Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-19
ROCKEFELLER
GIVES COURT
FULL HISTORY
PRESIDENT OF STANDARD OIL
RECITES LIFE STORY
DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT TRUST
DESCRIBED GRAPHICALLY
Tells How, from Comparatively Moth
ing, He Built Up One of the
Worlds Most Powerful
MonopoIies
GBy Associated Press. ]

n EW YORK. Nov. l1S.-John D.
Y Rockefeller, president of the
= Standard Oil company, made his
appearance as a witness for the defense
in the federal suit to dissolve the So
called coil trust" today.
Relating his story with the air of a
country gentleman of kindly mien en-
gaging a host of friends with Incl
dents of days long past, Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter, though for nearly ten years retired
from active cares of company direction,
reviewed for more than two hours the
history of the early oil trade and the
development of the company that later
grew into the present so-called oil trust.
Mr.. Rockefeller was a witness for the
defense in a suit to dissolve the Stand
ard, which is being prosecuted by the
United States government, and his ap-
pearance at the hearing before Judge
Franklin Ferris, the referee, brought a
large crowd to the customs building.
The head of the big oil combine was
surrounded by an imposing circle OF
counsel and when he began his testi-
mony he gazed complacently upon a
swarm of newspaper men, behind whom
pressed a throng that filed the room.
Mr. Rockefeller appeared at COM
plete ease, and when John G. Mil
burn of counsel for the Standard Oil
company propounded his first question
the witness spoke out in full tones as
if he desired the most distant spectator
in the chamber to hear.
Story of Prosperity
Then, in a manner that indicated a
pleasure of which he was about to tell,
Mr.. Rockefeller spoke of his start in
the oil business, and how, under ad-
verse conditions, that business grew to
proportions of the Standard Oil COM
pany of Ohio, with it's capitalization of
100000
Mr.. Rockefeller's eyes sparkled in re-
Election of that early financial organiza-
tion, and spoke of its million dollar
capitalization with almost boyish en-
thuSiaSm.
Former Judge Franklin Terriss, mas
ter of the proceedings, had ordered that
no spectators be permitted to enter the
chamber and policemen posted at the
door turned back an insistent throng
which besieged the room where the
testimony was being taken.
Mr.. Rockefeller had left the offices
Of the Standard Oil company shortly
before p. m. He was accompanied to
the customs house, where the hearing
is being held, by John G. Milburn and
Moritz Rosenthal of counsel for the
Standard Oil company.
On his way Mr.. Rockefeller was
photographed by several newspaper
photographers. He made no objection.
Mr.. Rockefeller had scarcely entered
the court room when his counsel mo-
toned him to take the witness chair.
The president of the Standard Oil COM
pany gave his testimony in clear,
resonant voice, which could be heard
all over the room.
Asks Him His Name
Mr.. Rockefeller, what is your full
name?" asked Mr.. Miller.
John D. Rockefeller"
Where do you live?"
my legal residence is in this city
at 4 West Fifty-fourth street."
"Whhen was your first connection
with the oil business?'
about 1860 or 1862 not earlier than
1860 nor later than 1862. I was then a
young man-much younger than l am
now"
In reply to the question as to who
were associated with him in the oil
business in the beginning he gave the
names sof Morris James and Richard
Clark and Samuel Andrews.
"a copartnership was formed" said
Mr.. Rockefeller, known as Andrews,
Clark & Co., which operated at Cleve-
land, q.
Mr.. Rockefeller said the refinery was
small one and his copartnership with
Andrews, Clark & Co. continued until
1866, when 1t was dissolved.
81 bought the business and the prop
erty and organized the firm of Rookie
feller & Andrews" he said.
He Kept on Trying
did you continue in the refinery
business?"
"Yes."
Ibid your business increase?"
(Couffnued an Para TwOl