New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-17
HEARING IN OIL CASE
Referee Takes Up Pierce's
Complaint Against Standard.
F. w. WELLER ON STAND
SAYS New Jersey Company
Owns Nearly All Of Louisi-
ana Company's Stock.

Testimony IN the matter OF the II. Gay
Pierce interests OF the Waters-fieree vi
COMPANY of Missouri. which are seehihs
70 compel the Standard oil Company 10
| recognize three directors alleged e nave
been elected February 10. was taken
terday before Abraham L. JH'ooH'
referee. at No. 81 Wall street.
Samuel Untermyer, Frederick " JUL
son and Samuel w. Fordyce appeared Tor
tha Pierce interests and Daniel l.. hlrpy
reurosonted the Standard Oil Company.
Objections made TO the proceedings pE
Mr.. Kirby were overruled
! T. W. Weller president Of the standard
| OH COMPANY Of Louisiana. testified about
tho purchase Of a tract Of 1865 ceres
| from A. c. Bedford. who is director In
the New Jersey company a. well az the
Louisiana company. The witness said
that he had made no Investigation OF the
land for Mr.. Bedford but that he under
stood J. c. O'Donnell. president OF the
Standard OIL Company of Ohio hal lie
also had understood that Bedford tought
considerable land adjoining the l3'V"
! acres at the same time that he bought
the Caddo field land.
Mr.. Weller said that the STANDARD Oh
Company OF New Jersey owned ABOUT
IS. 600 of the 20 1000 outstanding sharss OF
the Standard Oil Company of Louiciana'
according 10 the stock books but That
really /, owned much more than that.
The other stockholders. he said, were e.
c. Morris, T.. +. Gordon. A. c. BEDFORD.
]. A. Mofrat and the witness. but that all
the holdings OF himself, Norris and Cor
don. excepting one share. were assigned
10 the Standard oil Company OF New
Jersey
Mr.. Bedford. said Mr.. Weller. acted for
I himself In the land deal. The prico paid
10 him for the land was 10000 II was
paid IN cash. with money raised on
note 10 the Standard oil Company of New
Jersey, which IS still outstanding. has
not been reduced and Is not secured by
the physical property Of the STANDARD OH
Company OF Louisiana.
Mr.. Fordyce. in his examination OF the
witness. attempted TO elicit Information
10 show that the Louisiana is still sub
sdiary Of the New Jersey company, and
there was little objection 20 his line or
questioning until he asked about the out
put OF the Louisiana company. Then Mr.
Kirby interrupted.
- protest" ,aid Mr.. Kirby. against
Mr.. ForGvce. president Of the Fordyce-
Waters on Company. asking questions u
rorsonal nature about the bushes OF n
rival Company
-. VI. Bushnell president OF the four
IT, ne ~ Ii
,ru group ra. another witness. lie said
that D., was managing director OF these
and tho Jour lines known a. tho south
,rr group until December. 1911. Then he
.v.rcs lie connection With tho southern
group and became president Of the north
cru grcup. IL refused 10 say that James
:. Monut Was president of the pipe lines
when the witness was their general man
ap'r.
Samuel Tn'crmyer conducted the tx
am'r7i'o Of this witness. and dwell
upon the conduct nj the meetings At
which he was elected president and H.
rector in the four complnies Re elected
tho Information that some one. witness
did not recall who suggested 10 Mr.
Bushnell that he might bc elected prosi-
don't Of 'ha companies. and that IN re-
spoi 30 10 this tiD he went 10 a room-hc
did not know whose room e was-on tho
fu,"uii floor ~ No u broadway. and
found therein Numerous men. The only
One l. could rccollcci were John -
Archho'd. James \. Moffat. l., G. Teagc
3 G. bedford and Mr.. Drake. the old
board "f directors OF tn" pipe lines TIL"
resignation Of each was read I'm turn and
tine remaining ones chose successor.
TIC witness was stlll on tho stand when
Adjournment wa taken until this morn
M.