New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-14
STANDARD OIL GUILTY
FINE MAY BE $29, 200, 900.
Chicago Jury Finds 1t accepted
Rebates from Alton Road.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune.I

Chicago April 13-The Standard OIL Com
pany OF Indiana, which has been on trial for
six weeks before Judge K. NJ. Lands OF the
United States District Court. tonight was
found guilty on 1863 counts OF receiving rebates
from the Chicago Alton Railroad on ship
ments OF oil from whiting. Ind. 10 East ST.
Louis. Ill. There originally were 1908 counts IN
the indictment. $40 counts failing on errors.
II the verdict is sustained the oil company Is
liable 20 a maximum hne Of s2s.2sO.OOO. as the
Elkins law. which. the indictment charged. the
company violated. provide ne OF $1,000 20
$4,000 for each offence. Pending a new trial
which John S. Miller. chief counsel for the de-
fence. announced would be made Immediately
no penalty will be fixed by the court Each
count related to a carload shipment
Assistant District Attorney Wnkerson made
the closing argument for the government this
afternoon. and after Judge lands had delivered
his charge the jury retired to the juryroom to
consider its verdict.
The case made out against the Standard OIL
Company exceptionally strong. Attorneys
and employees of the company. were. buoyed up
however, by the hope, OF disagreement. II this
had occurred, the case would have been tried
again, and II was admitted that in second trial
the chances would have favored the defence.
The specific charge against the Standard OH
Company was that II accepted a rate Of six
cents from the Alton for the transportation Of
petroleum oil and its products from Whiting.
Ind. TO East St. Louis Ill. when the published
rate this commodity. as contained in the
tariffs filed with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. was IS cents hundred pounds. Proof
OF payment on the stI-cent rate basis was fur
nished by the government through witnesses
from the auditors Office OF the Chicago Alton
They testified that the amounts due from the
Standard were figured out on basis of IS
cents. and that a subtraction of IL cents hun
dred pounds was made for "Overcharge and
shrinkage." The statement sent to the stand
ard Office every two weeks was on a basis of
six cents hundred pounds. and proof OF pay
ment was complete.
Testimony offered by the defence to prove
that the Standard company believed that six
cents was the legal rate and that there no
intention to violate the law. The defence was
sustained in its right TO prove this. II possible.
The prosecution. which lasted six weeks and
cost more than S250O0O. was based upon the al
legged violation of the following part of the
Elkins act:
''It shall be unlawful for any person. persons
corporation to offer grant give, or TO
solicit, accept or receive any rebate, concession
or discrimination whereby any property snail by
any device be transported az a less rate than
the rate named in the published tariff. Every
person or corporation violating this section OF
the act shall be deemed guilty Of a misde
meanor. and on conviction thereof shall be pun
ished by fine OF not less than $1,000 nor more
than $4,000
Every common carrier subject TO the pro-
visions OF this act shall print and keep open for
public inspection schedules showing the rates
and fares charged for the transportation of per-
sons or property upon its route"