Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-02-14
UNABLE TO Be QU|zzED
WILLIAM ROCKEFELLER CHokEs
WHILE BEING QUESTIONED.
Counsel for Pujo Investigating Com
mittee Stops Probe When Witness
Begins Coughing Violently.

Jekyl Island, Ga. - The shadow
of death came between William
Rockefeller and the Pujo money trust
investigators.
Face to face with the oil magnate,
brother of John d. Rockefeller, after
pursuit which lasted over a year,
Chairman Pujo and Samuel Untermy
er, counsel to the committee, were
compelled to abandon a victory which
was in their grasp through the very
grave danger that the long sought wit
ness might die under the pressure of
cross-eXamination.
Submitting to the jurisdiction of the
committee, Mr.. Rockefeller received
Chairman Pujo and Mr.. Untermyer in
the library of his apartments here.
He was practically voiceless. With
DR.. Chappell at his side, however, the
examination was begun after the man
who is declared to be richer even than
his famous brother had lifted palsied
hand to subscribe to the oath.
But IL minutes elapsed. Mr.. Unter-
myer had been able to ask but sim
tion when the witness was attacked
by a violent fit of coughing. His
whole frame trembled; he became alb
solutely speechless. The blood rushed
to his face, which turned purple and
crimson. To all who looked on, 1t
seemed evident that c crisis was at
hand. DR.. Chappell hastily admins
tered an opiate, under which Mr.
Rockefeller partially revived, but be-
fore the examination could be resumed
the doctor interposed.
Il strongly urge you not to proceed"
he said, "as in doing so you are GER
tainly endangering his life at the
present moment"
Chairman Pujo and Mr.. Untermyer
exchanged hasty glances. BY this
time Mr.. Rockefeller had fallen back
into his chair in a state of almost COM
plete collapse. Dr. Chappell was
sworn and amid deep silence, while
every eye was riveted upon the wit
ness patient, he solemnly swore that
continuation of the examination
which had brought Mr.. Rockefeller to
the verge of spasm of the larynx
which might choke him to death. The
patient was appealed to and whisper
ing feebly into the ear of the official
stenographer. He declared that he felt
in such condition that he thought it
unsafe to proceed further.
1t was the end. Chairman Pujo de-
clared the examination terminated.
Whatever information William Rookie
feller could have contributed to the
investigation will remain sealed up in
his own mind. The famous copper
deal will lie buried in the unsavory
past. 1t is not too much to say even
that William Rockefeller has passed
from the field of active life.
Following the dramatic termination
of the examination, which also ends
the taking Of testimony in the money
inquiry, Chairman Pujo issued the fol-
lowing official statement:
"Mr. Rockefeller's condition is sim
ply pitiable. He not only shakes like
a leaf all over his body, but after the
first question he began to cough con-
vulsively and it was evident he was
laboring under great excitement and
that he was on the verge Of collapse
He had to slowly whisper the few
words he spoke into the ear of the
stenographer, who sat beside him.
This he did with the greatest diff
Guilty. Such thing as an examina-
ton would be impossible. AS soon as
Mr.. Chappell intervened and request
ed that the hearing proceed no further
on the ground stated by him, Mr.. IN
termyer and / felt that 1t would be
dangerous and inhuman to go further
and / thereupon ordered the suspen-
sion of the examination"