Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-09
OIL KING PROVES TO
HAVE A POOR MEMORY
Tells CourtHe DoesNot Know
Much About Standard Oil
But His Mind Brightens
When He Recalls 40
Per Cent Dividend

Chicago, July 6.-With his attorneys
and eleven other officers of the Stan
lard Oil company, including William
Rockefeller John D. Rockefeller, the
so-called richest man in the world,
faced a federal court room filled with
attorneys and spectators today. He
submitted to an examination conduct
ed in person by Judge Kenesaw M
Lands who has it within his power
to hold the Oil king in contempt OF
rourt should the witness decline to
answer his questions.
Feared Injury to OIL King.
There was terrific jam at the court
room door when court opened, requir-
ing the efforts Of large force OF po-
lice to maintain order Deputy mar
Bhals and secret service men were
scattered throughout the audience to
provide against any possible attempt
to injure Rockefeller.
Rockefeller entered the court room
accompanied by few friends and
counsel and took seat at the left OF
the judges desk.
There was no demonstration on the
part Of the spectators.
Rockefeller was called to the stand
at 10: so o'clock. In reply to the ques-
tions by Judge Lands, the oil mag
nate said he was president of the
Standard Oil company of New Jersey,
the position being purely honorary
one for the past ten years.
He had taken no active part in the
affairs during that time, he said. The
outstanding capital of the company he
believed to be about $1,000,000. The
business of the Standard, generally
speaking, he said, was the production
of oil Attorney Miller made frequent
objection to this line of questioning
by the Judge, but was overruled in
every instance.
Witness Has Poor Memory.
Rockefeller said it had been eight
or ten years since he has been in the
office of the Standard Oil company
and he could not answer questions
as to the general business of the com
pany without studying it's charter
He said he did not know whether the
Standard Of New Jersey controlled oI
was interested in other refineries.
1t may be So" he said, but don't
know"
In reply to other questions Rookie
Teller said he could not say that the
company had any other business thar
refining of oil and could not say exact
ly what the dividends Of the Stand
ard were for 1905, but that they were
approximately forty per cent.
This concluded the questions b,
Judge Lands and District Attorne,
Sims asked If the witness was fami
liar with the circumstances surround
ing the formation of the Standard OF
company of Indiana.
Secures knowledge of Trust.
81 don't think I care for that" sal
Judge Landis.
What officers of the Standard Oh
company will be able to give me tn
earnings Of the Standard Oil compan
in 1905 and 1902" asked Judge Lar
dis.
Il think possibly Mr.. Archibald o
Mr.. Pratt" rejoined Mr. Rockefeller.
THAT is all for the present. said tn
court.
G. M. Pratt, secretary of the Star
dard OIL company of New Jersey wa
then called. He was questioned re
garding the amount Of dividends pal
by the company and was then aske
If the Standard Oil company owne
the stock of the Standard of Indiana
He said it did own large proportio
of it, also a large measure of th