The times., 1897-05-16
HAvEMEYER SEEKS DELAY.
Effort to Have the Sugar Kings
THAI Rostponed.


Despite the effo1ts of the counsel OF
Henry o. Havemeyer, the indicted secre-
tsry OF the merican Sugar Refining Com
pany, to have the trial of their client
postponed, the case will be taken DIP On
Monday morning, at 10 O'Clock, before
Judge Bradley, In criminal court, No. 2.
On Friday last, MFR. Nathaniel Wilson. cf
counsel for MFR. Hayemeyer. called at the
office of District Attorney Davis and re-
quested of that gentleman that the trial
be postponed at least a week, on ac-
count OF pending cases ia which, not only
himself, but Mr. John G. Johnson, CT
Philadelphia, who also has been retained,
are at present busily engaged. MIR. viii
son told the district attorney that IL would
save much trouble IL he would consent to
the rostponement for week, bnt Mr..
Davis was obdurate, and said that II any
postponement We're granted, IL must be
by Judge Bradley himself, as he had given
ample notice OF the date set for trial, and
he saw no valid reason for a postponcmcnt
of It,
Yesterday morning report was circu-
lated about the city hall that the trial
had been postponed until Monday week,
but this was emphaticaily denied by the
district attorney, and he rendered his
refusal to Mr. Wilson.
Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson, wien seen yes
terday. would say nothing OF what his in
tentions were regarding the stand to be
taken in the case. He said Mr.. Have
meyer would be here ready to stand trial,
and that he had no doubt his application
for a postponement of few days would
be granted by Judge Bradley. Thereason,
said Mr.. Wilson, for the postponement
was that on account OF pending cases in
which both himself and Mr. johnson were
engaged they could not well be able TO take
up the case of Mr. Havemeyer for few
days, possibly two or three days later
than the date set for the trial He did
not think it would be necessary to wait a
week, but that the interval mentioned
would suffice to dispose of the urgent cases
in hand.
1t is said that this effort at postpone
ment is nothing more nor less than an
attempt TO gain time Oh the part or Have
meyer, with the hope that the Senate
may intervene and the cases against the
quartet be quashed. But it is the inten-
tion Of Mr. Davis TO press the suit for the
reason that now that Chapman las teen
disposed OF il will he comparatively easy
matter to convict Havemeyer and Searles.
The witnesses for the Government have
all been subpoenaed to appear on Monday,
Prominent among them are the members
OF the special committee appointed by the
Senate in 1894 to investigate the sugar
trust scandal. They are Senators Gray
of Delaware, Lindsay OF Kentucky, Lodge
of Massachusetts, Allen of Nebraska and
Davis OF Minnesota !.
The principal witness will he Senator
Allen, who put the question to Havemeyer
during his examination before the COIN
mittee In June, 1894, and which, on the
advice OF his counsel, he refused to an
swer.
The interrogatory referred to was "a
question put by Senator Allen as TO
whether Mr.. Haveneyer, either as sec
retary OF the American Sugar RcCining
Company or as an individual, with view
of benefiting the Interests of the sugar
trust, had contributed To any national.
State or local campaign fund, and he
was requested To produce all data pertain
ing to such contributions by the American
Sugar Refining Company or any OF It's
officers
Upon the advice OF his counsel, Mr.
HayeIneyer told the committee that while
he was perfectly willing 10 answer any
material matters relative to the affairs of
the company, he would decline to answer
any questions regarding the contributions
for campaign purposes, national, State or
local.
Upon his refusal and the refusal of the
other witnesses, who were called before the
committee, Havemeyer and Searles Were
indicted by tie grand juryi October, 1894
The indictment was demurred TO by counsel
for themon December L, / 89i, and January
IT, 1895. Judge Bradley overrulcd the
demurrer, whereHpon plea of guilty as
indicted was filed On December 20,
1896, Havemeyer and Searics entered a
motion TO withdraw their plea OF guilty
and file a special plea and the trial was
set for Monday. May IT.
The Government side of the case will be
looked after by District Attorney Davis,
assisted by Assistants ID. w Baker and II.
T. Taggert, and the trial will be one of
the most interesting that has taken place
since the Chapman case was before Judge
Bradley.