New-York tribune., 1910-05-24

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snitzer's testimony bore out the con-
fession and testimony of FREDERICK
Schwerdtfeger But II went further, too,
and amplified that story. 1t was splitter
who. when Deputy Surveyor James VAN
took office and had the scales boxed SO
that rolling the ball, the shot bag ana
other devices for fraud could no longer
be operated, inverted the spring, bored
holes in seventeen scales. in the stanch-
sons. and saw that it workedswell-in the
interests OF the company.
As Schwerdtfeger had told two
springs were used. a light and heavy
one. according to whether landed weight
cargoes or cargoes that were TO be
weighed Immediately afterward 10y the
city weighers were to be handed.
The pardoned man substantiated the
testimony in the trial last December that
signal lights were used to warn the
checkers when governments men were
coming. He told Of the system by which
the men who manipulatedf the springs
got higher wages than the other check
ers. He had written out reconmenda-
rions for the Increases and placed them
on the "hoss's'' desk: he had told Mr.
Beudernagel not to put the actual
amounts paid on the envelopes. That
vas to deceive the other checkers. BY
the boss" he meant MIR. Gerbracht, IL
seemed
Spitzer told of talks with Bendernagel
and Gerbracht about The wages Of the
men. and swore that in. the Wall street
Offices Of the company the weights upon
which duty was paid were not used in
sny Of the calculations That was as
near as he got TO Mr.. Heike. When he
began his testimony he said he knew
the secretary only slightly, but knew the
other men very well.
stanchfieId Bears Up Well.
Mr. Stanchfield sat with = never
touched us" air He is the special coun
sci for Mr.. Heike. Splitter was not cross
examined yesterday. He will have that
pleasure tomorrow. Mr.. Mackellar. who
ie associated with Clarence LeXow in the
defence Of Mr.. Gerbracllt, asked for time.
and got it 1t was said that special
counsel would be retained to examine
Splitter. as the men who tried unsuc-
cessfuliy TO keep him out OF jail on his
trial thought il would be improper for
them 10 do it,
When Splitter was sentenced, on De-
oemher is, Judge Martin said:
Men who are led to do wrong by
The influence of stronger minds which
!. control them are entitled 10 the benefit
N Of mercy They should not .af-
" ie1ward. when brought before the court,
attempt 10 shield those who prima-
rily responsible"
when Splitter was finally removed TO
Atlanta. after recovering from minor
operation on February 10. he attacked
the company, saying: The Sugar Trust
made scapegoat of me; it deserted NE
absolutely.
They say had knowledge of the al
ieged manipulation of the scales at the
sugar DOCKS he went on 10 say. Il
don't think that / was in the scale
houses once during the last fifteen years.
/ had no occasion to enter them. AS to
the corset steel said to have been dis
covered in a hole in a set of scales, ]
know nothing about it, and seemingly
ne one else does except Parr, who claims
TO have found it,
But the Sugar Trust deserted him
Prior to his conviction Splitter said
yesterday on the witness stand, he had
received at his garage ia Brooklyn a
bag from Mr.. Gerbracht containing his
salary and the wages OF the accused
checkers every week. The garage repre-
sented his visible means of support after
he parted with the company.
The long delay between the sentence in
December and his trip 10 Atlanta in
February was used in efforts to get
from Splitter the confession that was
finally made at Caldwell last Wednes-
day. He never would have gone
TO Atlanta had he made il sooner. He
visited men high up in the government
service, but broke down at the point of
telling what he knew. Early in March
word was received from Atlanta that
Splitter was ready to divulge the secrets
Of the docks. A Secret Service man
went down 10 bring him up, but he
baked again. he mistrusted promises
If leniencx.
Persuaoed by Wife and Brother.
afrr. spitzer and MS brother went
corn three weeks ago, and he was per
suaded, but demanded absolute as
surances cf Immunity through a par
don. This was promised, through gov
erTmen1 sources, if his confession proved
20 oe sincere. William J. Flynn was
sent TO Atlanta early last week with a
transfer 70 Caldwell. He arrived there
with Splitter on Tuesday night. On
Wednesday morning Mr.. Stimson and
mis- assistant. Felix Frankfurter. went
70 Caldwell IN al automobile and heard
the story. They sent a telegraph mes
sage 10 Washington, and the pardon was
made out ard sent TO this city it was
received late or Saturday.
II was said that the whole Cf Spit-
Her's story had not been told and that
when ne tool. the stand tomorrow more
would be cleared Up on the redirect ex-
animation. He Sas before the grand
jury in the afternoon. Unless the pro-
eranIne IS changed, the government will
rant To know at whose direction he hal
she devices, including the steel spring,
used he may 5e asked 10 amplify his
testimony regarding the alleged know!-
edge az Mr.. Gerbracht and Mr. Bender
raeel Of fre frauds, outside Of their ia
-,7ffys rffv with the increased sDavn,euts