The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-14
Jury Declares Trust
Gui!tIeSS on Al
Counts.

CHICAGO, April 13.-The Standard
Oil Company was found guilty at 10
o'clock tonight Of rebating by jury
in Federal Judge Landis' court.
The jury declared the trust was
not guilty on al counts of the in
dictment, but that it was liable on
1862 counts.
The maximum fine IS S20,000 on
each count, and the minimum S1,000.
Therefore the maximum gross fines
may aggregate s29,24O,000.
Were Over 1900 Counts.
The STANDARD OIL Company IF In
diana. was indicted by the Federal
grand jury OF the northern district OF
Illinois for accepting concessions IA
storage charges. reductions in rates, and
receiving other advantages Of railroad
discrimination which were equivalent
To concessions in rates The Indictment
contained IS04 counts. The amounts 81
legged TO have been given the company
aggregated $4,000 within eighseen
moLths.
The shipments were from Whiting.
Ind, TO East ST. Louis. H.. and from
ChappelI. III. 10 St Louis
The investigation OF the grand jury
also disclosed. according to averments.
that oil was shipped at reduced rates
for the Standard from Whiting 10
Southern points. At Grand Junction,
Tenn, it was shipped without re-
handling. st was averred. while the pro-
duct OF the rival oil companies was re-
handled in an unnecessarily expensivs
manner.
The investigation was completed be-
fore two grand juries, representing ths
divided Jurisdiction Of the court The
charges concerning Southern shipments
have not vet been heard The common
carriers involved ii the evidence Of the
case just decided are the Chicago and
Alton, Chicago Terminal Transfer, and
St Louis Bridge Companies.
The courts charge left the jury a dis
erection as 10 how many OF the counts
It might ind the company 10 be guilty
in
A motion by its attorneys to limit the
number OF Ofenses to one viii be argued
next week by agreement The compa-
ny's lawyers contended that but one
crime. il any. W2J committed. and the
multiplicity OF counts amounts TO per-
secution. They declare the corporal ton
would be ruined II the prosecution pro-
cures any such Interpretation of the
law.
Fine Discretionary With Judge.
Judge Lands agreed 20 permit the jury
to find verdict this week so that its
vigil OF six weeks might end. He viii
rule as to the number OF offenses next
week If he limits the offenses TO but
one crime there may be no greater fns
than S2000o and possibly the defendant
might escape with fine of $1,000 on
the other hand he has power 10 rule that
each shipment constituted an oRense
and the company may be fined the en-
tire amount OF the aggregate Of MAXI
mum fines, nearly S30,0ooO0o.
The ruling viii be most important in
the Federal jurisdiction. II will deter<
mine whether or not the Federal laws
against railroad determinations are en-
forceabl
The jury retired TO consider the evil
dence at 6:12 p. m. and devoted two
hours OF the time intervening between
the retirement from the court and the
return TO render verdict, TO eating q
course dinner. The minds of the Jurors
were made up. They had been listening
TO the evidence for six weeks. and evf-
IDENTIFY arrived at a conclusion before
the final arguments
Judge lands returned from dinner
qttired in a full dress suit He opened
court sent for the jury, and received
the verdict Immediately upon its read
ing attorneys for the oil company moved
for a new trial. and next week was set
as the time fer the hearing arguments
on the motion.
question Of whether the defendant can
he fined IN more than one count must
be determined
LAWYERS for the oil company were
crestfaIlen over their defeat They
express a determination TO carry the
case to the United states Supreme
Court rather than permit their clients
to nav the great Ene. If a single fine Of
a few Thousand dollars is imposed they
will nav it. but II the fine exceeds sI00-
coo thev VIII make & desperate fight be-
fore advising payment.