The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-23
Oliver Splitter Pardoned by President Taft in
Order to Make 1t Possible for Him to
Testify Against ChaS. R. Heike,
Secretary Of Trust

New York, May 23-Thc trump card
IN the prosecution of Charles r.
Helke, secretary of the American Su,
gar Refining company was PLAYED at
the sugar trust underweighing con-
spiracy trial today, when Prosecutor
Simson examined rs the government s
hrst witness Oliver Spitzer, superln-
tendent OF the Williamsburg docks,
who several fonths ago was convicted
OF undcrweighInE and sentenced TO
two years In the federal penitentiary
at Atlanta. When Splitter took the
stnnd. John B. Stanchfeld for the de
Tense claims that under the federal
statute. SpitZcr convicted man could
not testify.
The sensation of the trial was
then created by the declaration in
court that Splitter has been pardoned
By President Taft
Helkc is on trial in the United
States circuit court with Eve other
employees OF the American Sugar Re-
ining company ON the charge of con
spicaIy to defraud the government by
underweigbing cargoes of sugar i'm
ports.
Witnesses have testified TO the dis
sugar docks at Williamsburg, whereby
1t is alleged employees OF the So
called sugar trust manipulated the
scales so as TO bring about under
weighing,
government inspector. who made
raid on the sugar docks in November,
1907, and others, SpitZer, who was
and for some years previous was con-
yicted with four checkers employed
under him OF connection with the con
spiracy TO perpetrate frauds where
by the government was cheated out
Of millions OF dollars in sugar duties.
The four checkers Boyle, Coyt Ke-
roe and Henuessy were sent to the
Backwell's Island penitontlary for a
year.
Spjtzer got two years in Atlanta
He protested Ignorance OF frauds on
the docks Men higher up were
sought and Heike. the secretary OF
the trust. and Ernest + Gerbracht,
the refinery superintendent, were in
dicted With them on trial nof. be-
sides four other former company
checkers, is James F. Bendernngel.
the refinery cashier. who was tried
with Splitter and the others. The jury
disagreed as TO whether Bendernagel
had part in The conspiracy and 1t
was decided 10 retry him.
AS Splitter testified to the nnder-
Weighing frauds on the docks. it was
developed that President Taft granted
him an unconditional pardon on May
18th last
Splitter went back TO the years 1894
and 1895 when. he said. an inycstiga-
ton he made developed the fact that
the checkers were affecting tho
weights on raw sugar by placing small
bags OF lead on the beams of the
scale causing the recorded weights
to drop below the actual, often as
much as forty pounds on each draft
In addition, Splitter said, II was al
so the practice 10 stuff paper under
meath the floors fthe scales for the
same purpose He said that when
Deputy Surveyor of Customs Vail took
office these devices were abandoned
and the use of the steel cord and steel
was begun and continued
II was said before Splitter got we'll
into his testimony that he would make
cream 0Ttd6l VI Aue II ~
TO have been committed in the under
weighing of raw sugar on the VIII
docks,
Splitter demonstrated in the court,
the use OF the bags Of lead. He
walked over TO the sample scale. which
is one OF the governments exhibits ip
the case, and indicated on the beam
the place where the bag was suspend
ed.
Heike listened to SpitZer's testi-
monv with intense interest
Splitter talked freely about the
frauds by which the government was
robbed of millions of dollars. He said
the use OF the steel springs was stop
ped after the Sugar trust had paid the
rebate TO the government as a result
of the federal suit
Did YOU arrange a system Of sig
nal lights In the scale house," sud
denly asked the prosecutor.
"Yes. sir" replied Splitter. who then
related that the signals were used to
warn the weIgheTs of any sudden
danger,
How were the lights worked?"
"By a switch In my Office. replied
Splitter. who said that the switch was
turned whenever a government OH.
clal was seen TO approach