The Springfield herald., 1907-07-12
A POOR WITNESS
RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD ON
WITNESS STAND.
]. D. OFFICER IN NAME ONLY
He Hasn't Been In His Own once for
Eight Years and Knows But
Little Of tho Business.


"I am the president OF the Standard
OIL Company. but the position is
purely honorary. and has been for the
last eight or ten years, as have not
been rendering any service whatever.
"I think the capital stock is about
100000.
"It is a dozen years since l have
been at all actively connected with
the affairs OF the company. 1t is eight
years since I have been in the ofhce
at all.
I do not know what refineries
there are. The refining business has
grown up since my touch closed with
its active operations.
II do not know exactly what ths
dividends were during the years 1903
1904. and 1905. but l think they were
approximately about forty per cent. OF
the outstanding stock"
'I do not know what the net earn
ings of the company were during those
years"
Chicago.-John d. Rockefeller. pres
ident Of the Standard Oil Company of
New Jersey occupied the witness
stand in the United States Dist let
Court while Judge Lands piled him
with questions regarding the financial
strength and the business methods OF
the corporation of which he Is the
head.
Rockefeller was a 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 exami-
nation was that he believed that dur
ing the years 1908, 1904 and 1905, the
period covered by the indictments on
which the Standard Oil Company OF
Indiana was recently convicted, the
net profits of the Standard Oil Com
pany Of New Jersey were approx
mately forty per cent. OF an outstand
ing capitalization Of $100,000,00O.
The investigation held by Judge
Landis was instituted by him for the
express purpose of determining
whether or not the Standard OIL Com
pany of Indiana. which was convicted
of violation of the law, was really
owned by the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey; whether the Union
tank lines, whose cars were used for
the shipment made in violation of the
law, was similarly owned, and also to
obtain an idea of the financial re-
sources OF the convicted corporation in
order to intiict a fine proportionate to
the offense, and the assets Of the con-
victed company.
It was stated by officers OF the
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey
that 1t owned the greater part OF the
stock Of both the Union tank line and
the Standard Oil Company OF Indiana.
Specific figures as to the earnings of
the parent corporation were given by
Charles M. Pratt, its secretary, and
they were close to the estimate given
By Mr.. Rockefeller.
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 witnessed in the vicinity OF a
Chicago court room.
The hour set for the appearance OF
John D. Rockefeller was 10 o'clock,
and an hour before that time the low
ceiled hall outside the court room door
was densely packed by crowd, all OF
whom were anxious to obtain seats and
hear the testimony. A large squad of
United States deputy marshals under
the direction of United States Mar
shal Hoy, and numerous detail Of po-
lice were on hand, but even they were
unable at times to control the crowd.
The people, pushed at times by sheer
weight, actually bore the police down
the hall. The crowd was SO dense
that frequent cries for assistance were
heard, and people who were jammed
against the wall frantically begged for
relief against 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 Lands took
his seat upon the bench the court
room was packed to the last inch.
Lines of people were around the walls,
dozens of chairs held two occupants,
every inch of standing room was oc
cupied and men sat upon the steps of
the jury box and squatted upon the
floor.
Even after the court room was
filled, the crowd became SO heavy and
SO insistent that Marshal Hoy was
compelled to telephone to police head
quarters for further assistance. This
was promptly sent and from that time
on the crowd was held In check. In
side the court room perfect order pre-
vailed at all times, except at the i'm
mediate opening, when Judge Landis
threatened to clear the room if abso-
lutte quiet was not preserved.