Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-28
PLEA BY ATTORNEY MILLER
Says Mr.. Rockefeller Is Old and
Ignorant
AS TO THE FACTS DESIRED
The Court Tersely Declines to Be In
structed as to Its Mode Of
Procedure.

CHICAGO, June 2S.-Judge Lands, in the
United States district court today, refused
to withdraw the subpoena issued for John
D. Rockefeller, although John S. Miller,
attorney for the Standard Oil Company,
urgently requestion him to do So
Mr.. Miller Informed the court that Mr..
Rockefeller, although president of the
Standard Oil Company of Indiana, was not
possessed of the information regarding the
| financial condition of the Standard Oil
Company desired by the court. He also in
formed the court that Mr.. Rockefeller was
an old man who had many business cares,
and that no advantage could be had to any
person by bringing him into court
The appeal Of the attorney did not ap-
peal to Judge Lands, for he promptly re-
fused to recall the subpoena, and. in addi-
ton, directed that subpoenas be issued for
the vice president and secretary-treasurer
of the Union Tank Line
Miller Sees Sims.
At the opening Of court today Attorney
Miller went to the rooms Of District At
torney Sims, and said that he had a matter
which he would like to present to Judge
Lands, in relation to the Standard Oil
case. He was accompanied to the cham
bers of Judge Lands by the district at
torney.
Il have some suggestions to make" aid
Mr.. Miller, to the judge. II should like to
say that l am willing to furnish the dis
trict attorney with the names of men who
are IN q position to give the information
wanted by the court in regard to the finan-
cial resources and holdings Of these COM
panies. The subpOenas that have been is
| sued are chiefly for men who cannot give
the details desired by the court. 1t seems
much more advisable to hear the state
| ments of men who know about these things,
instead Of bringing eight or ten men here
without the information.
Mr. Rockefeller has little to do with
| the active management Of the business,
and it seems useless. as well as a burden,
to bring him here. He is an old man, and
| quite wealthy, and has great many finan-
| cial holdings, and it will be a hardship,
and difficult for him to come here"
1T is inconceivabe that the president of
one company does not know whether or
not it owns another company" replied
Judge Lands. II want to know whether
| the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
owns the Standard Oil Company of In
diana. the defendant in this case. l want
| this information, and all that l have asked
| for and intend to have it if such thing
| is possible"
Knows No Distinctions.
This court makes no distinction as far
as its processes go against either a wealthy
| or poor man." continued Judge Landis
II want Mr.. Rockefeller here to learn from
him whether the Standard Oil Company of
New Jersey owns the Standard Oil Com
| pany of Indiana. 1 want to learn that one
thing from him, and other things, that he
may be able to tell"
Mr. Miller said he was unable to say
whether or not any of the men summoned
would furnish any of the information want
ed, even If they knew it, and intimated
| that they might decline to answer by advice
of counsel.
THE court cannot assume" said Judge
Lands, that such an attitude will be taken
| by the witnesses summoned, and l cannot
| give them an opportunity to decline through
counsel in advance. If they see fit not to
| the chance they want to decline in open