Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-09
ROGERS REFUSES TO ANSWEk
Standard Oil Nsgnats Displays Astounding
Ignorance Of Compsny's Affairs
MRS. BUTTS TELLS OF STOCK TRANSFERS
witness says that the wsters-Pierce
OIL Company was Member of
the Original Trust
Organization.

NEW YORK, Jan. s-Henry H. Rogers,
the vice president OF the Standard Oil COM
pany of New Jersey and director of the
standard Oil company Of Indiana, which
Attorney General Herbert S. Hadley is try
ing to oust from the state of Missouri was
on the witness stand today on quo war
ranto proceedings brought by Mr.. Hadley.
Mr.. Hadley took up with him only two
points-whether the Standard Oil company
Of Indiana has office in the building
2s Broadway. this city. where the Stand
ard Oil company of New Jersey has its Of
fees. and whether the Standard Oil COM
pany of New Jersey owns or controls ma
jorty of the stock of the Indiana COM
pany. the Waters-Pierce Oil company of
Missouri and the Republic Oil company of
New York.
Mr. Rogers said that he did not know
that the Indiana company has Offices at 2s
Broadway. that he supposed its affairs are
conducted in Indiana and that he imagined
that James II. Moffatt. president Of the
Standard Oil company of Indiana, has an
Office at 26 Broadway, but that he (Mr
Rogers was never in IL.
Mr. Rogers declined to answer The ques-
ton whether the Standard Oil company
of New Jersey owns the stock of the
other companies which Mr.. Hadley alleges
have combined to stine competition in Mis-
| souri, Mr.. Hadley pressed the que stion
with much insistence and demanded an
answer without evasions.
do you mean to say to the supreme
| court of Missouri that you do not know
where the offices of the company of which
| you a director are located?" demanded
Mr.. Hadey
| ''It is innupa terial m me what the
court of Missouri expects me to say" re-
piled Mr. Rogers
| When Mr. Rogers went on the stand
this afternoon a photographer temporarily
] broke up the proceedings and drove him
| out Of the room by burning a flashlight to
| get picture of him. 1t filled the room
| with smoke and Mr.. Rogers was excused
| until a later hour.
Attempt to Deport Witness.
| II. d. Hardcastle, who was formerly en-
ployed in the Albany agency of the Stan
dard Oil company, was Mir hadley's chief
| witness today.
He testified to instances in which he was
| transferred from the Standard Oil COM
panys employ to that of the Republic Oil
company at Cleveland and of the Atlantic
Refining company at Philadelphia.
These transfers. he said, were made by
officers or employees of the Standard Oil
company and one of them told him he must
not be known in Cleveland as having been
employed by the Standard Oil company.
Witness had some letters, he said from
Standard OIL men which he was induced
to surrender to Walter Jennings of the
Standard Oil company In the hope OF get
ting a better position, but he received a
ticket for Europe without return coupon.
Mr.. Rogers was testifying when the hear
ing adjourned today.
After the adjournment Attorney General
Hadley's attention was called to some pub
lished advice to him concerning the pro
ceedngs from Thomas w. Lawson of Bos
ton, and he was asked: do you want Mr.
Lawson to come down here and testify ir
this case?"
Certainly. II Mr.. Lawson knows any,
thing | should like to have him com,
down" said Mr.. Hadley.
Mrs. Ida NJ. Butts stepdaughter of tn,
late George L. Rice of Marietta, o.. wa
the first witness.
: Before interrogation OF witnesses besal
Mr.. Hadley informed the commissioner tha
Wade Hampton, auditor of the STANDARD
Oil company. one of the witnesses sum
moned, had not responded.
Mr.. Hadley read a certificate Of six share
in the original Standard Oil trust issued b!
the board OF trustees of that trust In 1se
to George NJ. Rice. 1t was signed by JohI
2 d. Rockefeller. Henry NJ. Flagler and VIII
liam T. Wardwell. 1t was indorsed as hav
ing been issued in compliance with an orde
of the supreme court of New York, made il
$ 1890 Mrs. Butts identified it as having be
= longed to Mr.. Rice.
Mr.. Hadley also read a certificate Of a.
I ~ nf ena {t,t
I Standard oil trust to George NJ. Rice an
asked II this was issued after the Standar
= Oil company OF Ohio was ordered by tn
i-courts to be dissolved In 1892. These wer
the papers about which Mrs. Butts wa
questioned on Saturday, but which sh
. could not then produce. They were signe
by John D. Rockefeller. H. II. Rogers, "
;. II. Tilford, attorney and F. Q. Barstov
: as secretary
a standard Attorney Objects.
Frank Hagerman, counsel tor the Stand
n ard Oil company. objected to this questio
!, as asked only for the purpose OF publica
a ton by the twenty reporters present. Th
. objection was overruled. Mrs. Butts sal
. the paper was owned by Mr.. Rice.
~ These six shares are said to be the onl
IA shares of the original Standard Oil tru.
10 now in existence. Mrs. Butts said Il
y NaterS-BleTCt Oll company WIS a memD(
IA OF the original Standard OIL trust. Mr.
Butts said Mr. Rice had another assign
= ment of title. which she converted int
p. scrip of the constituent companies OF Il
"a Standard Oil company OF New Jersey. VI
a. Hadley again brought from the witness,
"A on Saturday, that these assignments
=, title were issued in course OF what NJ
Hadley called the pretended dissolution
a. OF the Standard Oil company OF Ohio ar
l the final election OF that company fro
"A Ohio in contempt proceedings.
"A Mrs. Butts said these shares of stoC
were exchangeable for stock in the Stan
ard Oil company OF New Jersey.
z Did the Standard OIL company OF Ne
Jersey become the holding company
n, these companies in the Standard {
trust?" asked Mr.. Hadley.
1T did" said Mrs. Butts.
Mrs. Butts also possessed as administr
ot trix of George NJ. Rice a certificate
he shares OF stock held by him in the Stan
IT. ard oil company of Indiana.
nd She said that Alexander Mcdonald
TO Co. Of Cincinnati was in existence befo
lie the Standard Oil trust ana became L
Consolidated Tank Line company and