The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-24
Mr., ROCKEFELLER
Tells HIS STORY
Produces Document Signed
by All Merritts Exoner-
ating Him
PAPER ALSO CLEARS
ALL OF HIS AGENTS
He Refers to 5000, 900 He
Advanced Them but Fails
to Explain Where
They Put 1t

NEW YORK, Nov. 23.--'In the
matter OF the evidence of the Mer-
rift brothers before the Stanley com
naittee In Washington. u. c., reflect
ing upon Mr., John .. Rockefeller In
connection with SOME ore and NALL
road properties on the Masaba range,
Mr.. Rockefeller authorized the fol-
lowing statement
Referring to the testimony Of the
Merritt brothers before the Stanley
committee. In which they charged
fraud and Misrepresentation by Mr..
Rockefeller and Mr.. Gates In connee-
ton with the Lake Superior consof-
dated Iron mines, and that they were
deprived of their interest In that
company by means Of a loan made
the mby Mr.. Rockefeller Of $4,000,
which he called during the panic of
1929, all OF which statements were
denied under oath in the United
States court at the trial OF the lita-
geca in 1895, II would be absurd to
try III ,ne newspapers at mis- late
data the issues In that case, but IL is
significant that upon the settlement
which was made at the close OF thai
litigation both Alfred and Leonidas
Merritt. tbs two men who testified
ge,her with all the other members
Of the family. gave Mr.. Rockefeller
tho following paper:
Certain matters OF difference have
existed between the undersigned and
Mr.. John D. Rockefeller. and GER
tain litigation has been pending be-
tween the undersigned, Alfred Merritt
and Mr.. Rockefeller, in which liti-
cation It was claimed that certain
Misrepresentation were made by
Mr.. Rockefeller and those acting for
him concerning certain properties
sold by him to Lake Superior Con
solidated Iron mines
1T Is hereby declared that from
recent independent investiga tons
made by us or under our direction
we have become satisfied that no mis-
representation was made or found
committed by Mr.. Rockefeller. or by
his agents or attorneys for him. upon
the sale by him of any property TO
us or any OF us, or to Lake Superior
Consolidated Iron mines. or upon the
purchase by him from enc or more
Of us OF any stocks or interests in
any mining or railway company or
companies or upon the pledge by US.
or sither OF us to him of stocks and
securities belonging TO one or more
OF US; and we hereby withdraw all
such charges and claims and exon
crate Mr.. Rockefeller and his agents
and attorneys therefrom.
Duluth. Mimi. January %, 1897.
''Tn the presence Of:
"MERRIL NJ. CLARK.
JOSEPH Il. COTTON"
This is signed by all the members
Of the Merritt family.
1.-THE facts with regard to the loan
were N follows:
The loans, aggregating $4,000
were made by Mr.. Rockefeller In
various amounts during the summer
of 1899. Mr.. Rockefeller never called
these loans.
IN Fcbruary. 1894. the Merritt
brothers, being pressed by other
creditors. applied to Mr.. Rockefeller
for further assistance Instead OF
calling his loan. AZ they charge. ne
furnished them an additional sum of
$3.50 900. They sold him 10000 shares
Of stock 1T $40 y share. amounting to
100000 several members OF the
family contributing different proper
tons
.sror one-half Of this. more than
enough to cover his loan to them.
he raye to each Of them an option to
repurchase Ia year AT the price they
had sold It to him with per cent
interest.
"Prior to tho expiration Of the year
Alfred Merritt, one Of the brothers
who testified before the committee,
brought suit against Mr.. Rockefeller
and he and several OF the others
never endeavored to exercise the op-
ton.
Another brother and nephew. at
the expiration OF the option. applied
for an extension Of II on their stock.
which was given and they subse-
auently took back the stock amount
il1e 10 10, 900 shares and on the for
nation OF the steel corporation sold
II TO that company.