The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-06
ROCKEFELLER
SWEARS TO
TELL TRUTH
ccontlnued from First page,


Federal court room in Chicago, Inside
the courtroom proper the jam was
nearly as bad as in the hall outside.
The walls were lined with spectators
unable to obtain seats. They filled the
window Lodges, damned the doo-ways.
sat upon chairs in couples, and ever
squatted on the floor.
The Standard OH case was called at
1927 by Judge Landis. District Attorney
Sims briefly stated the facts In the case
as previously outlined.
Attorney John S. Miller. for the Stand
ard OIL Companyh announced that Mr..
Rockefeller and other witnesses summoned
by the court were present and prepared
to answer the questions of the court. Mr..
Miller then entered a motion In arrest
of judgment in the case.
"Overruled." said Judge Lands shortly.
Fred A. Wann. former general freight
agent-of the Chicago and Alton Railroad
during the time covered by the indict-
ment. was the first witness called to the
stand. He was asked by Judge Lands 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 recollec-
ton OF such Instructions. The Judge
asked several additional questions, all of
WHICH were ODJecIeu 10 Dy Mr.. Miller,
and promptly overruled.
II. E. FELTON,, president OF the Union
Tank Line, was then called. Judge lands
asked If he knew anything of the payment
OF money by the Union Tank Line to the
Alton during the time covered in the trial.
1--WE paid three-duarters OF a cent a mile
on loaded and empty cars alike" said Mr..
FELTON,.
"Are you sure you paid it on empty
cars??" asked the Judge.
THAT Is my best recollection"
do you know whether or not the stock
of the Union Tank Line Company Is owned
by any other company?"
THE majority of its stock is owned by
the Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey."
do you know what the outstanding
stock of the Standard OIL Company of
New Jersey is"
mo. sir"
John D. Rockefeller called Judge
Lands.
Amid dead silence the oil magnate arose
to his feet and started for the witness
chair. He raised his right hand as the
clerk administered the oath ITO swear to
tell the truth. the whole truth and moth
Ing but the truth. so help you God"
Il do" affirmed Mr.. Rockefeller dis
tinctly as the clerk finished.
Marshal Hoy nae men scattered
throughout the building. while govern
ment secret service agents were also
stationed about so as to provide
against any possible attempt to injure
Mr.. Rockefeller.
The ina acceptance by Mr.. Rookie
Teller of the subpoena issued for him
by Judge Lands and his agreement to
appear in court today marks the cul-
mination Of an exciting series of events
in Standard Oil litigation and the final
chapter of a spectacular search for the
oil magnate. When the United States
Government last August obtained the
Indictment of the Standard Oil Com
pany of Indiana for having accepted
rebates from the Chicago and Alton
Railroad Company neither United
States District Attorney Sims nor at
torneys representing Standard Oil in
terests anticipated that Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter would ever be called as a witness
in the case.
After a hard fought legal battle be-
fore a jury in Judge Landis's court a
verdict was returned finding the oil
company guilty of violating the anti
rebate laws, and 1t was then incumbent
upon the judge to assess a fine against
the corporation within his dicretion.
Judge Lands, after reading ever the
entire testimony, covering thousands of
typewriter pages, concluded he could
reach no satisfactory decision as 20 the
amount of the fine unless he knew posi-
lively how large were the our of
the defendant company, and whether 1t
Is owned by the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey. Judge Lands found
there was no alternative but to call
upon the officers of both concerns.
Judge Lands is empowered to fix
the fine at any sum between $1,000 and
500, 900 for each count, of which there
were 1,462 in the indictment.
Thus the maximum fine Is $29, 240,00
but as the capital stock of the Indiana
company is only 81, 900 900 the Supreme
Court might deem the maximum line as
falling In the class of cruel and unusual
punishment, prohibited by the Consti-
tuition. If it is shown, however, that
the Indiana company is merely sub
sidiary to the New Jersey concern,
with a capital of 500, DOC, 900, no such
appeal could be made.
Mrs. Harold F. Mccormick, daughter
of John d.. Rockefeller, today discussed
her fathers visit to Chicago.
my father is a much prosecuted
man." said Mrs. Mccormick. 1T seems
| the more remarkable, inasmuch as he
is not an enemy to anybody in the
world. He is one of the most genial,
great-hearted men in this whole world.
He lives in the clouds with his God
rather than with worldly things. 1t is
his greatest pleasure to promote happi-
ness among those with whom he comes
In contact.
"The newspaper men who follow the
Rockefeller family so much do not an
noy us; that would be a wrong i'm
preston. My father thinks highly of
the men who make the newspapers,
and numbers many of them among his
friends. He likes to talk to them.
He has played golf with them. The
distasteful feature of the publicity is
it's dealing with personal things-fam-
lily matters.
81 appreciate the fact that the public
takes a great interest In my father.
1 think possibly the public has a right
to know the things ii asks to know
about him. He enjoys conversation,
and likes to have an audience