Evening star., 1938-01-23
Oil
Continued From First Page.)

the VerdictS and for a new trial, Fed
eral Judge Patrick T. Stone said he
needed rest and announced he would
set date later for hearing the mo-
tions. He delayed the question Of
sentencing until disposing of these
motions. and continued the defend
ants personal bonds.
The corporate defendants are liable
to maximum fines OF $4,000 each. The
individual defendants face similar fines
or up to year in prison. or both.
Chief Defense Counsel William j.
Donovan thimSelf an Assistant Attor-
ney General in the Hoover adminis-
tration and the convicted officials
declined to comment. but members of
the defense staff have said the case
would be carried to the Supreme Court
if necessary.
| Indictment Pending.
Still pending against many of the
same defendants who figured in this
case is another indictment charging
conspiracy to restrict gasoline job
bers' margins of profit
Among the men convicted TODAY
were three officials of company pre-
viously cquitted-Tidewater Associ-
ated Oil Co.-and one man not con-
nected with major oil company, A..
V. Bourque of Tulsa, Okla, secre-
tary Of the Western Petroleum Re-
flners Association
The Government alleged the de-
PENDANTS rigged the prices through
program Of purchasing surplus gaso-
line from independent refiners. on
whose selling quotations the ma jors,
by contract, based their prices to their
Jobber customers. Wisconsin. Michi-
gan, Minnesota. North and South Da-
kota, Iowa, Illinois. Indiana, Missouri
and Kansas were the States involved.
Deliberated Eight Hours.
The jurors-who received SAB each
for their services for the last ll2 days,
81 more than two alternates who
were discharged yesterday-deliberate
about eight hours. Receiving the case
yesterday afternoon, they returned to
their task at $50 o'clock this morn
ing and had the verdicts ready An
hour later.
After all defendants and attorneys
had been called to the courtroom,
the jury filed in at 1924 am.
Defendants who had been laugh
ing and chatting before that time
noted that the jurors did not look
at them while filing in.
Five minutes later, after Judge Stone
received the verdicts and thumbed
through the individual envelopes for
the various defendants, the Judge
completed reading the names of the
defendants and the last words of the
jury's decision, I'VE find the Defend
ants guilty as charged"
Silent on Damage Suits.
Judge Stone polled the jury. and
each member affirmed It's findings.
Then he dismissed the jurors with a
smile
There were a few tears after the
verdicts, too, as wives of some Of the
defendants rushed to their husbands
sides. For the most part, however,
there was silence.
Authorities in the Justice Depart
ment at Washington declined to dis.
cuss the possibility of dealers recov-
ering damages from the convicted
firms under the Sherman Antitrust
Act, which provides q basis for suing
for recovery of triple damage.
Other Suits in Court.
The department explained that un-
der the law the extent of damage,
must be proved, and said that "in this
particular case dealers might en-.
counter difficulty"
In Chicago. Edward G. Seubert,
president Of Standard Oil Co. of In
diana, issued a statement saying he
was confident the verdict convicting
is major oil companies and 30 promi-
nent oil men OF conspiracy to fix gaso-
line prices would be reversed If a re-
hearing were granted.
The issues in the case are largely
economic" Schubert said. Il believe
the Government would be the last to
assert there was any intentional or
fragrant violation Of the Sherman Act.
In the last analysis the question in
volved Is simply whether there was q
technical violation of the law. am
satisfied that on rehearing or an ap-
peal to higher courts the situation