Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-11
SUGAR KING
QUESTIONED
sPREcKELs TELLS OF DEAL
WITH TRUST
SAYS HE HAD mo AGREEMENT
WITH CONCERN
Aged Man Becomes Irritated When
Subjected to Examination-Re-
fuses TO Tell What Price
He Received
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Fress.
: SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1O.-Claus
81 feckels, the aged San Francisco sugar
ing, was examined today before Notary
Public D. B. Richards by Attorney John
w. Hutchinson, jr., in behalf Of the
Pennsylvania Sugar Refining company
in it's $50, 100000 damage suit against the
American Sugar Refining company. The
taking of Mr.. Spreckels deposition was
the last of series of examinations Mr..
Hutchinson has been conducting mere
during the past ten days.
The information chiefly desired of Mr..
SpreckeIs concerned his sale of the
Hpreckels refinery in Philadelphia to the
American Sugar Refining company eight
cen years ago. Attorney A. F. Nor
rison, counsel for the defendant corpor-
alton, was present to advise the wit
ness, and at one stage of the proceed
ings informed him that he need not
answer a searching question put by Mr..
Hutchinson as to the sale price OF the
Philadelphia plant.
Mr.. Spreckels, who is nearing his S0th
year, was supported during the exam
ination by his son, John D. Spreckels.
The aged millionaire frequently pleaded
failing memory when questions OF detail
were put to him, and he grew irritable
when these were pressed
why do you want to bother me? /
have already told you I can't remem-
ber," was a remonstrance he voiced
several times; and once he was SO an
noyed by the reiteration of query that
he rose in the witness chair as though
with intent to end the inquisition by
departure.
Mr.. Spreckels said he was at one time
interested in the California sugar re-
finery, now operated by the Western
Sugar Refining company. Simultaneous
ly a refinery in California was being
operated by the American Sugar Refin-
ing company.
Were the two companies competitors
in business?" asked Mr.. Hutchinson.
"Yes, SIR answered Mr.. Spreckels.
'Were you not trying to undersell
each other?''
mo ] don't know that that was so.''
"You were asked by H. o. Havemeyer
to join with him in the formation OF
the American Sugar Refining company
better known as the sugar trust?"
Never"
Sold to Trust
Mr. Spreckel3 said it was about eight
cen years ago that ne SOLD MS fnlia ai
5delnhia refineryeto the trust. he plants
M nacfty was about 5000 barrels q day
Sk\ y could not recollect with whom n
Negotiated the sale, but ne knew 1t wa
not with Mr.. Havemeyer, Mr.. Searle
or John g. Parsons. Mr.. Hutchinson
asked MIN point Dlanh HOW Hiucii WI
SpreciSels was paid for the plant, bu
Mr.. Morrison instructed him he nee'
not TELL and he did not.
Mr. Hutchinson asked: "At the time
you carried on the negotiations which
resulted in the sale of your Philadel
phia plant and the formation of th'
Western Sugar Refining company. was
there any agreement that you would net
build another refinery in the east?'
NO" said Mr.. Spreckels. I'VE had nc
such agreement. I would not have sole
myself in that manner
"You were fighting the American Sugar
Refining company in the eastN'
II was. Whenever there are two re
fineries in one field they will try to sci
their sugar wherever they can and gel
as much for 1t as they can. That is
what I mean by fighting"
'eDid Mr.. Havemeyer ever tell yot
anything about his plans in the sugar
business? fN
mo sir; he never did"
Mr.. Spreckels testified that he is moi
stockholder in the American Sugar
Refining company and that no part OF
the Philadelphia sale price was in trust
stock.