The Mena weekly star., 1907-10-31
MDSOURrS CUSTER CASE
Arguments Before Supreme Court by Oil Trust Lawyers and Attor-
 ney General Hadley.
COMPANIES CLAIM INNOCENCE OF WRONG
Frank Haoerman Asked That Stand ard be Told Wherein They Are vIo- latIng the nv and Given Chance 10 Place Their Busine.s on Leolt- Innate Basls.

Jefferson City, Oct. 25.--The argu- ments ia the custer proceedings brought by Herbert s. Hadley, attor- ney general. against the Standard. the Waters-Pi Pierce and the Republic Oil companies before the supreme court en blanc, were not finshed until Thursday morning at Il o'clock. H. Clay Pierce and his sons, Clay Arthur and H. Clay, 1r., sat in the courtroom throughout the arguments.
 When the case was called for argu- ment just before noon Wednesday the court gave the attorneys two hours and a half on each side in which to present the arguments, but the attor- neys for the companies asked for addi- tional time. They were given an ad- ditional hour. making three and one half hours for them and two and one half for the state. The arguments were upon the 105 exceptions filed by the oil companies to the report of the commissioner, Judge Robert A. An thony of Frederickstown.
 Judge Anthony's findings were for the state and against the companies.
 Frank Hagerman, for tho compa- nies. opened the arguments. He di- rected his attention mainly to the re- port of the commissioner. He said that it was without foundation. He said that the commissioner had failed in the report satisfactorily to answer ore of the 19 legal points or issues presented by the attorneys for the oil companies at the hearings when the testimony was taken. In the course of his arguments he touched upon the stock ownership of the companies and also the division of territory be- tween the companies. He contended that the Standard oil company ao quired the controlling interest in the Waters-Pierce company and that the territorial division was established before the antitrust laws were on the statute books of Missouri. That condition. he said. the companies have maintained ever since. He concluded with plea for the court to either set aside the report of the commissioner or to indicate to the companies where In they are violating the law and give them a chance to place their business affairs on legitimate basis.
 MT. Hadley. for the state, began his argument at 3 clock and spoke two hours. He laid particular stress upon the fact that the taking of testimony was delayed from time to time by the refusal of H. Clay Pierce to testify before the commissioner.
 "The taking of the testimony in this case" he said. pointing his finger di- rectly at Mir. Pierce, who sat with his sons on the opposite side of the court room, was greatly delayed by the re- fusal of H. c. Pierce to testify before the commissioner.
 MT. Hadley then took up the case systematically and attacked the plan of organization of the combination among the oil companies. the method of their operation and control by the Standard Oil company of New Jersey. MT. Hadley concluded by asking the cour. to award a judgment of custer against the companies and to impose a heavy fine upon tlem for violating the law.
 Judge H. 8. Priest of St. Louis con cluded the argument for the compa- nies Thursday morning. He spoke mainly on the question of stock owner ship and the management of the com. panies.