Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-04-18
OIL TRUST GUILTY;
FACES HUGE FINES
JURY IN FEDERAL COURT FINDS
STANDARD ACCEPTED H. T.:
LEGAL RATES..
Trial at Chicago Ends-Maximum
Penalty for the Violations Charged
Would Be $2e,24o,Oo0 and the Mini
mum $1,462,O0O.

Chicago, April 15-Twelve jurors
in the United States district court
Saturday night found the Standard
Oil company of Indiana guilty of &C.
cepting illegal rates from the Chicago
& Alton railroad, as charged in 1,462
counts of the indictment on which
the corporation has just been tried.
Should the verdict stand Judge Lam
dis can impose aggregate fines of
$29,240,O00, or $4,000 on each count.
If only the minimum penalty $1,000
on each count be assessed, the total
would reach $1,462,000, the largest
fine ever entered against a person
or corporation in the history of fed
eral courts.
! The jury was out two hours and
ten minutes, during which time it
reached it's conclusions on the large
number of counts, each involving a
violation of the Elkins interstate
commerce law. But the verdict will
be assailed by the Defense
AS Joseph O'Sullivan, clerk of the
court, resumed his seat after reading
the finding, Attorney John S. Miller,
chief counsel for the oil corporation,
moved for new trial. After dismiss
ing the jury Judge Lands indicated
he would probably hear the motion
Monday morning, at which time,
should he deny the plea, he may i'm
pose the penalty.
Judge in Dress Suit.
The proceedings were impressive
Judge Lands, who had been summon
ed by telephone from the home of
friend, where he was attending a for
NAL dinner, was attired in a dress
suit. Only the officials and attorneys
for the Standard Oil company, Dis
trict Attorney Sims and his assist
ants and some newspaper men were
present
Precisely at 9:45 o'clock the jury
was ushered into the courtroom to
await the arrival of the Judge. A
wait of only a few minutes followed,
when Judge Lands appeared
'Have you gentlemen agreed upon
verdict" he asked, addressing the
jury.
I'VE have, your HONOR replied
Foreman A. L. Parker of Stockton,
ILL.,, as he handed the document to the
bailiff
Read the verdict" directed the
court, speaking to Clerk O'Sullivan
AL Counts Thrown Out.
The clerk then read the verdict
finding the defendant not guilty on
AL counts, which were stricken from
the records in the charge to the jury
on the grounds of variance
A moment of suspense followed,
then the Off cial continued his read
ing.
We, the jury, find the defendant,
the Standard Oil company of Indiana,
guilty in the manner and form as set
forth in the indictments in the follow
ing counts
Judge Lands indicated it was not
necessary to read the numbers I'M
less there had been changes noted in
formed that no counts had been
stricken out.
In answer to the courts inquiry if
the defense desired to make motion,
ATTORNEY -1iiler rose unsteadily.
I'VE certainly do, your honor" he
said We wish to enter motion for
a new trial"
Mote in the records that the de-
Tense moves for a new trial. directed
Judge Lands, as the senior counsel
for the defense left the courtroom
indictment One of Ten.
The Indictment on which the YER
dict was returned is one of ten true
bills voted by the federal grand jury
of August, 1906, charging the Stand
ard Oil company of Indiana with &C
cepting illegal concessions from a
number of railroads. Two of the in
dictments were quashed by Judge
Lands on demurrer All of the re-
naming eight true bills comprise up
ward Of 5000 counts, involving max
imum fine of more than $120,O00,0OO |
The first conviction was obtained
on indictment No. 3,717, Familiarity
known as the Alton case composed |
of 1908 counts. The offense charged |
was that the oil corporation accepted |
rates lower than the published tariffs
of the Chicago e Alton railroad for
the transportation of petroleum and |
its products from Whiting, Ind, to
East st. Louis, ILL.,, and from Chap
pell, ILL.,, to St. Louis, Mo.
Two Groups of Counts.
The true bill was divided into two !
distinct groups of counts. In the first !
1856 charges the allegation was made |
that the defendant accepted a rate |
Of six cents a hundred pounds on oil !
from Whiting, Ind, to East st. Louis,
ILL.,, when the published tariffs, nam
ing rates available to the public,
fixed the legal rate at 10 cents a hun
dred pounds. rs. ..+..
The second group, composed of
LOTT counts. charge the Standard
company with receiving a rate of