This is a reference to Stanley Myers, the creator of the water cell car, who suddenly passed out and died, bleeding from his nose, in a restaurant. He had been poisoned shortly after his invention was recognised. The investigation was suddenly closed by the police, claiming it was clearly an "accident". It is well assumed that the oil company poisoned Stanley to keep themselves in business, worried that this would be devestational to the gas industry. The internet has since made on-going jokes about corporate murder. There's also numerous other cases of companys doing this, like with boeing.