The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-11-30
STANDARD OIL CASE HISTORY
Great Trust Ordered Dissolved by
United States Circuit Court.

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 it was the second time the courts
had grappled with the great oil COM
bination in an effort to break its power.
The government filed it's 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 dividuals-namely, John d.
Rockefeller. William Rockefeller, Hen
~ M. Flagler. Henry 81. Rogers tnow
dead. John ID. Archbold, Oliver HI.
Payne and Charles NJ. Pratt The
main company. its branches and these
individuals were charged with having
entered into an agreement. combina-
ton and conspiracy to restrain trade
and commerce among the several
states, to monopolize the trade in Pc
troleum, in its purchase and it's ship
ment and transportation by pipe line,
steamships and by rail: also in the
manufacture and refining of petroleum
The United States asked for a 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 a 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
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 fled by David p. Dyer. then
United States attorney, were based
largely upon an investigation of the
oil business conducted by James K.
Garfield, commissioner of the bureau
of corporations. at the behest of Pres
ident Roosevelt. This investigation
consumed year, and as a result of it
various grand juries returned indict-
ments containing S.193 counts, accord
ing to Commissioner Garfeld'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
cradle latitude in the statements OF
witnesses. which was borne out when
the hearings began Sept. I. 1907. in
New York. From then until the fnal
testimony was given in Chicago on
Jan. D.. 1863. 444 persons answered
questions before Referee ITerriss. The
result was a record of $4,000 printed
pages Of testimony and exhibits which
was filed 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 NJ. Pratt, John D. Rockefeller
and John d. Arehbold. Exhibits were
introduced showing that In seven years
the profits Of the business had totaled
nearly $500000,0O0, the statement for
the Standard Oil Company Of Indiana
alone showing profits in 1896 Of more
than $l003G 600 on Il capitalization of
one-tenth That amoatt.
John d. Rockefeller took the stand
Nov. Is. 1891. and was not excused
until Nov. a. He admitted chat the
Standard Gil interests had received
relates OH shipmeuts over certain rail
roads. some IT tie Gflceis or which
We're StogEhaeefs iii Tue faWlarl OIL
company. re SAID that he mesa stock
III iAltS tefitts'ttttrs htfFi ni y H4Nu
handled Sblaa@al Gli NWauer" faer
cross examnMioli 1V crehted ii':l ne
Gil businee tas hs2afaaas ~ ause ~
the danger leogn rle or t'lr = ssi@fA
exhaustion The Veils
Argument an glle asp BEGAN April
5. 1889, u i,qur., yas.tiulG.. l". 4
Week. bo, slaes G!ta vn+uiBirn1s
briefs. upag wNicli tie arganeIfs W
Messrs. kss., Morrison. JOl@<ea.
Nilburn, lsas,slla. and other after
neys were 3 el, The eoHrt then ko'&-
the case u.e"g Gdvisemext.
o u.
ia lae rewepapNr. d;y c,:il1s's. e
eleven advertisements a something
lost as sg1iaS, enc io&sW ndyrrtige-
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Il sisaify2 That es5;e is a deg~a
tinss 4ier thar ~ :. y h@ ss:.e
Csitai. sr nc to Ser
mon c1 t',e :; M hl nat
pacpiA W plh LEGS /. x
icus h laan psn are people
WHO lg4e .g'u
II Is annoLiMa@ Fe.Maps
!. 70.