one share Of It's stock which he
held for 5000.
Ea1led TO ldenClTy Letters.
The witness was shown a number of let
ters, some signed and others unsigned, pur-
porting to be written to or by the witness,
in connection with the business of the
Waters-Pierce Company and the Standard
OIL Company. Some of the letters had to do
with expenses OF men employed by the
Standard Oil and others requested lists of
employees of the Waters-Pierce Company,
and the salaries paid them. They were in
ttialed by both witness and his brother, w.
H. Ttlford, but Mr.. Tilford disclaimed all
knowledge of them. The witness said that
w. r. Tilford is treasurer of the Standard
Oil OF New Jersey.
Where is r. H McNan?" asked Mr..
Hadiey.
Didn't he leave for Greenfield, Mass,
about the time the suit commenced to
warm up a little?"
II don't know"
Poor Minority Again.
Didn't he leave for Greenfield, Mass,
about the time the suit commenced to
warm UP a little?"
Il don't know"
Mr. Tilford said that Mr.. McNall left his
employ when the Waters Pierce company
was reorganized. and that he does not
know who is now commercial agent of that
company. The witness said that part Of
Mexico for his company.
But he bought it at 26 Broadway
asked Mr.. Hadley.
He made arrangements there, I sup
pose replied Mr. Tilford
The witness said r. P Tinsley was agent
of the Standard Oil Company before he
went to the Waters-Pierce Company He
was succeeded by Walter Jennings and II.
G. Arnold. Mr.. Tilford's duty with the
Standard OIL Company, he said, had to do
with the marketing of the refined product
Mr.. Hadley then read letter tending to
show that list of the daily cash sales
OF the Waters-Pierce Company was sent to
Mr. Tilford, but the witness said II WA 6
sent TO Mr.. McNall.
Mr.. Tilford said he Is unable to say
whether 1t Is true that the Waters Pierce
state OF Missouri.
Ignorant Of Company's Custom.
Has 1t been the custom of the Standard
OH companies, when one sold Oil In the ter
ritory of another to transfer the sale to the
company occupying that territory2' asked
Mr. Hadley.
II don't know that It has" the u,tnass
replied.
Mr.. Hadley then produced a letter writ.
ten ordering credit memo transfsrred
TO the standard on marine department, to
account for transaction of the Waters
Pierce Company down In Mexico He then
read q couple Of letters dealing with saIes
and transactions OF wax ana rosdn used a.
fuel The letters We're signed by r, H.
ness.
Next g letter signed by Mr.. McNall ad-
dressed to Vice President prtLt$ Ia 81,
letters from the Waters-Pierce Company 10
the Standard Oil Company, be sent out
without signatpres or named, only the dates
and body Of the letters. Copies, It was
way, but that carbon copies be taken ieav-
ing the signatures OH.
A Certain Code Book.
A stenographer named Smith, who tes
titled at the previous hearing, told how
he took the carbon copies In the way sug-
gested.
A letter telling Of the existence Of a code
book of the Waters- Pierce Company was
next read. and the witness said he found
such code book Of the company, which he