The San Francisco call., 1910-05-24


company checkers, is James F. Bender
nagel, the refinery cashier. who was
tried with Splitter and the others. The
5ury disagreed as TO whether Bender
nageI had part in the. conspiracy, and
it was decided to retry him.
As Splitter testified TO the under
weighing frauds on the docks it was
developed that President Taft granted
him an unconditional paRdon on May
19 last
splitter went back to. the years 1895
and 1895. when. he said an investiga-
tion he made developed the fact that
the checkers were affecting the weights
on raw sugar by placing small bags of
lead on the beams Of the scales. caus-
ing the recorded weights to drop be-
low the actual often as much as -
pounds on each draft.
CORSET SPRING Used
In addition, Spitzer said. it was also
the practice to stuff paper underneath
The floors Of the 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 corset spring was be-
gun and continued.
IT was said before Splitter got well
into his testimony that he would make
a clean breast Of the frauds alleged to
have been committed in the under
weighing Of raw sugar on the Will
hamsburg docks
Splitter demonstrated in court the
use Of the bags Of lead. He walked
over to the sample scale, which is one
Of the governments exhibits in the
case. and indicated on the beam the
place where the bag was suspended.
The jury and the defendants and
everybody in the courtroom followed
his demonstration with the closest at
tention. Testifying regarding the use
of the wire spring which superseded
the bag Of lead Splitter said two styles
Of spring were used, a heavy one first
and then a spring considerably lighter.
Spitzers testimony regarding the
weight lessening device of the news
papers underneath the scale was
new development. Teike listened to
Spitzers testimony with tense interest.
ROBBED OF MILLIONS
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
stopped after the sugar trust had paid
the rebate 10 the government as a re-
suit Of the federal suit.
Did you arrange a system of signal
asked the prosecutor.
Yes, sir" replied Splitter, who then
related that the signals were used to
warn the weighers OF any sudden dan
ser.
How were. the lights worked?"
BY a switch in my Office replied
Splitter. who said that the switch was
turned whenever a government official
was seen 10 approach
Splitter said an electric light had been
used in the scaIehOuses for many years,
but that he had made a change in the
signal system by installing red lights.
In reply to an Interrogation Of the
prosecution If he had ever reported the
weighing frauds TO any one. Splitter re-
piled he had informed A man named
Leroy. who worked in the Wall street
Office Of the sugar trust
CHECKERS WAGES RAISED
Splitter told of-eenversations he had
with former Cashier James r. Bende-
magel and former superintendent Frank
". Gerbracht. two of the defendants.
The witness said when he wanted to
raise any Of his checkers wages he
was obliged TO put the matter before
Bendemagel and Gerbracht He also
confirmed the testimony Of other wit
nesses that the checkers Of. the gov
ernment weighers were favorite over
those Of the city weighers in the mat
ter Of wages He said every effort
possible was made to conceal this from
the other workers on the dock.
Splitter said in the fall of 1906 he
received 2 certain telephone message
which caused letting up in the
frauds He said he did not know who
sent the message, which warned him to
be careful Of the wire springs, as the
government was watching the docks
Splitter said following the raid in
November. 1907. by the government he
was informed by Gerbracht that the
weighers and himself would be taken
care Of.
When the six weighers were dis
charged what happened?"
4 paid them the same wages every
week at my home" replied Splitter
who said the money was given him
each week by Gerbracht. who left it in
a package at his garage.
When did this money cease2"
When / was sentenced last Febru-
ary,~ answered Splitter
Splitter said he knew Secretary
Heike. but did not connect him in any
way with knowledge of the false
weighing.
Cross examination of the witness
was deferred.
Prosecutor Stimsen SAYS Splitter de-
cided to~save his comrades by making
confess, Stimson says, there was nc
suggestion that Spitzer might be par
doned After making the confession
Splitter was brought to this section OF
the country and kept in an adjoining
state until put on the witness stand to-
day. Leroy, 10 whom Spitzer said he
told OF the frauds. it was learned. is
dead. lie was in charge of the i'm
portation Of raw sugar
When il was announced bv the de.
fense that Splitter would not be cross
examined before Wednesday Federal
Prosecutor Stimson sent Splitter up-
stairs in the federal building, where the
grand jury was in session. Splitter
waited in the anteroom while the grand
jury was examining other witnesses.
Pardon a Secret
WASHINGTON, May 23.-At the par
don division Of the department of JUS
tice today ii was said that the papers
having to do with the "a rdon Of Oliver