Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-16
Find new WITNESS
IN THE OIL PROBE
HADLEY OF MISSOURI LOCATES
FORMER OFFICE BOY OF
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER.
EXPECTED TO DISCLOSE
SECRETS OF MONOPOLY
John Corkhill, Who Rose to Confiden-
tial Position with Trust, Promises
to Go on Stand and Tell ALI He
Knows.

New YOrK, Jan. lS. trough an anon
ymous letter signed "a Wall Street
Clerk" Attorney General Hadley, of Mis-
souri,, has discovered witness whose
testimony, it is declared, will probably
do more to disclose the secret workings
of the Standard Oil company than that
been examined in the inquiry before
Commissioner Sanborn.
The witness, John Corkhill, began his
business career as John d. Rockefeller's
Office boy, and worked his way up until
he was confidential man to w. E.
Bemis, manager of the Standards clear
ing house, where the relations between
the subsidiary companies and the Stand
ard corporation are laid bare. Mr..
Corkhill continued with the Standard
until John D. Rockefeller's retirement
from active management. Then fol-
| lowed period of retrenchrnent and he
resigned.
Interview with Witness.
| The writer of the letter to the attor-
ney general said that he feared he would
lose his position if his identity became
known, but he wished to help the inyes-
tigation and SO suggested Corkhill as a
valuable witness. Immediately upon its
receipt Mr.. Hadley turned the letter over
to Rush Lake, assistant attorney gen
eral of Missouri, and before the day was
over Mr.. Corkhill was located.
| Mr.. Corkhill," said the assistant at
ltorney general when they met, "the state
| of Missouri has instituted proceedings
to show that the Standard Oil company
of Indiana, the Waters-Pierce Oil COM
pany and the Republic Oil company are
all part of the Standard Oil trust. un-
derstand that you know something
about the operations of these companies
and desire to call you as witness"
Sure" said Mr.. Corkhill. They're
all at 26 Broadway. While was with
Mr.. Bemis all their reports passed
through the Office. don't know about
testifying, though. guess you'd better
talk to my lawyer"
Agrees to Testify.
I The lawyer referred to was called into
the conference and said he could see no
reason why Mr.. Corkhill should not tell
what he knew. He advised, however,
that his client think it over during the
night. This was agreeable to both par
ties and an engagement was made
| whereby Mr.. Corllhill will meet Mr.
Lake and accept service of the subpoe-
ma which was issued for him when Mr.
Hadley received the information regard
ling him.
4 John d. Rockefeller was the best
friend the Standard Oil employees ever
had" Mr.. Corkhill said, after his talk
with Mr. Lake. He was never too busy
to listen to you if you wanted advice or
anything else. While he was running
things it was very different from what
it is now. Yes, if my attorney says SO,
/ will tell all know"
When news of the discovery of Cork
hill and what the latter said was
brought to Attorney General Hadley he
was jubilant. "He will make the best
witness we have had" he declared.
This obstructive policy does not always
pay.
Il am anxious to get home, but will
permit no personal considerations to in
terfere with the inquiry. Mr. Rockefel-
Ter. Mr.. Archbold and all the other
Standard Oil men | can catch, with the
witnesses outside of the Standard forces,
will be examined before leave New
York"
Delay in Hearing.
The attempt by Attorney General
Hadley to compel Henry H. Rogers,
the vice president of the Standard Oil
company of New Jersey, to answer GER
tain questions put to him during his
Examination before Commissioner San
born came up before Justice Glider
sleeve in the supreme court Friday.
Mr.. Rogers counsel protested that it
was impossible for them to proceed
fmme diately and the hearing was adj
3purned until three o'clock in the
Iafterneen. The hearing was later
adjourned until Saturday morning.
Mr. Hadley said that he should leave
New York Sunday night in order to
| attend to motion in the United
States court in Missouri relative to
| the New York Life Insurance company
doing business in that state.