The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-23
LeonidaS Merritt Tells How
He Was 'Shorn" and
Told to Walk
HE BRINGS MILLIONS,
SPENDS NONE-BROKE
Says Mr.. Rockefeller and
His Friend Rev. Cites
Gave Lessons in I
High Finance

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.--More
bitter. more tragic than the mere loss
of il great fortune was the story told
by Leonidas Merritt, OF Minnesota,
brother Of Albert Merritt, VINO testi-
lied Yesterday before the Stanley
committee investigating the United
states Steel Corporation today. In
stunnd silence the committee heard
AIR. Merritt declare that John ID.
Rockefeller and his chief almoner
the Rev Frank T. Gates had stripped
him and his brothers of more than
$4,000, geo in three months, and that
Gates then told him to walk the
ties to Duluth"
Leaning forward on his chair, tears
streaming from his eyes, his hands
outstretched to the Committee, Mr..
Merritt cried in bitterness:
1t killed one Of my brothers, 1t
ruined oAner brothers, 1t left me
wrecked in body and for time in
mind. for I held myself alone to
blame. l cannot yet tell how 1t hap
pened that l went to New York with
all three millions and In few weeks
left with nothing"
Tho pathetic cry brought Repre-
sentative Gardner of the commit.
Wants All to Tell.
While / do not think this test,-
mony relevant to the inquiry. want
more of the details OF this business.
= Will call II by no more offensive
name than dubious. l want John d.
Rockefeller, that business preacher,
Rev. F. T. Gates: c. p. Wetmore,
and this other brother. Lewis J. Mer.
rift, who was taken care of by Rock
efeller. to come before this commit
tee and tell their side of this amaz-
ing story"
1t shall be DONE" said Chairman
Stanley. rapping his fist on his desk
The subpoenaes will be issued They
shall come and bring with them the
contracts and papers showing how
they wrought the deed
| But the Stanley committee is shot
to pieces over the exposure Of the
! methods ascrihed to Mr.. Rockefeller
and his chief almoncr. Repieaen-
tative Martin Littleton. OF New York
! has left Washington. He told MIR
Stanley that important business Gait
ed him to New York
Gardner and Danforth, Republican
members. engaged In sharp debate
with Stanley to keep the Rockefeller
testimony out OF the printed hear
ings. but Stanley, Beall and McGilii-
cuddy outvoted them.
You have given this transaction
all the publicity you seem to have
desired" commented Danforth, sar.
castically. to Mr.. Stanley.
Tonight the committee adjourned
Its hearing subject to the call OF the
chairman. 1t is rumored that Lit
; Teton is to carry objections to fur
Their hearings to the floor of the
House, on the ground that the steel
trust is now before the court.
1t will be recalled that Littleton
; voted with Republican members OF
the committee and prevented Stan
ley from forcing George w. Perkins
from telling about the yellow dog
. legislative and political fund Of which
he had charge while president o,
/ the New York Life Insurance Com
pany. Stanley declares that he /.
/ ready to meet Littleton before the
House and will fight for continuanc.
Of the investigation.
1t was Representative Beall who
| of the Merritt brothers.
| what was the value Of the security
| you put up with Rockefeller to secure
| a $4,000 loan,' he asked Leonidas
| Merritt.
"The face value was 100000 ac-
| tual value at least $4,000. oo0." said
| Merritt. "They represented holdings
| worth $4,000 900"
| I'm railroad and ore mine security
/ fOn~Vfu,,oA ~ v,o.~n tbrac1