The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-17
N. Pratt's Memory
Fails Him as to Many
Transactions.
E. c. BENEDICT TESTIFIES
Ex. President CIeveland's Friend
Tells About the Sale of the
Manhattan Oil Company.
He Doesn't Recall Whe
the Purchasers Were.

NEW YORK, Sept. 17.-Testimony
was heard today in the Federal suit
against the Standard Oil Company of
New Jersey. The hearing in the suit
which was brought in st. Louis last
December has twice been adjourned
at the request of counsel for the de-
PENDANTS. In the meantime, however,
Frank B. Kellogg, who is in charge of
the governments case, has obtained
many books and papers from the
STANDARD Oil Company which has en-
abled him to proceed expeditiously
with the case.
Mr. Kellogg intimated today that the
government woul also inquire into
the character and nature of holdings
of the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey as well as its affiliations, if any,
with railroads.
The United States government has
named not only the Standard Oil Com
pany of New Jersey as a defendant,
but also seventy subsidiary companies
of the main corporation and the fol-
lowing individuals: John d. Rockefel-
Ter, William Rockefeller, : Henry II.
Rogers, Henry M. Flagler, Oliver H.
Payne. Charles M. Pratt and John D..
Archibold. Only William G.. Rockefeller
oiid SlldLlCo II IldNS DGtH sun
poenaed to appear before the hearing,
though Mr.. Kellogg may subpoena
the others later.
When the hearing was called today
\pefore former Judge Franklin Ferris,
Sitting as special master, E. c.. Bene-
dict. of Greenwich, Conn, a close
friend of ex-President Cleveland, was
called as the first witness.
Questioned NV Mr. KoIIo1o Mr. Dana
dict said that he and Anthony M.
Brady owned the Manhattan Oil Com
pany which had an oil producing plant
near Galatea. o. Mr.. Benedict said
that there was a pipe line connected
with the company. Refreshing his
memory from a slip of paper, he said
that in October, 1898, he sold 5,175
shares of Manhattan Oil Company
stock at 81. 700 a share. He could not
recall who was the purchaser of the
stock. At the time he disposed of the
stock he sold $2S6,00O of the company's
bonds.
\ He had no negotiations with the Of
Ulcers of the Standard Oil Company of
New Jersey or any of it's affiliated COM
panies regarding the sale. Mr.. Bene-
dict said he did not know whether the
I1dIlildIAdh vi SOlilDdIJ NViN lllO tAhC
possession of the Solar Refining Com
pany He had taken an interest in the
Manhattan company because he. was in
terested in several gas companies and
desired to have a working connection
between the gas companies and the
oil companies. Later, Mr.. Benedict
said, he sold his interests in the gas
Questioned by Mr.. Kellogg
Mr.. Benedict said that the Standard
Non Company had furnished oil to the
kEas companies after the Manhattan Oil
company had been disposed of.
MIR. Benedict could not recall If he
had made any objection to Anthony N.
Br4dy to selling out to the Standard
Oil Company.
MA Kellogg asked the witness to
produce later the contract between the
Manhattan Oil Company and the gas
companies.
Mr.. kBenedict was not cross-exam-
Charles M. Pratt. a director Of the
Standatd Oil Company, followed Mr.
Benedi1 on the witness stand Mr..
Pratt slid he had been an officer II
the Standard oil Company since 1899,
is now ksa ,retary and has charge Of
the corppany's books. Mr.. Kellogg
showed the witness a list OF securities
held by the Standard oil Company on
September "a. 1907. which had been
furnished on subpoena by he COM
psny. Mr.. Pratt said the list was
made up in the eomptroller's office.
and he could not say whether the
statement shown him was correct ~
rot.
a secretary OF the standard on
Company do you know anything about
its accusations of other comnaniesf'
he was aaikHd.
mot neo fnsarily." replied Mr. Pratt,
who further testified that hta Kn0wl-
edge Of the uompans's holdinse was
only general,
Asked Il The Standard oil COMPANY
controlled the ohio on Company,
The witness senlied that Il ala, Mr.
Pratt said that the stsndasd ewnet
i,epa shares Of stock Of The solar re.