The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-07-11
ROCKEFELLER GIVES
JUDGE lands But
LITTLE INFORMATION
OIL King Denies All knowledge
Of the Standard OTIS Busi-
ness Methods.
SAYS JOB is ~"HoM0RARY''
Rockefeller Admits That the Business
of the Standard Oil Company
Is to Produce Oil, and
That's About All.

of New Jersey, occupied the witness
stand in the United States district court
Saturday while Judge Lands piled him
with questions regarding the financial
strength and the business methods OF
the corporation OF which he is the head.
Mr.. Rockefeller was a very willing and
en- equally unsatisfactory witness. He
was willing to tell all he knew, but
he said tina he knew practically moth
ing.
The net result of his examination was
hat he believed that during the years
1909. 1904 and 1905, the period covered
by the indictments or which the Stand
ard Oil Company Of Indiana was re-
Gently convicted, the net profits of the
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
were approximately 20 per cent. of an
outstanding capitalization Of S100, 000-
700.
Ownership Question Settled.
The investigation held by Judge
lands was Instituted by him for the
express purpose Of determining whether
pr not the Standard OIL Company of
indiana, convicted Of violation of the
aw, was really owned by the Standard
Dill Company OF New Jersey; whether
the Union Tank Line, whose cars were
ased for the shipment made in viola
ion of law was similarly owned, and
also to obtain an idea of the financial
resources Of the convicted corporation,
n order to inflict a fine proportional to
the offense and assets Of the convicted
company.
1t was stated by officers Of the
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey
Mat it wned the greater part of the
stock nf both tho Union Tan Il limo opr3
The Standard Oil Company OF Indiana.
Specific figures as to the earnings Of
The parent corporation We're given by
Charles M. Pratt, Its secretary, and
they were close to the estimate given
by Mr.. Rockefeller.
Plea to excuse John .. Fails.
When the Standard ON investiga-
ton was called, Attorneys Miller and
Rosentaan, counsel for the
Teller be excused from the stand.
They explained to the Judge that he
could give no information that could
got be better obtained from some
other source. They declared he could
In fact tell nothing OF what the court
ever, refused to vacate the subpoena,
and insisted that Mr.. Rockefeller
should take the stand and testify to
the best Of his ability. Attorney Mil"
Ter, for the company, offered the
objection to the impending proceed
lngs that they We're entirely U OF
the jurisdiction Of the court. Judge
Lands overruled the motion.
MI. Miller then declared that the
defense objected to every question put
TO every witness during the proceed
!ngs. The court replied: ach and
every objection is cyerruled and ar
exception allowed.
Oil Case Called.
The Standard Oil case was called at
1927 o'clock by Judge Lands. Dis
trict Attorney Sims briefly stated the
facts in the case as previously out
lined.
Attorney John S. Miller, for the
Standard Oil company, then an
nounced that Mr.. Rockefeller and 9TH
er witnesses by the court
were present and prepared to answer
the questions. Mr.. Miller then entered
a motion in arrest Of judgment in the
case.
"overruled," said Judge Lands
shortly.
Fred A Wann. former general
freight agent of h Chicago and Alton
the indictment, was the first witness
called. He was asked by Judge Lands
II he had given n instructions that
the rate on oil between Chicago and
East St. Louis should apply via Whit
ing, Ind. He declared that he had no
personal recollection OF such instruc-
tons.
The Judge asked several additional
questions, all of which were objected
to by Mr.. Miller, who was promptly
overruled.
H; e. FELTON,, president Of the Union
Tank line, was then called. Judge
Lands asked IL ne knew anything Of
the payment OF money by the Union
Tank line to the Alton during the time
covered in the trial.
"We paid three-quarters OF a cent a
mile on loaded and empty cars alike"
said Mr.. FELTON,.
Are you sure you paid on empty
cars p asked the judge.
That Is my best recollection"
DO you know whether or not the
stock OF h Union Tank line is owned
by any other company?"
The major part OF it's stock is
owned by the Standard OH Company Of
Now Jersey"
p you know what the outstanding
stock of the Standard OH Company Of
New Jersey is?"
NO, sir"
Rockefeller to the Stand.
John D. Rockefeller" called Judge
Lands.
Amid dead silence the oil magnate
arose and started for the witness chair.
At the same the Standard OIL
attorneys clustered around Judge
Lands desk and began a whispered.
consultation with him. Mr.. Rookie
Teller hesitated.
Sit right still a moment, John
said his brother, and Mr.. Rockefeller
resumed his seat.
Messrs. Miller n Rosenthal, OF the
Standard Oil company; United States
District Attorney Sims and his assist
ant, Mr.. Wilkerson, and Arthur Eddy,
Chicago attorney for the Standard oil
company, held a low voiced ~conversa-
tion with Judge Lands which stretched
into minutes. Mr.. Rockefeller means.
While waiting with q mildly curious
expression on his face.
FINALLY an understanding as to the
questioning was reached and the at
torneHs resumed their seats.
John ID. Rockefeller" again called
Judge Lands, and the president of the
standard Oil company left his seat.
walked slowly to the witness chair at
the right of Judge Lands and raised