The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-07-07
Tells of Financial Strength
of Big Corpor-
alton.
Proved a Very Willing and
Satisfactory Wit
ness.
BUT KNEW VERY LITTLE REGARD
ING TRANSACTIONS OF GIGAN-
TIC MONOPOLY OF WHICH HE
is THE HEAD-REsUME OF PRO-
cEEDINes AT HEARING IN CHI
CAGO.
BY Associated Press.

SulCdSO, July V-JOhA II. 1SONhO
Teller, president of the Standard Oil
Company of New Jersey, occupied the
witness stand in the United States
district court to-day, while Judge
Lands piled him with questions re-
garding the financial strength and
business methods of the corporation
of which he is the head. Rockefeller
proved a very willing and satisfac-
tory witness, ready to tell all he knew
but he practically knew nothing. The
result of his examination was that
he believed during the years nineteen
hundred and three, four and five, the
period covered by the indictments on
which the Standard Oil Company of
Indiana was recently convicted, the
net profits of the New Jersey COM
pany were, approximately, forty per
cent on the outstanding capitalization
of one hundred million dollars.
The investigation held by Judge
Lands to-day was instituted for the
express purpose of determining
whether the Indiana company, which
was recently convicted, was really
owned by the New Jersey company;
whether the Union Tank Line, whose
cars are used for shipments in viola
ton of law. was similarly owned. and
to obtain an idea of the financial re-
sources of the convicted corporation,
in order to infict fine proportion
ate to the offense and assets of the
convicted company.
Statement of Officers.
1t was stated by officers of the New
Jersey company that it owned the
greater part of the stock of the In
diana company and the tank line.
Specific figures as to the earnings of
the parent company were given by
Charles NJ. Pratt, secretary of the New
Jersey company and these are close to
the estimates given by Rockefeller.
An hour preceding the hearing in
the courtroom and in the halls of the
court building, brought a spectacle
never before witnessed in a Chicago
court The hallway was packed an
hour before Rockefeller arrived and Z:
large squad of police endeavored to
keep order, but they we're swept off
their feet and a call sent to headquar-
tiers for reinforcements.
The jam around the door when it
was opened at $40 was terrific. The
majority of the spectators were in and
seated when Mr.. Rockefeller made his
tended by a few friends and his coun-
sci. A passage was opened for
him by the police and he walked SLOW
ly down the hall toward the court |
room, the crowd closing behind him, |
eager to catch a glimpse of the So |
called richest man in the world.
Rockefeller Appears
Mr.. Rockefeller was shown to a |
seat to the left of the judges desk. |
His presence in the court room was
almost unnoticed by the spectators
in the room until he was well up the |
side aisle. Then a buzz went up
from the sweltering crowd packed in
the rear of the room and d rustic and
as each tried to get a !
glimpse OF the oil magnate. There |
was no demonstration however. MR.. !
Rockefeller looked curiously around |
him for moment as he settled in
his seat and then commenced whis- |
pered conversation with one of his |
attorneys
Immediately after the entrance of |
Mr.. Rockefeller to the court room |
pandemonium broke loose in the hall |
way. This crowd pushed at the |
policemen, gasping and perspir;ng. |
showed back in desperate fashion. |
From struggling with the police two |
members of the crowd soon turned |
on each other and few spontaneous |
matches eplivened the al |
ready strenuous proceedings in the |
hall So serious did the proceedings |
become that United States Marshal |
Hoy was compelled to telephone to |
police headquarters for additional men |
Inside the court room proper the jam |
was nearly as bad as in the hall out
side. The walls were lined with spec |
tators unable TO secure seats Others |
filed the window seats, damned the |
doorways and sat upon chairs in |
and even squatted on the |
floor
After the examination OF Fred A |
Wann, former general freight agent |
of the Chicago and Alton Railway |
and H. E. FELTON,, president of tho |
Union Tank Line. Mr.. Rockefeller |
was called to the witness stand
Maqnate on Stand. i
John D. Rockefeller" called Judge |
Lands and John d. Rockefeller presi- |
dent of the Standard Oil Ccmpsny of |
New Jersey left his seat, walked slow |
" TO the witness chair at the right nf |
Judge Landis and raised his right