The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-07-09
JOHN D. ON STAND
A Willing But Very UnsatiS-
factory Witness
PL|EO WITH QUESTIONS
Willing to Tell all He Knew But
Knew Nothing

Investigation Instituted for Purpose
OF Determining Whether Standard
Oil Company of Indiana Was Own
cd by Standard Oil Company OF New
Jerscy-Lawycrs Make Attempt to
Get Rockefeller Excused From APP
Dcaring Court Room Denscly
Packed.
Chicago, July 6.-Joffn D. Rookie
feller, president of the Standard Oil
Company, Of New Jersey, occupied the
witness stand in the United States DIS
trict court today while Judge Lands
piled him With questions regarding the
strength and business methods of the
corporation of which he is the head.
Mr. Rockefeller was a very willing
and an equally unsatisfactory witness.
He was willing to tell what he knew,
but he said he knew practically moth
ing.
The net result of his examination
that he believed that during the year
1908, 1904 and 1905, the period cover
ed by the indictments on which the
Standard Oil Company Of Indiana,
was recently convicted, the net profits
of the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey were approximately forty per
cent of an outstanding capitalization
of $1OO, 900, 900.
The investigation held today by
Judge Landis was instituted by him
for the expressed purpose Of determin-
ing whether the Standard Oil Company
of Indiana, which was convicted of
violation of the law was really owned
by the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey, whether the Union Tank Lime
whose cars were used for shipments
in violation of the law was similarly
owned and also to obtain an idea OF
the financial resources of the convict
ed corporation in order to inflict prop
er fines to the offense and the assets
of the convicted company.
It was stated by officers of the Stan
dard Oil Company of New Jersey that
it owned the ggreater part of the Union
Tank Line and the Standard Oil Com
pany of Indiana.
the parent corporation was given by
Charles M. Pratt, it's secretary, and
they were close to the estimate given
by Mr. Rockefeller.
The positive appearance in court Of
the man reputed to be the richest in
the world. brought about a spectacle,
the like which has never been wit
messed in the vicinity Of a Chicago
court room.
The hour set for the appearance of
Mr. Rockefeller was 10 o'clock. and an
hour before that time the low cei1ed
hallway outside the court room door
was densely packed by a crowd all Of
whom were anxious to obtain seats
and hear the testimony A large squad
of United States deputy marshals and
a numerous detail of police were on
hand but they were unable at times
to control the crowd which was so
dense that frequent cries for assist
ance were heard and people who were
iammed against the wall frantically
begged for relief from the pressure to
which they were subjected.
Marshal Hoy was compelled to tcle-
phone to police headquarters for fur
ther assistance This was promptly
sent and from that time on the crowd
was held in control Inside the court
room perfect order prevailed al all
times except at the immediate opening
when Judge Landis threatened to
close the room if quiet was not re-
stored.
John D. Rockefeller and William
Rockefeller arrived at the federal
building in the automobile of Harold
F.. McCormickk, the son-in-law OF Mr.
Rockefeller at $50 o'clock. So curious
were the people to see Rockefeller that
it was necessary for twenty policemen
to use force in pushing back the crowd
to make a pathway for him. On the
steps of the federal building the party
was compelled to halt while the police
fought with the crowd. Five local
detectives and a number OF secret
service men gathered closely around
Mr.. Rockefeller to protect him from
possible injury.
Mr. Rockefeller did not seem at al
disturbed by the sensation he excited
and after the road had heen cleared,
he and VIM. Rockefeller closely at