The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-12-23
CONVICTED OF
SUGAR FRAUDS
ALL TRUST EMPLOYEES EXCEPT
BENDERNAGEL FOUND GUILTY
IN NEW YORK.
RECOMMENDED TO MERCY.
Jury Takes Ten Hours to Settle First
Trial of Men Accused of Cheat
ing Customs
FOUR YEARS OR FINE OF $4,000.

NEW YORK. Dec. 1S.-The trial of
lanes f. Bendernagel, Oliver Splitter,
and four checkers, Coyie. Boyle, Kehoe
and Hennessey, sugar trust employees,
charged with defrauding the customs,
which has been in progress three weeks
2eforc Judge Martin in the criminal
branch of the United States circuit court,
terminated Friday night when the jury
,eturned a verdict of guilty against all
he defendants except Bendernagel. On
ais case they could not agree.
Twelve men entered the jury box short
Y before midnight, ten hours after they
eft their places to deliberate. The fore
man returned the verdict and added that
he defendants found guilty were recon-
mended to the mercy of the court.
United States District Attorney Slim
son moved that the Indictment of Ben
iernage be severed from that of the
others. George NJ. Mackcllar of couu-
sci for the defendants expressed the in
tenton of moving for new trial Sen
tence probably will be pronounced as
soon as the necessary motions have been
heard.
Four Years or $4,000 Fine.
The maximum penalty for the three
s'uIlts Oh WHICH llle utl'IlilllN were III
dcted is four years imprisonment or
$4,000 fine or both. The defendants were
not locked up Friday night. Bendcrnagcl
was released on the same bond on which
he was arraigned on this indictment. The
other defendants were freed on that fur
nished for the three indictments last
May, on which they were not tried. 1t
is $4,000 in the case of Splitter and $500
for each of the checkers.
The trial closed with the final address
to the jury by Henry l.. Stimson on be-
half of the government, which preceded
a short charge by Judge Martin.
1T is not proper for me to express
an opinion now in this case" said Mr.
Stimson, las to whether or not there
are any other persons higher up who are
guilty, and l do not do so, but it is
proper, in view of what has been said by
counsel for the other side, to say that
If there are any SUCH | coincide fully
with their views as to the relative de
gree of moral guilt, and that | regard il
fully as much my duty to take all neces-
sary steps to bring them to punishment"
More Prosecutions Probable
This statement of the counsel for the
government is taken as an intimation
that the federal grand jury has more
work on hand before the government
will relinquish its inquiry into things
saccharine.
The indictment and secret arraignment
Of Ernest w. Gerbracht, former super.
intendent of the Havemeycrs and Elder
refinery. on Wednesday before Commits.
sioner Hitchcock at his office in William
street. instead of before commissioner
in the federal building us usually is done,
has set the nervous rumorS atloat az to
what will happen next, and, if so,
where?
The names of the Arbuckles is crculat-
ing freely in the dusky corridors. 1t has
been said that certain of the lesser en-
ployes Of the sugar trusts rival already
have been indicted There is nothing to
confirm this. Mr. Stimson gave out a
statement rs an explanation of his stand
taken in the Gerbracht case when, on
Wednesday, he was asked If that official
had been arrested. His response was a
fiat denial.