The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-01

warrants OF q similar character and
IN case the magistrate finds for the
prosecution the three oil companies
Will be liable to a fine Of not moro than
$500 on each Of these warrants.
Immediately after tho lunch hour,
w. ID. Fesscnfeldt. agent for the Rich
lnond OH Company. was put on the
stand. and in the face OF strenuous
objections by Judge Gregory, gave q
description Of the entire business me-
thod, past and present, OF his COM
pany. Following Mr.. Fcssenfcldt, his
driver Thorp was subjected to Ions
and vigorous cross-examinauon by
the prosecution. G.. NJ Little local
agent for the National Oil Company.
then testified, and gave evidence along
the same line as Mr.. Fessenfeldt.
Method OF Buying OIL.
After tedious examination OF several
Swansboro merchants i'll regard to
their method OF purchasing oil and
the fight as to whether they had any
written or implied agreement with the
tank driver to supply them with oil
on specific days, the court proceeded
TO the argument one hour having been
allotted to each side after consultation.
For the prosecution Conway Sands
led with short presentation OF his
case. employing his time III an en-
deavor to bring the three oil companies
peddling act OF the Virginia Code.
Eppn Hunt0n, Jr., who followed for
the Standard brought forward a num-
her OF authoritative rulings along the
line OF the case In point In the minds
Of the spectators. the most telling evi.
dence brought out by the dcfeHsc was
the citation by MIR. ltunton of the de-
cision OF the Giles County Circuit
Court in the case OF the Commonwealth
against tile Standard Oil Company, a
case almost identical with the one be-
ing heard. The stenographic report Of
this case was presented 10 the magis-
trate by Mr. Hunton, after strong OBJ
lection by Judge Gregory. Several
other pcddling decisions were quoted
by Mr.. Hunton, all Of which seemed
to be in favor OF the defendants
After Charles l.. Page, counsel for
the Standard had declined to supple
ment his colleagues remarks, i. "a.
Williams. Of Norfolk. took UP the ar
gument for the National Oil Company.
OIL Used an Fuel.
ct IS evident said Mr.. Williams,
"that the prosecution has entirely
failed to read that part of the statute
which provides for exemptions IRON
ttls peool.ss law, the provlso which
declares that this statute shall not
apply TO feul" Continuing on this
line, Mr.. Williams attempted TO show
to what extent oil is used as fuel,
and urged the dismissal of the charges
Oh this ground.
A. W. Patterson, in arguing TOT the
Richmond OIL Company. claimed ,nat
! tie statute should not apply to ms
! client for the reason thut the Rich
! mond Oil Company has regular place
! Of business In Chesterfield county. and
pays revenue into that treasury.
Judge Gregory, in the face OF contin-
ued Interruptions and remarks from
the opposing attorneys. concluded the
case for the prosecution with long
and eloquent plea for the punishment
Of the corporations who had for SO
long avoided paying to the county the
revenue lawfully due
Day for Objections.
The morning session was devoted
exclusively TO the taking oc testi-
lnony and the examination Of j. NJ.
Graves. agent for the Standard. c. H.
Kahl and j. S. Wakefield. two swans
boro merchants were the star Wit
nesses for the defense and the prose
cution. respectively, and were kept on
the stand for several hours. t was
during the examination OF Kahl that
Judge Gregory objected SO violently TO
the discussion of any standing agree
mcnt between the oil companies a..u
the merchants when Mr.. Page arose