Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-09-20
He is A PHYSICAL WRECK
II. II. ROGERS, STANDARD OIL
MAGNATE, is so DESCRIBED.
Famous Financier Is Excused from
Appearing in Court in a Suit
Involving $4,000, 600.

Boston, Mass. - Upon the evi-
dence of members OF the family OF
Henry II. Rogers and the family physi-
clan, that Mr.. Rogers suffered a stroke
last July, and has since been unable to
transact any business, Judge Ham
mond, in the supreme court Monday,
announced 1t would be cruel to compel
his attendance in court, and dismissed
a motion to that effect. The condition
of Mr.. Rogers was disclosed in the
course of a hearing on a motion to
show that he was capable of attending
the trial of suit against him for $780,
100000 brought by c. H. Raymond, of
Somerville, for alleged conversion of
certain royalties in connection with
the production of petroleum.
Counsel for Raymond sought to
show by the testimony of friends of
Mr.. Rogers in New Bedford and Fair
Haven and also numerous telephone
tickets giving a record of calls be-
tween New York and the home of Mr.
Rogers in Fair Haven that Rogers had
been about the streets, had participat-
ed in certain festivities, had engaged
in certain business in New Bedford
and had been in frequent communica-
ton with his associates in New York.
President Winsor, of the First Ma
tional Bank of New Bedford, stated
that he had conversed with Mr.. Rogers
at the bank, but said it was not upon
business matters.
Several witnesses admitted that
they had talked with Mr.. Rogers with
in the past few weeks, but all declared
that he was much changed.
In support of the claim that Mr..
Rogers was too Ill to appear, four wit
nesses were heard. The first was
Urban H. Broughton, the son-in-law of
Mr.. Rogers. He said that since July
%, when Mr.. Rogers was taken i'll in
New York, his father-in-law had been
unable to transact any business, and
that soon after that date Mr. Rogers
told him that Broughton must pick up
all his business and carry on the af-
fairs to the best of his knowledge, and
that he would not hold Mr.. Broughton
responsible for any mistakes.
At this time Mr.. Broughton testified
that the physicians had refused to al
low Mr.. Rogers to see any member of
the family. He admitted that once in
August his father-in-law had talked
with John D. Archbold, of the Stand
ard Oil Co., but it was not upon busi-
ness. AT present ne said Ar. Rogers
face is distorted on the right sdie,
the left side of his body is out of its
natural position and his speech is af-
fected.
Henry H. Rogers, jr., corroborated
his brother-in-law in many respects.
Norman w. Nesbit, New Bedford
dentist, testified that he had attended
Mr.. Rogers twice within the last six
weeks, and on both occasions he no.
ticed that he had changed and was
very nervous.
The last witness was DR.. Pratt, who
told the court that he could not state
exactly what would be the ultimate re-
suit of the attack last July, nor to
what it was due. He thought it might
be apoplexy, or perhaps clot on the
brain, or slight paralytic shock.
DR.. Pratt refused to say whether
Mr.. Rogers condition or reluctance to
testify in the Massachusetts suit was
due to his fear that he might be called
upon to give evidence in the case of
the government against the Standard
Oil Co.