The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-24
OIL KING DENIES
MERRITT CHARGES
Produces Paper Which,
He Says, Exoner-
ates Him.
IT is SIGNED BY
HIS ACCUSERS
In Statement Made in 1897
Members of Merritt Family
Declare Belief That They
Had Not Been Defrauded
by Rockefeller or
His Agents.

New York, November 23.-John D.
Rockefeller. in statement given out
here tonight. replied to the charges
| made by the Merritt brothers, before
tho Stanley steel investigating com
mittee, regarding the methods used by
Mr.. Rockefeller In securing control OF
the Mesaba ore mines, ana the Duluth.
Missabe and Northern Railroad. point
Ing out that these charges were denied
under oath as long ago as 1895. in llti-
CATION over the Lake Superior Consoli-
dated Iron Mines. He furthermore sub
mits the text of paper bearing the
date OF January 80, 1897, to which are
attached tho names of Alfred and Leon
idas Merritt, and "all the other menu
bers of the family" declaring them
selves satisfied that neither Mr. Rookie
Teller nor his agents committed fraud
ter in question.
oil Kings Statement.
Tho statement follows:
Referring to the testimony of the
Merritt brothers before the Stanley
, committee. in which they charged
fraud and MISREPRESENTATION by MIR.
Rockefeller and Mr.. Gates in connec-
ton with the Lake Superior Consoli-
dated Iron Mines. and that they were
deprived of their Interest in that com
pany by means of a loan made them by
Mr.. Rockefeller of $4,000. which he
called during the panic of 1898. all of
which statements were denied under
oath in the United States Court at the
trial of the litigation In 1895, 1t would
! b absurd to try in tho newspapers at
this late date the issues In that case,
but 1t Is significant that upon the set
Element, which was made at the close
of that litigation. both Alfred and
Leonidas Merritt. the two who testified
| before the Stanley committee, together
with all the other members OF the fam
lily. gavo Mr.. Rockefeller the following
! paper:
"Cer.ain matters OF difference have
existed between the undersigned and
Mr.. John D. Rockefeller. and certain
litigation has been pending between
the undersigned, Alfred Merritt and
MIR. Rockefeller. in which litigation II
was claimed that certain misreprcsen-
/ tations were made by Mr.. Rockefeller
and those acting for him concerning
! certain properties sold by him TO Lake
Superior Consolidated Iron Mines. 1t
is hereby declared that from recent in
| dependent Investigations. made BY us.
or under our direction, we have be-
! come satisfied that no mlsrepresenta-
! tion was made or fra. ~, committed by
! Mr.. Rockefeller. or D. his agents or
attorneys for him. upon the sale by
I'm OF any property to us or any of
! us, or TO Lake Superior Consolidated
! Iron Mines, or upon the purchase by
i him from one or more of US of any
| stocks OF interests in any mining or
/ r.ilway company or companies, or up
| on the pledge by us or either 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 eXonerate Mr.. Rockefeller and his
agents and attorneys therefrom.'"
Here follow the names of the various
members OF the Merritt family who
signed the paper.
Loans Never Called.
"The facts with regard to the loan
Were as follows:" continues Mr.. Rookie
Teller. The loans aGgregatng $780,
600. were made by Mr.. Rockefeller In
various amounts during the summer
OF 1893. MIR. Rockefeller never called
/ these loans. In February, 1891, the
] Merritt brothers, being pressed by
other creditors. applied to Mr.. Rookie >
Teller for further assistance Instead
| of calling his loan as they charge, he
! furnished them an additional sum of
$4So.o0o. They sold him $4,000 shares
of stock at $40 share, amounting to
100000, the several members of the
family contributing different proper
lions. For one-half of this. more tina n
enough to cover his loan to them, ht.
gave to each of them an option to re-
purchase In year at the price that
they had sold 1t 10 him, with & per
cent. interest. Prior to the cxpIra ton
Of the year, Alfred Merritt. one of the
brothers who testified before the COM
mittee. brought suit against Mr.. Rookie
teller and he and sereral OF the 9TH
crs never endenvored to exercise the
option. Another brother and nephew,
at the expiration of the option, applied
for an extension of 1t on their stock,
which was given, and they subsequent,
ly took back their stock. amounting to
10 600 shares, and on tho formation OF
the Steel Corporation sold it to the
company"