The Cairo bulletin., 1910-11-14
STANDARD OIL
MAN IS Silent
VAN ovERBEAk GETS cFaiLLiNG
FEcM U. s. ATTORNEY At
JACKSON, TENN.
DENIES RAILROAD PACT
Records Were Destroyed -Traffic
Man Says that Was Custom
No Understanding TO Get
Concessions.

Jackson, Tenn, Nov l3.Char.es
Van Overbeak. traffic manager OF the
Standard Oil Company of Kentucky,
came In for grilling at the hands OF
| the attorneys for the United States
esterday In connection with the suit
OF tie government aga nsi the Stand
ara OH Company or Indiana, the So
called Grand Junction concession
case.
However, but little of the desired
information was Forthcoming. He
could not say under oath as to the
outside business affairs OF the direc-
tors Of his company Specifically he
was asked ii he knew whether John
D. Rrchibald, w. II. IIlford or others
named were connected with any oil
company other than that incorporate
| ed in Kentucky. So far as bus ness
Ireiations were concerned, Mr.. Van
lOverbeak testified, his company was
not more intimate with the Indiana
company taan with other concerns
Engaged In the refining Of OIL AS to
why the same name was used by
| the two comranies he was not quail
| fed to testify, he said.
Judge Mccall wanted to know OF
the witness If his sempany has a rep
lresentative at Grand junction to take
phys cal possession of consignmants
shipped to that point. Mr., Van over
beak explained tnat the company was
without representation at Grand juno
tions but tlsat control Of the eiAsMas
taken through instructions sent @ the
i JOINT Illinois Central and Southern
1 railroad agents
The questioning or Van 0verbeak
by the prosecution was in rebnttal
after his ross-examination by attor-
Ineys for the defense, principally In
amplification of his statements of yes
terday as to the destruction of GER
cain records by hiscompany as need
less memorandas,
\ Many Documents Introduced.
| Considerable documentary evidence
i was introduced including railroad
tariff sheets and orders and books
and checks of the Kentucky company,
Attorneys for both sides were called,
to task by the court today because
Of cross-tab!e controversy.
An effort to have specimen copy
OF order sent to the Indiana corpora
tion introduced In evidence brought
on an argumonr as to the destruction
OF such records.
This was the usual custom. the wit
ness said, after serving their pur-
lpose Here Mr.. Van Oyerbeak was
excused for the moment and Edward
( Bagard S, traffic manager for the de-
fendant company, was called by the
!, defense His company pursued the
same method, he declared, "but did
not destroy any records, after learn
ing that an investigation was In pro-
Igress by the department Of commerce
and labor"
II The eross-examinatlon OF Van Oy-
erbeak was then resumed. There was
l"no understanding" between the two
oil companies of the railroads to Sc
cure rate concessions, he asserted.
4 In answer to the question of Judge
4 Mccall, however, the witness admit
}, ted that oil destined to Grand juno
ton proper. the consignment point,
e would not have had the advantage Of
. the 13-cent rate to points beyond"
q On rehuttal the government sought TO
d have Van Overbeak testify as % oth-
g er business connections OF the direc-
n tors of his company. On this score
S he knew nothing.
The hearing viii be resumed Mon
VI day.