The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-02
THE INDICTMENTS IN THE
SUGAR TRUST CASE.

Eight officers, directors or lawyers
OF the Sugar trust, have been indicted
for conspiracy, in connection with the
famous-and Infamous Segal refinery
affair. Concerning the indictments there
is still something of mystery, because
the Federal attorney in charge of the
investigation had expressed the opinion
that an indictment would not be worth
anything, as he doubted whether it
could be followed by conviction. There
was widespread protest against this
expression, and in view of the fact
that indictments hare been secured it
is difficult TO explain why the prose
eutor IN charge of the case should have
been at so much pains to bear the stock
of the prosecution.
Attorney General Wickersham ap-
pears TO good advantage in this case,
thus far He has decided the uncertain
questions in favor of the Government,
concluding that whatever may be- the
possibilities that the surviving direc-
tors of the trust were not personally
responsible for the conspiracy, and
whatever may be the chance that the
statute of limitation viii lie against a
successful prosecution, it is worth
while to 60 ahead and make the most
af-the case.
This is one of the cases in which
the conspiracy appears to have been a
peculiarly wicked and reckless one. The
indicted men, as well as the corpora
ton, are liable to fines; in addition, the
directors and lawyers, if found guilty
are liable to imprisonment. It is plain
enough that imposition of the extreme
fine would be a mere farce; the Sugar
trust can well afford 10 pay the fines
There should be no stoppage short OF
sending a few gentlemen of social and
financial prominence to jail. It has
been plain enough that the officials Of
the trust viii seek to hide behind the
name Of man now dead and beyond
the reach of the law. But the fact that
these men, now under Indictment
adopted a resolution, as board of direc-
tors of the trust, indennifying two Of
their number for any action they might
take IN furtheTanee of the project fol
suppression of the Segal refinery, seems
to make clear that they were upoI
their notice as to the propriety Of sucf
1stion as Henry o. Havemeyer was
taking in the premises. AS to tht
statute Of limitations, there is said {,
be an interesting legal question
whether the period of limitation t,
that offense starts from the adoption
Of the resolution, or starts from TIT
latest date on which the resolution re
manned IN force. If the latter Is helc
- Be the case, then there is no posi-
bility that the prosecution is barret
BIZ limitation.
This conspiracy against the Sega
refinery was IN a class by itself 70
Maehiavellian wiel<edness. It's result
included not only the destruction o
the property value in the refinery
they included also the wreclzing of
great financial concern, the suicide o
its president, and disaster to man,
people who were absolutely innocent
3 For such far-reaching conspiracy a
this, none but the extreme penalty q
the law should be sufficient.
And once more it is demonstrate
that the Sugar trust has left but on
devoted friend. That friend is th
Senate Of the United States.
VIII the Senate continue to inter
pose for the protection of the Suga
trust against efforts 10 break II
monopoly and IFS power for crime!