Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-12-27
Their DEFENSEBAD
Witness for Standard Oil Makes
Poor Showing for the Trust
In New York.
IN MISSOURI CUSTER SUIT
A SuperciliOus show of Superiority
and . Bad Memory - Some
Fatal Admissions One
Company Quits.

New York. Dec. 2O.-Testifyine
Wednesday in the suit brought by the
, state of Missouri against the Stand
ard OIL company, the Waters-P Pierce
OIL company and the Republic Oil
company to stop them from doing
business In Missouri. G. L. Nichols,
president of the Republic OIL com
pany, declared that as result of
the disclosures made in the proceed
ings, the usefulness of the Republic
OIL company as supposed competitor
Of the standard Oil company outside
of Missouri, he said, had been turned
over to the Standard Oil company
Of New Jersey. That portion in Mis-
souri, would also have been turned
over he added, had 1t not been for in.
functions which prevented such action.
One witness, Walter C. Teagle,
who was manager of the Republic
Oil company, was an exceedingly
poor witness and did not answer
Hadley's rapid fire cross-examination
to anyone's satisfaction unless 1t was
himself He sat for two hours ap-
parently well pleased with himself,
smoking expensive cigars with long
cigar holder.
Sometimes the lawyers for the
trust would sit on the corners Of their
chairs showing intense anxiety, II
not pain, while he answered the Ques-
lions with an air that indicated that
he was far superior to the Missouri
attorney general and looked upon
him with contempt, but was willing
to answer to help him along" He
certainly did help.
When the hearing was adjourned
Tuesday Mr.. Teagle was telling Of the
organization of the Republic Oil COM
pany which 1t is claimed by the state,
was a Standard Oil concern Wednes-
day he was asked what was the price
paid for the Schofield, Schurmer &
Teagle company's property which
went, it is claimed, toward forming
the Republic Oil company, He re-
piled that he did not know what
price nor did he know that there
was any contract for the sale. He
was one of the stockholders In the
Republic Oil company, but he did not
pay for the stock merely held it. An
by Attorney General Hadley
of Missouri. the cross%examiner. to
learn the exact position Teagle held
with the Republic Oil company, was
not successful.
Mr.. Hadley read to the witness
several letters which Teagle had
written to the oil company's agents
after he took the general manage
nent of the company in which he
.old his agents to be sure to repre-
sent that the Republic Oil company
was an independent concern mas
much as the independent companies
we're claiming that the Republic COM
,any was not an Independent con- ,
,ern. Circular letters were sent to {
he trade, similar in tenor I
Mr.. 1eagle said that the letters ;
we're sent to prevent the company's q
gents talking too much. He regard 4
ID the Republic oil company as an in I
dependent concern and he wanted his a
gents to so regard 1t. '
"You regarded all the other COM :
'anies in your field as your competi-
ors?" asked Mr.. Hadley.
Eyes. SIR"
"And, despite the fact that the
tockholders in the Republic Oil COM
any were, save alone yourself, en-
loyes of the Standard Oil company,
nd that you made your reports to
he rear end of the building at No. 26
Broadway, you maintain that you car
led on fierce competition with the
Their companies in your field?"