Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-07-12
A POOR WITNESS
RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD ON
WITNESS STAND.
J. D. OFFICER IN NAME ONLY
He Hasn't Been In His Own Office for
Eight Years and Knows But
li.tie Of the Business.

"I am the president Of the Standard
OIL Company. but the position IL
purely honorary. and has been for tho
last eight or ten years. ms | have not
been rendering any service whatever.
II think the capital stock is about
800. .o00. 900.
1T is a dozen years since havo
been at al actively connected with
the affairs OF the company. II is eight
years since ! have been in the oiiico
at all.
81 do not know what rofineries
there are. The refining business has
grown up since my touch closed with
it's active operations.
Il do not know exactly what tho
dividends were during the years 1908.
1904. and 1905. but ! think they were
approximately about forty per cent. OF
the outstanding stock
Il do not know what the net earn
ings OF the company Were during those
years.
ChIcago.-John ID. Rockefeller. pres
idcnt Of the Standard OIL Company OF
New Jersey. occupied III. Witness
stand In the United States D'sulct
Court while Judge Lands piled him
with quGstions regarding the financial
strength and the business methods OF
tho corporation OF which he In tho
head.
Rockefeller was n wiliin. and nn
equally unsatisfactory witness iio
was ready To tell NIL that he knew.
but he raid that h. knew practically
nothing. The net Tcsul, Of his oSnni-
nation was that he believed that dur
Ink the years 1909. 1904 and 1905. 'h"
period covered by 'L- indictments ON
which the Standard oil Company "f
Indiana wnE recently convicted. tho.
net profits Of the Standard OH Com
pany Of New Jersey were approx.
matciy forty per cent. of an ou'Atand-
ing capitalization Of si00.noo.ooo.
The Investigation held by judge
fandiH -'as Instituted by him Tor tho
express purpose of Determining
whether or no, the Standard oil Com
pany of Indiana. which VAS convicted
of violation Of III" law. was really
owned by III. Standard oil Company
Of New Jersey: whether the Union
tank lines. whose earS wei" used for
the shipment made In violation uf tho
law. was similarly oNncI. and also to
ohisin nm idea of IN. financial re-
sources of IN. eonyieic. corporation Ia
order to infiIct rnc psoporiIonai- to
the offcnH~. and tn. assets of the con-
yIct.d company.
I, was stated ~ officers OF tho
Standard oil Company of New Jersey
that II owned the greater part uf III.
stock Of both the Union tank lin- pnd
the Standard oil Company uf Indiana.
Specific figures as To the earnings of
the parent corporation ~rr- given BY
Charles ~. Pratt. iiA secretary. ami
they w-r- close io tho .Riitaai" given
by Mr. Rockefeller.
The prospective appearance In court
II the man t-puisd to be- the richcH.
man In the world brought abon, a.
spectacle the like of which has never.
been Witnessed In the vicinity of q
Chicago court room.
The hour set for the appearance of
John u. Rockefeller was I" o'clock.
and an hour before ihs, time the low
c-ii-d hall outside the court room door
vas dcn-cly packed by n crowd. all of
whom were anxious TO obtain seats and
hear the testimony. A large squad ot
United States deputy n!araha!s under
the direction af United States Mar.
ahsi Hoy. and n numerous detail 81 pr
lice were on hand. hut even they v.ro
unable st times io control the crowd.
The people. pushed at times by sheer
weight. actually bore the police down
the hall. The crowd was 80 d-ns,
iha, frequent cries for assistance wcro
heard. and pcopl. who were jammod
against the wall franticaiiy begged for
relief against the pressure 10 which
they were subjected. Admission To- tho
court room was by card only. hut
many pcopl. succeeded In evaiins tn.
guards. and when Judge Landls took
his sea, upon the bench the court
room was packed to the las; inch.
Lines of people were around the wallis.
dozens Of chairs held two occupants.
every inch Of standing room was nc.
cupicd and men sa, upon the Steps Of
the jury box and sgusitcd upon the
floor.
Even after the court room was
filled. the crowd became no heavy and
so insis;ent that Marshal Hoy was
compelled to telephone 10 police head.
quarters for further assistance. This
was promptly sent AMI from that timo
on the crowd was held In check. In.
side the court room perfect order pre-
vailed at all times, except at the i'm.
mediate opening. when Judge Lanhis
threatened to clear the room u ahsp-
lutte quiet was not preserved.