New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-26
r. O.)HAVEMEYER ON TRIAL
CHARGED WITH CONTEMPT OF THE SEN
ATE SUGAR COMMITTEE

. J1rRY SECURED AND THE CASE OPENED FOR
THE PROSECUTION SENATORS GRAY.
LINDSAY. LODGE AND DAVIS
, GIVE TESTIMONY
Washington May 25.-The trial of H. o. Have
never. president Of the American Sugar Refin-
ing Company for refusing to answer the ques-
lions Of the Senate Sugar Investigating Commit
tee In the spring of 1894 began in Criminal Court
No l. at the City Hall. this morning There was
n large crowd in attendance to witness the un-
usual spectacle of millionaire trial. Dis
probationary Davis conducted the case be-
half Of the United States. The defendant was
represented by a brilliant array Of counsel. In
Guiding Nathaniel Wilson. OF this city, John s.
Johnson, of Philadelphia, and John T. Parsons
of New-York. Mr.. Wilson said the defendant
was ready for trial when the case was called. lit
tie trouble was experienced In securing jury
ard in less than half an hour ct-Attorney
Davis opened the case.
Mr. Davis called attention to the great length
of the indictment. and the record In the Chap-
man case. In the latter case he said, the Court
had held that the pertinency OF the questions
asked by the Senate Committee was not In ISSUE
the issue being as to whether the Senate Commit
tee was properly constituted, and answers to
questions were refused. At the outset he asked
the Court to rule to whether the pertinency
OF the questions asked by the committee was in
issue Mr.. Johnson for the defendant. Insisted
that the District-Attorney present his case In
accordance with the indictment. Judge Bradley
said he must decline at the outset to set any linz
itations although he freely expressed the opinion
that the indictment was much more voluminous
than was necessary.
THE PROSECUTIONS CASE OUTLINED.
~ proceeded
statement sketching the political issue in the
National campaign of 1892. the certainty Of tarin
reduction If the Democrats should triumph. ana
the interest the Sugar Refining Company had In
the defeat OF the members of the House and SEN
Ate who were hostile to it. The Tariff bill, whlch
subsequently passed the House. placed sugar on
the free list and therefore. the District-At'or-
new said. was distinctly unfavorable to the busi-
ross and the stock Of the company. 1T was con-
seouentlv TO the interest Of the company tha'
the bill. as 1t passed the House, should not pass
The stock of the company fell. But "heh 'i''
Jones amendments were presented In the 0ena'e'
placing duties and diferentiais vi ousai'
amendments favorable to the company VIZ
value Of the stock increased. mus "a''eiS
stood. he said when. on May II, the Senate reso-
luton for an investigation of the Quest1ohs Oh
whether the Sugar Refining Company had con-
tributed to the previous campaign. whether any
Senators had speculated In sugar STOCK as ai"
legged etc.. was adopted. He explained the or
SANITATION of the Senate Investigating Commit
tee with Senator Gray as Chairman. described
the summons Of Mr. Havemeyer the questions
asked and answered and the refusal of the Wit
ness to give the facts as to the contributions
made by the Sugar Refining Company to various
campaign funds State and National. These were
the facts. Mr. Davis said in conclusion. which
the Government expected to prove ana upon
which. if proved, he would ask conviction.
The defence reserved their opening MI Davis
asked the Court to instruct the jury as 10 the
Congressional elections Of 1872 and submitted
copies Of various documents in order TO get theh
IN the record. These included the certlncauoh
Of members Of the Legislatures OF New-IorK ana
New-Jersey the corporation laws OF Ne"-Jer-
sew the Incorporation OF the sugar Rehhihe
COMPANY the increase of it's stock to SIo,OoV'ooO'
the journals Of the House and Senate OF the
United States. and all other ofnciai DOCUMENTS
connected with the case
Distrct-Attorney Davis made seVeral anu
s,ons 70 the printed record in the Chapman case
A. Johnson objected to these repeated allu-
sions. 81 know little Of the record In that case
said he. neither, 1 presume. does Your Honor
7 ask the D,strict-A Attorney to confne himself 10
this case. which. he will find. Will be conducted
on principles entirely different from those winch
obtained in the Chapman case
Harry r. Cunningham. the file clerk OF the
Senate was the first witness. He was caiieo u
prove indirectly by official documents the ser'ice
on Mr.. Havemeyer Mr.. johnson rather lfnpa-
tiently interrupted him. 1--WE are not going 70
6eny lawful service MIR. Havemeyer" said
he 1--WE admit It,
THANK you," said Mr.. Davis.
William c. Prentiss. one Of the official stenog-
ranbers of the Sugar Senate Investigating Com
mittee. was called and Mr.. Davis was seeking 70
have Mr. Havemeyer's statement that the Sen
otto amendment was much more favorable to his
company than the House schedule admitted.
when the defence objected, on the ground that
Mr. Bayemeyers answer to a question was not
relevant to an inquiry concerning the pertinency
of a question he declined TO answer. Inc lis
trict-Attorney," he said, now seems 10 De SEEK
ing to convict the Senate OF the allegations OF
bribery, a question with which we have noth-
ing to do and which the Senate committee re-
ported was untrue and gross scandal
The Judge upheld the defence. but the whole
question was temporarily waived.
SENATOR GRAY ON THE STAND.
Senator George Gray, Of Delaware, who was
chairman Of the investigating committee, tesu-
fed that Henry O. Havemeyer declined 10 an
swer specific questions as to the contributions
Of the sugar refining company to various state
and local campaign funds.
The defence won the first point when Judge
Bradley held that 1T was material FOR the de-
fence TO show that the Senate took no action
on Mr. Havemeyers contumacy which hao
been reported to the committee
In reply to Mr. Johnson Senator Gray said
that he recollected Mr.. Havemeyer's statement
that no political contributions had been made
to either side in the National campaign or
the campaign of any United States Senator
To this line Of inquiry, however. Mr. Davis
strongly objected. saving that everything In