The times., 1897-05-18
Cases Against Hayemeyer and
Searles Postponed.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SILENT
Nothing TO Say as TO the Delay in
Bringing the Sugar Magnates ~
Trial-Told the Court They Could
He Disposed of in About Twenty
Minutes.

John f. searles, which Were set for
yesterday, were postponed by Justice
Bradley until Tuesday next, the 25th
instant, and another week of anxious
suspense has been added TO the minds OF
tile two sugar kings who are to be tried
for refusing to divalge the state secrets
OF the American Sugar Refining Company
and cash Withdrawals of the cam
paign committees from the Golfers OF
the lobbying fund of the sugar trust.
That the case had attracted Dotoriety
and its commencement was awaited with
eager interest. could well be seen by the
large and clamorous tbrong that awaited
the opening of the knife-scarred and dingy
oaken doors which lead to the main
portico of the city hall yesterday morning
before l o O'Clock.
Long before 10 O'Clock a motley crowd
gathered about the main steps OF the
portico leading to criminal court, No. 2,
and many were the dire predictions of
the period in durance vile that awaited
the saccharine dispensers Of the nation s
sweetness were they found guilty in The
presence Of stern and cailous devUtee
of the majesty and potency OF the law.
Though it was known by few that
Justice Bradley would consent to a lost
ponement OF the tTiai, there We're many
who had not heard of 1t, and as 3onse-
quence the courtroom was filled when the
Judge took his seat and the Cr:er called
the court to order. Lined in rows under
the railing OF the bench sat a small army
of new wspaper reporters and correspondents,
while seated at convenient points Of
vantage within the sacred rail sat three
or fo;r artists for The Times and New
York journals, ready TO reproduce on
paper every attitude and gesture of these
powers of Wall street who We're on trial
for their defiance of the Senate. They
were, however disappointed.
A few minutes before 10 o'clock, in
company with one of their attorneys, Mr..
Nathaniel Wilson, and Judge Dittenhofer,
OF New York city, Messrs. Havemeyer and
Searlcs drove to the west entrance Of the
city hall, and, upon alighting. retired i'm
medately 10 d private room adjacent to
the retiring-room of the Justice, before
whom they were shortly to appear. Both
of the ma agnates of the sugar world lou6cd
as spick and span as only men who have
skilled ta,lors and faithful Wallets can, and
their step was as light and springy as
Trough the sugar trust had declared an
other dividend instead of the fact that
they were about to appear before court
that might declare in time "a year OF
iunocuous desuetude. AS soon as IL he
! came known that these two lords OF the
trust were in the building many attempts
were made TO locate them iry a curious
| score of court habitues, but they We're
| kept from view in the sacred precincts
close to the judicial sanctum, and had
left the huilding long before the court
| had been dismissed.
As Messrs. Havemeyer and Searles left
| the city hall by the west door Broker
Elverton Chapman and Judge Jere Will
son entered the east door leading TO the
;narshals offiCe-one to make the final
arrangements for an obeisance to the
stern anG inexorable decree OF the law s
deIna MI and the others to resume awhile
the freedom that might shortly be denied
them for like offense
In the courtroom all was ready and
District Attorney Davis, with a confident
| and easy air, addressed the court regard
| ing the indictments.
Il have called for trial today, your
| honor, the cases Of Henry O. Havemeyer
| and John + Searles, who were indicted by
| the grand jury in October, 1894, for viola
| ton Of section 1O2 of the Revised Statutes
| OF the United States, and i am ready to
proceed with the trials according to the
J wishes OF this honorable court
Upon the jurors answering their names
| and two new ones being accepted, Mt
| Nathaniel Wilson, beside whom sat Judge
| Dittenhofer, arose to address the court
| on behalf of his clients.
Last week, your honor, said Mr. vii.
| son, Il called upon the district attor-
| Dey and asked that postponement OF
| the trial of my clients be given for week.
| Mr John G. johnson, of Philadelphia, Of
whom, no doubt, your honor has heard is
| retained as the chief counsel for the de-
| fense.
| Il received word from him last week that
he was busily engaged in cases before the
| United States circuitcourt at Philadelphia,
| and that it would be impossible for him to
| conclude lis labors there much before Satur-
| day of this week. l Immediately COM
| municated this fact to the district at
| torney, but he was not inclined to grant
| the aSl:cd-for poStponcmcnt, preferring to
/ call the cases on the day set for trial l
ain sure, from your honor's acquaintance
| with me as a me mber Of this bar In good
standing and your knowledge Of the high
| standing OF Mr. johnson at the Philadel-
| Dhia bar, you will view our request as
reasonable one and grant a postponement
| of this case until Tuesday next, the 25th
! instant, when Mr.. johnson will have con-
| cluded Its labors before the United States
| court aud be ready to proceed with this
District Attorney Davis at this juncture
entered protest against any postpone
ment AZ do not think, your honor, that
| there is any necessity for this postpone
| ment While l always dislike to oppose
| the wishes of my distinguished associab IS,
! this trial should not go on. Nearly three
| years have elapsed since these rnen We're
indicted, and / certainly think they have
| been given sufficient time to make prcpara-
| tions FOR trial I am anxious that they
| should be tried now in order that I may
proceed with the other cases Of recalci-
| trant witnesses"
| $50 far as the Government is concerned
| our course is SO clear and grounds so ten
| able that we can dispose of the cases in
| twenty minutes There is no necessity
| for n prolonged issue at all. AS Justice
| Cole remarked, when he overruled the de-
| murref to the in ndictment, the case is merely
| matter OF evident fact, and the outcome
| is plainly obvious. These gentlemen were
called before a special committee Of the
| Senate; that they were seen there; that
certain questions were asked them, and
they refused to answer them. The cases