Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-07-06
ROCKEFELLER REPLIES
TO QUESTIONS BY
COURT
Standard Oil Magndte Makes
No Effort to Dodge or
bubble Over
Facts.
he IS MERELY AN
HONORARY OFFICIAL
Almost Mobbed by Curious Crowd
Which damned Court Room
and Hall in Effort to See
Richest Man In
the World.

CnlcaBO, ILL.,, July 6.-Wtth his at
torneys and eleven other officers OF
the Standard Oil company, including
his brother, William Rockefeller. John
ID. Rockefeller, the so-called richest
man in the world, faced a federal
court room filled with attorneys and
spectators today.
He was subjected to an examina-
tion conducted In person by Judge
keneSaw Nj. Lands, who had 1t with
in his power to hold the oil king in
of court should the witness
decline to answer his questions. 1t
is believed by those interested, that
when Rockefeller raised his hand and
accepted the oath, he would tell all
he knows concerning the financial re-
lations between the Standard Oil
Company of Indiana, and the hold
ing company of New Jersey.
John ID. Immune.
Whatever may be Rockefeller's re-
ply, he will in no way incriminate
immune from prosecution.
After a hard fought legal battle be-
fore a jury in Judge Lands court
recently, a verdict was returned, find-
ing the oil company guilty of violat-
ing the anti-rebate laws, and 1t was
then incumbent upon the judge to
assess a fine against the corporation.
Judge Lands. after reading over the
entire testimony, containing thou
sand pages of typewriter matter,
concluded that he could not reach a
satisfactory decision as to the amount
of the fine unless he knew positively
how large were the resources OF the
Is owned by the Standard Oh COM
pany of New Jersey. He found there
was no alternative but to call upon
the officers of both companies.
The attorneys for the company re-
fused to divulge its financial status,
and Judge Lands Immediately had
subpoenas issued for Rockefeller and
all the others. Rockefeller succeed
ed in hiding out from the scores of
deputy marshals who were on his
trail, until Tuesday, when he permit
ted one of them to read the subpoena
to him, and he Immediately made
preparations to attend court.
Maximum Fine $40, 100000.
Judge Lands is empowered to fix
a fine in any sum between $1,000 and
100000 for each count, of which
there were 1,462 in the indictment.
Thus the maximum fine is 29,24O,O0O
but as the capital stock of the In
diana company Is but one million dol
lars, the supreme court might deem
the maximum fine as falling in the
class of cruel and unusual punish
ment prohibited by the constitution.
If it is shown, however, that the
Indiana company is merely subsidi-
nary to the New Jersey company with
its capital of one hundred million
dollars, no such appeal could be
made.
Police Aid Necessary.
Immediately after the entrance of
Rockefeller, pandemonium broke
loose In the hallway. The crowd
rushed at the policemen on guard but
were showed back. SO serious did the
situation become that United States
Marshal Hoy was compelled to tele-
phone police headquarters for adii-
tional help Inside the court room
the jam was nearly as bad as in the
hall outside. Spectators filled the
window seats. jammed the doorways,
sat upon chairs in couples, and even
squatted on the floor.
OIL King in Court Room.
An hour before court opened a
crowd of people was gathered outside
the court room, packing the narrow
hallway to the point of suffocation.
A detail of police officers was placed
along the hall. The majority OF the
spectators were in and seated when
Rockefeller made his appearance, at
tended by friends and counsel. A
passageway was opened for him by
the police. He was shown 10 a seat
TO the left of the judges desk. He
looked curiously around him for a
moment as he settled in his seat and
then commenced a whispered conver-
sation with one of his attorneys.
Are you comfortable here, Mr.
Rockefeller" asked Marshal Hoy.
Perfectly, thank YOU" answered
the oil magnate.
William Rockefeller, who had been
sitting in the rear of the party came
forward a moment later, when beck
oned by his brother, and took a seat
at the latter's side.
Motion Overruled.
The Standard Oil case was called
at 1927 o'clock by Judge Lands and
District Attorney Sims stated the
facts. Attorney John Miller, for the
Standard oil company, announced
that Rockefeller and the other wit
nesses summoned by the court were
present and prepared to answer the
questions Of the court. Miller then
entered a motion in arrest of Judg-
ment in the case.
"Oyerruled," said the Judge shortly.
Fred A. Wann, formerly general
freight agent of the Chicago & Alton
railroad during the time covered by
the indictments, was the first witness
called. He was asked by Judge Lam
dis If he had given any instructions
that the rate on oil between Chicago
and East St. Louis should apply via
Whiting, Indiana. He declared that
he had no personal recollection Of any
such instructions.
Standard Owns Tank Line.
III, h. FELTON,, president of the I'm
ion Tank line, was asked IL he knew