The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-16
OIL MEN TESTIFY
IN BAILEY CASE
Vice President Waters Pierce
on Stand
APPROVED $500 VOUCHER
But Says He Had Never Had Any Bus
mess Dealings With the Sem
ator-Memory
Hszy.
$500 VOUCHER

austin, TEX, February 15.-The legisla-
tive committee Investigating charges
against Senator Bailey did not meet until
late this afternoon to permit Senator
Baileys attorneys to look over the books
of the WatersPerce Oil oonineny before
they were submitted to the committee
j. ID. johnson, the general attorney of
the Waters-Pierce Oil company, and A.
n. Findlay, the vice president o. the COM
pany, arrived this morning from st. Louis.
Mr. Findlay WAS placed on the stand this
afternoon as the principal witness rend-
ing the appointment of committee to re-
view the books.
Mr. Findlay explained his connection
with the Waters Pierce cln:pany. which
began in 1878. Up to the year 1860 he act
ed as vice president and for several
months during that year he Nas pres.-
dent.
Mr. Findlay stated that he was made
president when the company was re-
organized in February. 1900. He remained
president until the May following. when
Mr. Pierce again became president lie
could not tell the reasons for III change
other than it was because Of legal com
plications The witness was unable to go
into detail AS to why the company was
reorganized in February. 1900, and did not
know anything about the report that
Pierce had been restored to the prasi Ien,v
by the Standard OIL company because OF
supposed political influence exercised ty
him in Texas.
Standard Oil Owned Stock.
Mr.. Findlay said the stock Of The Wa
ters-Pierce Oil company I'm FenrIa~v. 1880
amounted to 1000 shares of which about
200 belonged to the Standard Oil com
pany; in May, 1900, when Mr.. Pierce was
returned to the presidency, nearly all the
stock belonged to Pierce. He could not
remember how long the stock remained in
Mr.. Pierce's name
Mr.. FindlaY stated that he hal never
had any business dealings with Senator
Bailey, nor had he been consulted By
him.
The witness stated that he was not
familiar with the books of the Waters
Pierce Oil company, and that H. Clay
Pierce, the president. had little to do
with them. j. p. Grant had been in charge
of the books from 1900 to 1906, he said
Endorsed Voucher.
Questioned as to $500 voucher. marked
Henry and Strlbling. account of TEXAS
cases." Mr.. Flndley admitted approving
the voucher and said the handwriting on
a slip of paper attached. which read
civil cases" looked like his, and on
voucher the words penalty cases. Waco
looked like that of j. p. Gruet. ST. The
witness identified the handwriting, but
could not remember the voucher.
As to a telegram bearing the notation
sight draft drawn by j. w. Bailey, he
said the writing was his but he could
find no record Of the transaction in his
files. He told of several visits Mr.. Bailey
paid the offices of the company in 1900
to see Mr. Pierce
What was the understanding among
the officials and the employees OF the
Waters Pierce company " TO the power
or influence by which the eompany's
troubles in Texas were overcome and
the company permitted to continue In
Texas asked Mr.. Cooke.
81 do not know. other than johnson
and Mr.. Pierce came to Texas and made
a satisfactory settlement, They were le-
gal matters with which did not concern
myself" replied the witness.
The witness said that he could not re-
call whether or not he had ever made
AN antitrust affidavit for the company.
He said Mr.. Gruet WAS In charge OF
the books and auditing for the company.
Witness declared that he himself had not
and never had any financial interest in
the company.