The morning times., 1896-01-14
SUGAR CASE MAY end TODAY
Testimony of Local Wholesale
Grocers Taken Yesterday.
Cause of Fluctuation in Prices.
Sioussa on the Stand.


the Senate investigation into the relations
of the American Sugar Refining Company
To tariff legislation, is expected to come
| to close today or tomorrow. Judge Cole
yesterday told the January jury that he
expected the case would be finished to-day.
At the close of the trial last night Dis
trict Attorney Birney said that he had ex-
pected to have President Havemeyer on
the stand during the afternoon. He hoped
to have him tomorrow and TO finish The
government testimony by noon.
Testimony of four well-known WASH
ington wholesale grocers and a refinery
| agent occupied the time in the case yes
terday morning. The hearing was re-
sumed at l O'Clock IN the afternoon.
The first half hour was spent In legal
| discussion between Senator Edmunds, Dis
trict Attorney Birney, Judge Wilson, and
Judge Cole over the question whether the
original journal OF the Senate must be
| brought in evidence or the printed copy
would be sufficient. Judge Wilson said
that he only wanted TO guard against a
technical objection. II was finally agreed
the printed copy would be accepted.
Senator Edmunds said that they wanted
To prove that the Senate did not give the
Weep resident authority 10 affix its seal
to the papers in this case transmitted TO
the District Attorney.
Mr.. Hrney then read "A paper signed by
Judge Wilson stating, he said, an impor-
tant admitted fact in the case. This fact
was that the American Sugar Refining
Company has paid annual dividends OF
per cent on its preferred and IL per cent
on its common stock.
Mr.. n. ii. Shea, the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. grocer, was called by the government
and questioned by Assistant Attorney
Taggari. Mr.. Shea said that he had been
engaged in buying sugar in his business for
thirty years, and that he had bought
mostly OF the Franklin Sugar Company
and its successor, the American Sugar Re-
fining Company.
He was asked what compa ny, according
to his information, did the most extensive
sugar business in this country. Senator
Edmunds and Judge Dittenhofer objected
to this. Mr.. Shea was allowed to a answer
yes or no whether he knew what was the
most extensive sugar dealer in the coun-
try. He was not sure.
Mr.. Taggart then asked whether he knew
by wnat means anu III WHdl NldiutE Nut
price OF sugar is controlled.
Judge Dittenhofer objected on the ground
that this question was one that cannot
be asked OF an expert witness. He said
that he had just consulted the authorities.
An expert could testify only of scientific
fact. Nobody on earth could tell what
controls the price of q commodity. Not
to be irreverent, he did not believe God
Himself could tell. Judge Cole admitted
the question and exception was noted.
Mr.. Shea said that prices were controlled
by quotations furnished him by the sugar
refining companies He got quotations
from c. NJ. Sioussa, agent of the American
Sugar Refining Company. Objection was
Sugar Refining Company. Objection was
raised to the latter part of this answer
on the ground that Mr.. Shea did not
know that Mr.. Sioussa was the agent of
the company.
One after anotherof the counsel for the de-
fense objected to questions about pur-
chases from the American Sugar Refining
Company on the ground that Mr.. Shea
could not say he bought from that CONF
pany at all, as the trades were made in
the name of the Franklin Sugar Company.
When Mr.. Shea was asked whether he
could buy of any refinery, he might se-
iect through Mr.. Sioussa. Judge Edmunds
objected that this must in the nature of
the case, be opinion.
Judge Cole said that the dividing line
between knowledge and opinion here was
very close. but that he considered Mr..
Shea's information, obtained in actual
business transactions, was knowledge.
oil htn,
sugar only from the Franklin Company.
Senator Edmunds moved that all Mfr.
shea's testimony be stricken out, as
hearsay, and as irrelevant. Judge Cole
took the motion under advisement. Judge
Edmunds noted an exception.
&c. Ergood, the Louisiana avenue grocer,
gave testimony very similar tn that of
Mr.. Shea and subject to much the same
objections and exceptions.
He was asked what company makes the
most sugar. Judge Dittenhofer objected
that this was hearsay. Judge Cole held that
information obtained in his business regard
ing sugar should be classed as knowledge
and admitted the question.
Mr.. Hume answered with several limita-
tions that he knew the American company
to be the largest producer of sugar in the
country.
Judge Wilson cross examined thewitnesses
and made them say that the price of sugar
has tended downward since 1890. The
lowest point ever reached, said Mr.. Hume
was in December, 1894, when 1t reached
3.S1 cents per pound.
Mr.. C. NJ. Sioussa testified that he was
the sole agent of the Franklin Company
here. He was appointed by Mr.. J. P. Robin
son, a member of the Franklin Company
He did not know who owned the Frank
lin business. He never had correspondence
or any business with the American Sugar
Refinery or with Secretary SearIes or any
other officer in the company.
There were other agents here. Mr.. Brooks
was agent for the American Company Mr.
Martin for the McKane Company of Phila
delphla.
AT the conclusion of the day Senator Ed
munds said that he would be obliged to go
to the United States Supreme Court tomor-
row, but his associates would take care
of the case.
Got a Verdict of $500.
Richard A. Yates and wife got a verdict
vpytprdey m JudUa pradlav,c court n poioct