Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07
lands GOT FACTS
ABOUT OIL TRUST
But Learned Little Enough
From Mr.. Rockefeller.
CRUSH TO SEE RICHEST MAN
Oil King, in Turn, Was Interested IN
the Crowd.
CRUSH TO SEE RICHEST MAN
WILLING BUT USELESS WITNESS
Remains Only Nominal President of
the Standard-Severed Active
Connection Years Ago.

Judge Lands in Chicago yester-
day managed to get John D. Rookie
Teller or the witness stand, but
learned little from him about the in
ternal economy OF the Standard Oil
Company. The rich old man said
that while he was the nominal presi-
dent of the company he had long
ceased all active connection with it
and knew but little of its workings.
The facts that were obtained were
from the other officials of the COM
pany. There was an overwhelming
crowd in the courtroom, and the po-
lice reserves had to be called in to
control them.
CHICAGO, July 6.-John D. Rockefeller,
New Jersey, occupied the witness stand in
the United States district court today while
Judge Lands piled him with questions re-
garding the financial strength and the bust
ness methods of the corporation of which he
is the head.
Mr.. Rockefeller was a very willing and
an equally unsatisfactory witness He was
ready to tell all that he knew, but he said
that he knew practically nothing. The net
result of his examination was that he be-
Iieved during the years 1903, 1904 and 1908,
the period covered by the indictments on
which the Standard OIL Company of In
diana was recently convicted, the net prof
its of the Standard Oil Company OF New
Jersey were approximately 40 per cent of
an outstanding capitalization of 100000, 600
The investigation held today by Judge
Lands was instituted by him for the ex-
pressed purpose of determining whether or
not the Standard Oil Company of Indiana
which was convicted of violation of the law
was really owned by the Standard Oil Com
pany of New Jersey; whether the Union
Tank line, whose cars were used for the
shipments made in violation OF law, was
similarly owned, and also to obtain an idea
of the financial resources of the convicted
corporation in order to inflict fine pro-
portioned to the offense and the assets of
the convicted company.
1t was stated by officers of the Standard
Oil Company of New Jersey that it owned
the greater part of the stock of both the
Union Tank line and the Standard Oil Com
pany of Indiana. Specific figures as to the
earnings of the parent corporation were
given by Charles NJ. Pratt, its secretary.
and they were close to the estimate given
by Mr.. Rockefeller.
Unprecedented Crowd.
The prospective appearance in court of
the man reputed to be the richest man
In the world brought about a spectacle
the like of 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 hour
before that time the low-ceiled hallway
outside the courtroom door was densely
packed by a crowd all OF whom were
anxious to obtain seats and hear the tes-
timony. A large squad of United States
deputy marshals, under the direction of
United States Marshal Hoy, and a numer-
Gus detail of police were on hand but
even they were unable at times to control
the crowd. The people pushed and showed
and at times by sheer weight actually
bore the police and deputies down the
hall The crowd was SO dense that fire.
quent cries for assistance were heard and
people who were jammed against the wall
franticaly begged for relief from the pres
sure to which they were subjected
Admission to the courtroom was by
card only, but many people succeeded in
evadng the guards. and when Judge
Lands took his seat upon the bench the
courtroom was packed to the last inch.
Lines of people We're around the walls.
dozens of chairs held two occupants, every
inch of standing room was occupied. and
men sat upon the steps of the jury box
and squatted upon the floor.
Guarded From Cranks.
Even after the courtroom was filled the
crowd became so heavy and so insistent
that Marshal Hoy was compelled to tele-
phone TO police headquarters for further
assistance. This was promptly sent and
from that time on the crowd was held in
control Inside the courtroom perfect or
der prevailed at all times except at the
immediate opening. when Judge Lands
threatened 10 clear the room if absolute
quiet was not preserved.
John ID. Rockefeller and William RocLe-
Teller arrived at the federal buiIdin, in
the automobile of Harold F. McCormick
the s0n-in-law of Mr.. Rockefeller al O 40
O'Clock The party first crossed the street
to the Offices of the Standard Oil Com
pany in the Commercial National RanL
build ng, and after remaining here. a short
time returned to the federal building
where a large crowd had gathered So
curious were the people to see Mr. Rocke-
feller that il 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 dstec.
tives and a number OF secret service men
gathered closely around Mi Rockefeller "a
protect him from the crush or from pos
sihlr injury AT the hands of some crank
Rockefeller Was Interested.
Mr.. Rockefeller did not seem at all dis.
turbed by the sensation he excited and
after the road had been cleared be anC
William Rockefeller closely attended b,
the officers. entered the building and mad,
their way to the elevators on the nortf