The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-12-01
STANDARD OIL. CASE HISTORY
Great Trust Ordered Dissolved by
United States Circuit Court.

Great Trust Ordered Dissolved by
\ United States Circuit Court.
When the United States circuit
court for the eastern district Of Mis-
souri, recently handed down at st. Paul
its decision ordering the dissolution Of
the Standard Oil Company Of New Jer.
sey IL was the second time the courts
had grappled with the great oil com
bination In an effort 70 break its power.
The government fled its complaint
In the Standard Oil case in November,
1906. before the United States circuit
court for the eastern district of Mis-
souri,. The complaint was directed
against the parent organization, known
as the STANDARD OIL Company of New
Jersey. with its various subsidiary cor
porations. 1t was also directed against
seven individuals namely, John ID.
Rockefeller William Rockefeller, Hen
ry M. Flagler Henry III. Rogers now
dead, John d. Archbold, Oliver Fl.
Payne and Charles NJ. Pratt. The
main company, it's branches and these
individuals were charged with having
entered into an agreement, combina-
tion and conspiracy to restrain trade
and commerce among the several
states, TO monopolize the trade in per
troleum, in its purchase and its ship
ment and transportation by pipe line,
steamships and by rail; also in the
manufacture and refining of petroleum.
The United States asked for per-
petual injunction and for the dissolu
ton of the Standard Oil combination.
Hearings were held In New York,
Washington. Chicago, Cleveland and
st. Louis, about 400 witnesses being
examined. The case finally reached
the full bench of four judges compris-
ing the United States circuit court of
the ST. Louis district. Of which Judge
Sanborn is member The arguments
in behalf Of the government were made
by Frank b. Kellogg of st. Paul and
ex-United States Attorney Morrison of
Chicago, while John G. Milburn OF
New York was at the head Of the
Standard Oil array OF counsel The
record OF evidence was probably the
largest ever taken in lawsuit, ex
ceeding 100000 words
The governments allegations. which
were filed by David p. Dyer. then
United States attorney, were based
largely upon an investigation OF the
oil business conducted by James r.
Garfield. Commissioners OF the bureau
of corporations. at the behest of Pres
ident Roosevelt This investigation
consumed year, and as result of 1t
various grand juries returned indict-
ments containing 8,1g3 counts. accord
ing to Commissioner Gardeld's annual
report of Dec. 8, 1906.
The taking of testimony was intrust-
ed to Franklin Ferriss of st Louis,
who was appointed special master in
chancery In June. 1907.
The broad generalities of the COM
plant and answer presaged consid-
erable latitude in the statements of |
witnesses, which was borne out when
the hearings began Sept /. 1907, in
New York From then until the final
Jan. %, 1909. 444 persons answered
questions before Referee Terriss The
result was a record Of 25,000 printed
pages of testimony and exhibits which
was tiled in ST. Louis on March %.
1909 The bulk of the testimony by |
the defense was given in New York.
The hearings reached their climax
when the defense called to the stand
Charles M Pratt, John d. Rockefeller
and John d. Archbold Exhibits were
introduced showing that in seven years
the profits Of the business had totaled |
nearly $5O0,0OO,000, the statement for
the Standard Oil Company Of Indiana
alone showing profits in 1906 Of more
than $10O00.000 on a capitalization OF
one-tenth that amount
John d. Rockefeller took the stand
Nov. 1S. 1897, and was not excused
until Nov. "a. He admitted that the
Standard Oil interests had received /
rebates on shipments over certain rail
roads, some OF the officers of which
were stockholders in the Standard OIL
company He said that he held stock
In nine railroads. several of which
handled Standard OH products. Under
cross examination be declared that the
oil business was hazardous because Of
the danger from fire or the possible
exhaustion Of the wells.
Arguments on the case began April
5, 1908, in st. Louis, continuing for a
week Both sides filed voluminous
briefs, upon which the arguments by
Messrs. Kellogg, Morrison, Johnson.
Milburn, Rosenthal and other attor-
neys were based. The court then took