Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-07


William p. Howe and F. c. Barstow,
assistant treasurer of the company;
Charles T. Waite, assistant secretary;
]. A. Moffat, president of the Standard
Oil company of Indiana w. p. Cowan,
president, nd l. Stahl. secretary and
treasurer of the same corporation. 9th
er witnesses in the group were w. e.
Melton, president, and William Hutchi-
son, secretary and treasurer of the
Union tank line; Fred Wann, former
freight agent of the Chicago & Alton
railway, and a number of attorneys
completed the group.
Before the hearing of the Standard
Oil company case regan Judge Lands
disposed of several other matters,
among them the sentencing of several
prisoners for violation Of the postal
laws.
Mr.. Rockefeller showed great interest
in these proceedings. listening intently
to every word.
When the Standard Oil investigation
case was called the attorneys for the
company, together with F. c.. Gault,
stepped forward to the front of Judge
Lands desk.
Want Rockefeller Excused
Here Attorneys Miller and Rosenthal
of counsel for the company began an
earnest plea that Mr.. Rockefeller be
excused from the stand. They ex-
planned to the judge that he could give
no information that could not be bet
ter obtained from other sources. They
declared that he could, in fact, tell
nothing of what the judge desired TO
know. The Judge, however. refused to
vacate the subpoena and insisted that
Mr.. Rockefeller being in court he should
take the stand and testify to the best
of his ability.
Attorneys for the company offered the
objection to the impending proceedings
that they were entirely outside the
jurisdiction Of the court.
Judge Lands overruled the motion.
Mr.. Miller then declared that the de-
fense objected to every question put to
every witness during the proceedings.
The court replied:
Every objection is overruled and an
exception allowed"
Frederick \ Wann, the former gen.
eral freight agent of the Chicago &
Alton railroad, was then called and
questioned regarding the rate at which
oil should have been shipped from
whiting, Ind, to East st. Louis. The
witness replied that he had issued in
structions for a 10-cent rate. After
some further questions relating to tar
ifs and tariff sheets the witness was
excused and Harry E. FELTON,, presi-
dent of the Union tank line. took the
stand.
Witnesses Ready
The Standard Oil case was called at
1927 by Judge Lands. District At
torney Sims briefly stated the facts
in the case.
Attorney John S. Miller for the Stan
dard Oil company then announced that
Mr.. Rockefeller and other witnesses
by the court were present
and prepared to answer the questions
Of the court.
Mr.. Miller then entered a motion in |
arrest of Judgment in the case.
"Overruled," said Judge Lands, |
shortly.
Fred A. Wann, former general freight |
agent of the Chicago & Alton railroad |
1uring the time covered by the indict- |
ment, was the first witness called. He |
was asked by Judge Lands If he had |
given any instructions that the rate |
on oil between Chicago and East ST |
Louis should apply via Whiting, Ind. |
He declared that he had no personal |
recollection of such instructions. The |
Judge asked several additional ques-
tions, all of which were objected to by
Miller, who was promptly overruled.
Tells Rates of Payment
E. F. FELTON,, president of the Union
tank line, was then called. Judge
Lands asked if he knew anything of
the payment of money to the Alton
by the Union Tank line during the |
time covered by the trial
I'VE paid three-quarters of a cent |
a mile on loaded and empty cars" said |
Mr.. FELTON,.
Are you sure you paid 1t on empty |
cars?" asked the Judge.
THAT is my best recollection"
do you know whether or not the |
by the Union tank line during the
by any other company?"
stock of the Union tank line is owned |
by the Standard Oil company of New |
Jersey"
do you know what the outstanding |
stock of the Standard Oil company of |
New Jersey is?"
mo, sir.''
John D. Rockefeller" called Judge |
Lands.
Rockefeller Called
Amid great silence the oil magnate |
rose and started for the chair. At the |
same moment the Standard Oil attor- |
neys clustered around Judge Landis' |
desk and began a whispered consulta- |
ton with him. Mr.. Rockefeller hes
itated.
"Sit right still a moment, john" said
his brother, and Mr.. Rockefeller re-
sumed his seat.
Messrs. Miller and Rosenthal of the
Standard Oil company, United States
District Attorney Sims and his assist
ant. Mr.. Wilkerson, and Arthur Eddy, |
attorney for the Standard Oil
held a low voiced conversa-
ton with Judge Lands, which
stretched into the minutes, Mr.. Rock
efeller meanwhile waiting with mild
ly curious expression on his face.
Finally an understanding as to his
questioning was reached and the at
torneys resumed their seats.
John D. Rockefeller" again called
Judge Lands, and the president of the
Standard Oil company left his seat,
walked slowly to the witness chair at
the right of Judge Lands and raised
his right hand as the clerk adminis-
tered the oath to tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth,
so help you God"
'I do" affirmed Mr. Rockefeller dis
tinctly, as the clerk finished Mr..
Rockefeller sat down. crossed his legs,
leaned his right hand on his cane and
put his left hand upon the judges
desk and looked intently at Judge
Lands.
Magnate Testifies