The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07
COURT ROOM PRESENTS
 SCENE NEVER BEFORE
 WITNESSED IN CHICAGO
Richest Man In the World Proves a Very Unsatisfactory Witness, But He Answers Readily All the Questions Propounded
 to Him By the
 Court.

Chicago July 6-John D. Rockefeller, president of the Standard oil company of New Jersey, occupied the witness stand in the United States district court toGay, while Judge Landis piled him with ques- tions regarding the financial strength and the business methods of the corporation of which he is the head.
 MT. Rockefeller was a very willing and an equally unsatisfactory witness. He was ready to tell all he he knew, but he said that he knew practically nothing The net result of his examination was that he believed that during the years 1903. 1904 and 19O5 the period covered by the indictments on which the Standard oil company of Indiana was recently con- victed, the net profits of the Standard oil company of New Jersey were approxi- mately 40 per cent of an outstanding capitalization of 00OO0.
 The investigation held today by Judge Landis was instituted by him for the ex- press purpose of determining whether or not the Standard Oil company of Indi- ana, which was convicted of violation of the law, was really owned by the Stan VI the Union Tank Line, whose cars were used for the shipments made in violation of law, were similarly owned, and also to obtain an idea of the financial resources of the convicted corporation, in order to infict fine proportioned 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 fba ora tnr art 0P th0 z both the Union Tank Line and the Stan dard Oil company of Indiana. Specific figures as to the earnings of the parent Corporation were given by Charles NJ Pratt, it's secretary, and they were close to the estimate given by MT Rockefeller.
 The prospective appearance In court of the man reputed to be the richest in the world brought about a spectacle, the like of which has never before been witnessed In the vicinity of a Chicago court room
 Frenzy of the Crowd.
 The hour set for the appearance of Mr Rockefeller was 10 o'clock and an hour before that time the low -ceied hallway outside the court room door was densely packed by crowd. all of whom were anx- ious to obtain seats and hear the testi- mony A large squad of United States deputy marshals under the direction of United States Marshal Hoy, and a numer- ous detail of police. were on hand out even they were unable at times to con trol the crowd. The people pushed and showed and at times by sheer weight act ually bore the police and deputies down the hall The crowd was so dense that frequent cries for assistance were heard, and people who were damned against th 2 wall frantically begged for relief from the pressure to which they were subjected.
 Admission to the court room was by card only, but many people succeeded in evading the guards, and when Judge Lan- dis took his seat upon the bench the court room was packed to the last inch
 Even after the court room 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 court room perfect order pre- vailed at all times. except at the immedj- ate opening when Judge Landis threat ened to clear the room if absolute quiet was not preserved. John D. Rockefeller and William Rockefeller arrived at the federal building in the automobile of Har- old F. Mccormick, the son-in-law of MT. Rockefeller at 9:30 o'clock. So curious were the people to see MT. Rockefeller that it was necessary for twenty police men to use force Tn pushing Dack the crowd to make pathway for him.
 Five local detectives and number of secret service men gathered closely around MT. Rockefeller to protect him from the crush, or from possible injury at the hands of some crank.
 MT. Rockefeller did not seem at all dis turbed by the sensation he excited, and after the road had been cleared he and William Rockefeller, closely attended by the officers. entered the building and made their way to the elevators on the north side. Here a devoid of lights was under the special guard of the po- lice. and entering it MT. Rockefeller was quickly taken to the sixth floor of the building to the court room.
 The Standard Oil case was called at 1U:zi o'clock by Judge Landis District Attorney Sims briefly stated the facts in the case as previously outlined
 Attorney John S. Miller, for the Stand ;rd O.l company then announced that Mir. Rockefeller and other witnesses sum- moned by the court were present. and pre- pared to answer the questions of the co' Tt. MT. Miller then entered a motion in arrest of judgment in the case.
 "Overruled." said Judge Landis. shortly.
 Fred A. Wann. former general freight agent of the Chicago and Alton road, during the time covered by the indict- ment, YVES the first witness called to the stand
 He was asked by Judge Landis if he had given any instructions that the rate on oil between Chicago and East St. Louis should apply via Whiting. Ind. He declared that he had no personal recollections of such instruction. The judge asked several additional questions,