The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-10
Gus SpreckeIs Dodged Lead
ing Questions With
Great Agility.
he FAILS TO RECALL FACTS
Will Not Show Income or Outlay
Unless So Ordered by the
Court.

the case, with his father, Claus Spreck-
els, defendant, and the Spreckels Sugar
Refinery in Philadelphia, was re-
sumed in the offices of Delmas & Short
ridge yesterday morning. Mr.. Shortridge
did the questioning in most pointed
manner, and c. A. Spreckels made as great
a success in not giving definite answers as
he did last Saturday. His supply of an
swers such as "I do not recall, " 81 have no
such recollection, - and II do not remem-
ber," seemed inexhaustible. But he was
worried withal.
Mr.. Shortridge tried in many ways to
get some definite statements concerning
the shortage of 100000, but the witness
persistently took refuge behind the evasive
answers, 81 do not recall, and ''The verbal
statement 1 gave my father was satisfac-
tory" The books and other accounting
documents, which the witness had prom
Used to present yesterday, were not
produced. Attorney Ach, represent
Ing the plaintiff in the case, frequently in
terrupted Mr.. Shortridge's questioning by
objections on various grounds. Rudolf
Spreckels gave the witness his moral sup
port by his presence. Claus Spreckels, the
defendant in the pending suit, came early
and remained through the day. Adolph
Spreckels was also there. There were no
courtesies exchanged between the father
and his two younger sons when the former
entered the inquiry room.
As one of the grounds on which the suit
for SANDER is based is the published state
ment alleged to have been made by Claus
Spreckels that C. A. Spreckels will soon
be bankrupt" which the plaintiff alleges
has injured his standing as capitalist
and merchant" Mr.. Shortridge made an
effort to prove the truth o. falsity of the
alleged SANDER by ascertaining the financial
standing of the plaintiff-his moneys, Sc
curities, real estate and personal property
but the witness was as wary as ever and
would give no definite answers to any of
the questions propounded on the subject.
The phrase, II decline to answer" was
made another part of the stock in trade of
G. A. Spreckels as witness.
Mr. Shortridge, as an introduction to
the pursuance of the inquiry, said:
You were questioned the other day in regard
TO the revocation by your father of the power
of attorney which he had hitherto given
to you, and you were asked TO furnish the date,
believe, of that revocation.
do not recall any such request.
When did you first learn that that power of
attorney had been reV0kedY
think it was about year after severed my
connection.
When did you return TO him the power OF
attorney?
Inever returned it. I think left it in Phila-
delphia, probably in the safe.
You were asked in regard to an account
which believe you said you had furnished,
showing the amount OF moneys received by
you on account of your father, and the DISPOSE
ton of the money, and l believe you stated
that you could and would furnish that account
at this hearing. Have you such an account?
AS recall the figures that 1 gave him at that
time, the difference which could not account
for at that moment was either $250,000 which
placed with J. and w. Seligman in New York,
against which Mr.. Adolph Spreckels drew
Arof IS M NIhia h
was never paid directly by the Havemeyers
themselves, but was taken at their request out
of the contribution of the working capital and
credited to my fathers account on The books.
/ am not sure on either point, but that is my
recollection at this moment
Did you make an accounting to your father?
understand you to have answered eyes" to
that question the other day.
Yes, did, 1 will state in explanation that
the moneys received by me for the sale OF the
45 per cent OF the Spreckels Sugar Refining
Company's stock was $3.50, 900, instead OF
So, OBS, 900, as stated by me the other day.
received as cash 81 800 600; Ireceived in notes
Western National Bank of New York to the
credit of the Spreckels Sugar Refining Com
pany. Against that drew 200 and paid
1t to the United States Trust Company of New
York in order to redeem certain collateral that
they held.
Who held?
The United States Trust Company. I had to
redeem this collateral in order to make the
transfer and make the delivery to Messrs. Have
meyer themselves
The witness reiterated his former state
ment that all the accounts were kept
by the secretary of the company. AT the
previous investigation he had stated that
he could explain all the details by refer
ence to his books and that he would bring
those books yesterday. But the books
were not presented by G. a. Spreckels to
any visible extent.
The 81, $50, 900 which you received was from
the sale of personal property belonging to your
father, was 1t not?
Yes, 1t was.
Did you keep separate account with him
you as his AGENT
How did you deposit this money?
1t was all deposited to the credit OF the
spreckels Sugar Refining Company.
1t was his private money, was 1t not
That is true.
Why did you deposit it in the name of the
Spreckels Sugar Refining Company
Because my father had an account with the
company, and 1 did it as a matter of conyen-
fence.
Have you the handbook of the bank in which
you deposited the money?
No, sir; 1 think it is in Philadelphia.
Have you any OF the checks that you drew?
have not.
requested an accounting, you undertook to do
30, did you?
Idid-from memory.
In giving an account from memory, did you
or $3.50, 900 was lost?
have no such recollection.
You said in your testimony the other day
that the statement you gave your father was
entirely satisfactory.
That is true.
You did not, then, furnish to your father
written statement of his account other than
what you have testified to?
He was satisfied with my explanation.
Have the goodness to answer my question.
He being satisfied with my explanation, there
was no further question on his part as to my
account with him. did not render him an
account-a written report-but did put down
in pencil memorandum showing him how his
account stood. He accepted that-raised no
objection to it.
Did you furnish to your father any statement
of his account while he was in Europe after
you had received the $2,250,Oo0?
/ did not.
Did your father communicate with you in
writing, asking you for information in regard
TO that sum?
He did not.
Did you ever receive from your father a let
ter written in German and sent by him from
Europe to you asking you to account to him, or
explain to him what you were doing generally
and particularly what you were doing with
this large sum of money which you had re-
ceived from the sale of his property?
did not. l received no such letter.
Do you recall the conversation had with your
father Immediately upon his return from