Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-21

1t was forced to order an investigation,
which probably had for its purpose the
of popular feeling rather than
the exposure of the rascals, who were
protected by the courtesy that hedges
about the senator and the honor that is
supposed to dwell among thieves.
Among the witnesses who were sum-
moned were Henry o. Havemeyer and
John K. Searles, the managers of the
trust, and E. r. Chapman, a New York
broker, who was the go-between in the
senatorial speculation in sugar stock.
These men when put upon the stand
refused to testify and expose their law
making tools, and having repeatedly
done this they were sentenced to thirty
days in Jail for contempt. They had
millions of money. They owned sena-
tors and congressman. They could
command the service of the ablest law
yers. They expected to be able to
control the courts. OF course they
laughed at the idea that they would ever
be sent to Jail with horse thieves and
thieving beggars. They appealed and
Chapman was made the test case. lie
put himself upon his honor, which he
declared would never allow him to be-
tray the secrets of his employers. He
pleaded that the information he had was
of privileged character, like that which
lawyers get from their clients, and
therefore beyond legal reach of an in
money and influence could give him, but
when the case had dragged itself over all
the obstacles put In its way, to a de-
clsion. the United States supreme court
affirmed his sentence and swung open
the doors of the Jail for his admissions
and later on for that of Havemeyer,
Searles and the other obstinate wit
nesses. And now there is CONSERVATION
in the sugar trust camp and in some
senatorial circles. A Washington spe.
cal says:
The whole power of the sugar trust is
supplementing the efforts of the influen
tial Wall street friends of Broker Elver-
ton II. Chapman to induce President
Mckinley to grant him pardon, so that
he may not have to spend 30 days in the
United States Jail here, as result of a
recent United States supreme court de-
cision.
The sugar trust magnates, Henry o.
Havemeyer and John +. Searles, will be
tried under the indictments pending
against them, and suspended until the
test case made by Chapman is decided
I'm the supreme court; and, as they shared
Chapman's Offense of refusing to testify
they will undoubtedly share Chapman
fate, unless the president pardons him
when the indictments against them and
the other recalcitrant witnesses will be
mol pressed by the district attorney
who is awaiting the presidents actor
in the Chapman matter before proceed
ing,
1t is added that thus far the convicted
confederates and their friends appear tC
have had little influence upon the presi
dent. The incarceration of that com
bine would be an object lesson Of
widespread and salutary effect. 1t woulC
teach the country that no man ha'
money enough to be able to defy thu
laws with impunty and it would bt
notice to Doodle congressman that they
can not sell themselves without incur
ring great risk of exposure. 1t woulC
smash the notion that the middlemel
who act as the agents of corruptionist
in the purchase of legislative votes cal
Icl iol fhon1cnlx-as fAla no
their knowledge of the rascality i
privileged and it would dissipate tn
impression that the sugar trust own
the courts and nearly everything els
in this country. Then again Havemeye
and Searles and the senator's broke
can, we suppose, even at this late day
purge themselves of contempt by TAX
ing the stand and telling the truth il
regard to the manner in which the suga
schedule was put through the senate an
forced upon the country. Obviousl
there is no good reason why the pres
dent should interfere. If Chapman an
his employers do not want to be pur
ished for law breaking let them ODE
the laws Mirror and Farmer.
A RUINED MILLIONAIRE.
A Columbus CO., dispatch to tn
Cleveland Leader says A name ha
been placed in the Ohio penitentiar
register that Is short months ago woul
have passed current anywhere in til
United States for Sl,000,000. That wa
the name of President E. w. Agnew {
the national bank of Ocals, Fla. No
his name is good for just $50, tn
amount of money found on his perso
by Cant. Langenberger and Capt. Vicl
ers, who searched him.
He is under sentence for five years o
the technical charge of embe zzlemen
and was brought to the prison
, United States Marshal James Mckay {
the southern district of Florida, assiste
by Mr.. HOPKINS, a citizen of Ocala.