Connecticut western news., 1907-09-19

controlled the Standard of Ohio, but he was not certain as to any other companies in spite of the fact that be- sides being secretary of the New Jer- sey company he is director in the Standard oil companies of New York, Kentucky and Indiana and the Va cuum Oil companies of New Jersey, Melbourne and Italy.
 Curious About Leaps In Profits.
 Then attention was directed to the absorption by the trust of the Pratt company, established by the father of the witness in Brooklyn. In the list of companies swallowed by the trust the c. NJ. Pratt Investment company was shown to have had profits amounting to $137, ,OOO. In 1902 and 1903 they made a phenomenal leap to 1,15O,000 and in 1904 took another jump to ST. S50,0OO MT. Kellogg was curious to know what these vaulting profits meant.
 Pratt explained the c. NJ. Pratt In- vestment company represented the stock of the Waters-Pierce Oil com pany of Missouri, which is held in trust for Standard Oil. That testimony threw light on the Standards attitude in the investigation of the Waters Pierce company.
 Pratt said The held 2,740 shares of the 4,OOO of the Waters-Pierce com pany in trust for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. He would not admit he was familiar with the facts as to the busting of the Waters Pierce company from Missouri as an illegal corporation. His admission that he came into possession of his stock in 1900 was taken as proof that when the government began to pursue the Waters-Pierce company the Standard decided to cover itself, and the c. NJ. Pratt Investment company was organ iZed to hold the stock of the illegal corporation. The witness said he nev- CT had heard of the Standard conduct ing its business through committees.
 Trust's Lawyers Get Nervous.
 Kellogg persisted in digging at that spot, and Pratt became nervous. The Standard Oil lawyers shared his nerv- ousness. Pratt tried to wriggle out and when pinned down said it might have been possible thath in the early days the company had done business through committees.
 About what yearsf" asked Kellogg doggedly.
 Pratt shifted about in his chair, twisted his legs in and out of the rungs, looked helplessly at the trust lawyers and said he thought it might be away back in 1S99.' That was the year the New Jersey corporation absorbed nineteen companies.
 Pratt, now willing, said 'it was pos sible" that he was member of such a committee years ago." Kellogg held a paper in his hand, and for all Pratt knew the lawyer "had the goods on him." Then the lawyer came down to the subject of the nquidating trustees and gave Pratt a painful time. Pratt could not or would not remember any thing of importance, though he was one of the trustees. All he could recall was that the liquidating trustees had issued 972,5OO shares of stock, which "CAC SA1hohSCu ot RohA AOA N&AS SSAhN ards New Jersey stock. He told about kiting shares from one company to another, which was called assignment of title"
 Thinks" John D. Was One.
 "Was not John D. Rockefeller one of the liquidating trustees?" asked the lawyer suddenly.
 "He was, I think" said Pratt blandly.
 'sYou think" repeated Kellogg, with a half sheer. 'Then there were O. H. Payne, William c. Rockefeller, J. H. Barstow, Charles M. Pratt, Benjamin Brewster and John D. Archbold, all liquidating trustees. Is that sop
 "They were, believe" said Pratt re servedly.
 The government lawyers have sub poenaed Brainard, William Rockefel- Ter, Archbold and other trust leaders. John D. Rockefeller is a defendant in the suit to dissolve the trust, but he will not be called, as he gave his testi- mony in Chicago.