New-York tribune., 1909-11-21
HISTORY OF CASE.
Three Years IN Court, 900 :
600 UOrds of E1Idence.

The government filed its complaint I'm the
Standard oil case in November. 1906 before
the United States Circuit Court for the
Eastern District OF Missouri. The com
plant was directed against the parent or
ganization. known as the Standard oil
Company of New Jersey, with It's various
subsidiary corporations. IL was also d.
rected against seven individuals--ns mely.
John n. Rockefeller. Willism Rockefeller.
Henry NJ. Flagler, Henry II. Rogers (now
dead. John n. Archbold. oliver H.
Payne and Charles NJ Pratt. The main
company. its branches and these indlvid-
usls we're charged with having entered
into an agreement. combination and con-
spiracy IN restrain trade and commerce
among the several states. to monopolizs
the trade III petroleum, in its purchase
and is shipment and transportation by
pipe. lire. steamships and by rail. also
in the Manufacture and refining Of Pc
troleum
The United States asked for a perpetual
injunction and for the dissolution Of the
STANDARD OH combination. Hearings were
held in New York. Washington. Chicago.
Cleveland end ST Louis. about four hun.
dred witnesses being examined. The case
finally reached the full bench OF four
Judges comprising the United states Cir
ctiit Court of the 81 Louis District Of
which Judge Ssnborn IS member. The
arguments in behalf Of the government
we're made h. Frank r. Kellogg. OF St
Paul. and ex-United States Attorney Nor
rison. OF Chicago. while John q. Milburn.
Of New York. was at the head of the Stand
ard oil array Of counsel The record Of
evidence was probably the largest ever
taken in A lawsuit. exceeding seven mill
ion words
The governments allegations. u hich we're
filed by David p. Dyer. then United States
Attorney, were based largely upon all in
vestigation of The oil business conducted
by James r. Garfield. Commissioner Of the
Bureau of Corporations. at the behest of
President Roosevelt This investigation
consumed yeav. and as a result OF IL va
rious grand inries returned indictments
containing s.19S counts. according 70 Com
missioner Garfield's annual report of De-
cember 9. 1916.
The taking OF testimoney was intrusted
10 Franklin Ferriss. of st. Louis, who was
appointed Special Master in Chancery I'm
June. 1907.
The broad Eencralities Of the complaint
and answer presaged a considerable lsti-
tude IN the statements of witnesses which
was horne out when tho hearings began.
september l. 1907. in New York. From
then until the finsl testimony was given
in Chicago Oh January %. 1909. 444 per
sons answered questions before Referee
Ferriss Tho result was record OF -. 900
printed pages Of testimony and exhibits
which was nled In 81. Louis on March %.
1899. The bulk Of tho testimony by the
defence was given in New York.
The hearings reached their climax when
the defence called 10 the stand Charles
~. Pratt. John i. Rockefeller and John
u. Archbold. Exhibits were introduced
slowing that IN seven years tho profits OF
the business had totslled nearly 100000
0O0 the statement for the STANDARD oil
Company Of Indiana alone showing profits
I'm 1905 OF more than $4,000, 900 on a cap
italization OF one-tenth that amount
John l.. Rockefeller took the stand No
vember IS. 1897. and WIS not excused until
November -. lie admitted that the stan
dard Oil interests had received rebates on
shipments over certain railroads some of
the officers az which were stockholders in
the STANDARD on Company. He said that
he held stock in nine railroads. several Of
which ha ndled Standard Oil products
Under oss-evamination he declared that
the oil business hazardous because of
the danger from FIRE or the possible eX-
haustion Of the Weiis
Arguments on the case began kpril :
1909. in St Louis. continuing for a week.
Both sides filed voluminous briefs upon
which The arguments by MeSsrs Kellogg
Morrison Johnson Milbtiru R0s4nthsl and
other attorneys were based The court
then took the case under advisement.