The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1913-02-12
FEAR OF DEATH
KALTS PROBE
Rockefeller Too Weak TO Sub.
nit TO Examination
IAAGNATE ON VERGE OF SPASM
hfter Twelve Minutes Of Questioning
by Pujo Committee Rockefeller Be.
comes peechess-Shakes of Palsy.

comes Speechless-Shakes of Palsy.
After an examination of twelve min
utes by Samuel Untermyer, counsel
for the Pujo committee, William
Rockefeller, the aged Standard Oil
magnate, showed signs of a laryngeal
spasm and indications of an approach
ing nervous collapse At the insist
ence of his physician the examination
was discontinued The examination
took place on Jekyle island, off Bsuns-
wick, Ga.
When Mr. Rockefeller's right hand
went up to take the oath his arm
shook like leaf When he repeated
the words of the oath the muscles cf
his face began to give way. Mr.. Pujo
moved nervously in his chair and his
nervousness was reflected in Mr. I'm
termeyer. Mr. Rockefeller handed a
paper to the stenographer with the
whispered request that it be read
Here is the text:
81 am urgently advised and warned
by my physicians that this eXamina-
ton is attended with very serious
danger on account OF the precarious
condition of my throat | desire, how
ever. to make the effort as ! have not
now and never have had any dispoSl-
tion TO avoid testifying before your
committee except as | have been eau
toned by my physicians that doing so
would endanger my life. If | find that
the strain is too great for me to take
further risk / shall have to ask your
indulgence in not pressing the ex-
animation further.
"As ! have lost my voice | would
deem it a privilege to make my
answers to the official stenographer
who sits beside me and who will read
them aloud. 1t is impossible for me
to write them"
do you recall the occasion of the
organization of the Amalgam ited Cop.
per company in 1882 was the first
question.
81 do Mr.. Rockefeller replied.
"Was it in 1882"
With a great effort Mr.. Rockefeller
replied 81 think it was in lS99.' He
did not complete the sentence. The
action OF the muscles of his face and
the secretion from his mouth evident
ly presaged the choking spell which
DR.. Chappell feared. The physician
interfered. DR.. Chappell said:
"NIr. Chairman would like to take
the liberty of demanding your atten-
ton to Mr. Rockefeler's condition. He
is showing some symptoms which pre-
cede the spasms OF the larynX and ]
strongly advise you not to proceed, as
in doing so you are endangering his
life. Since my appearance before the
committee in Washington a new and
more serious development has oc-
Cured in Mr.. Rockefellers throat.
You can see his general shaking now
and he is now on the verge of spasm
of the larynX which might choke him."
Mr. Rockefeller dropped back into
his chair with a weak tired expression
as he heard the physician say that his
end might be at hand He looked
pitiably from the chairman to the at
torney for the verdict.
Mr. Puio arose as a man in the
midst of a stern duty and insisted that
DR.. Chappell swear that death might
result from continuation of the eX.
animation. DR.. Chappell did.
Chairman Pujo then made the fol
lowing formal statement for the
record: "The chair states that, in view
Of the declaration by DR.. Chappell
under oath and also of the witness
that no further proceedings will be
had at this time"