Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-25
WHY SP|TzER TOLD
Conscience Troubled the For
mer Dock Superintendent.
PARDON WAS A SURPRISE
Had No Hope of One When He Left
Atlanta Penitentiary.
NO PROMISE, HE DECLARES
Under Cross-Examination by Attor-
neys for the Defense-Anxious
to Tell All.
PARDON WAS A SURPRISE
NO PROMISE, HE DECLARES

NEW YORK, May 25.-Oliver Splitter,
the former dock superintendent of the
American Sugar Refining Company, who
came from the Atlanta penitentiary to
testify for the government in the sugar
conspiracy cases, was expected again to-
day to be the chief witness at the trial
of Secretary Charles r. Heke of the
American Sugar Refining Company and
five former subordinates.
Just what role was to be played by the
veteran dock master and One-time boss
of the ''roly poly gang whose opera
tons are alleged to have cheated the
government out Of millions of dollars in
sugar duties was not known when court
opened. Today had been set for the
cross-examination of Splitter by the de-
Tense, into whose camp he had exploded
veritable bombshel1 by his appearance
Monday.
1t was limited that Splitter knew more
about the alleged ramifcations Of the
dock underweighing frauds through the
offices of the sugar trust chiefs in Wall
street than he has told.
There was no little SPECULATION today
over the probable attitude Of the govern
ment toward the problem presented by
Gus sugar trust books and records.
Defense Accepts Figures.
The defense has agreed to, accept the
figures prepared by government experts
regarding suger weights in the time COW
cred by the records in the missing vol
| umes. but there is no way of reconstruct
ing the vanished letter-copying books Of
ho
which passed between the refinery docks
and the head Offices Of the company.
Search for these records. 1t was init
mated. had not been abandoned.
Splitter was in court when the trial
was resumed. The first witness called,
however, was John H. Thompson, a
bookkeeper in the Wall street offices OF
the sugar company. Thompson yester-
dcy testified that it was James F. Ben
dernagel, the refinery cashier, one OF
the defendants with Hetke, who told
him on one occasion that the cessation
of weight discrepancies on sugar car
goes was accounted for by the fact that
the government was keeping watch
on the docks. Today Thompson asked
leave to correct this testimony.
1T was Splitter who told me the
docks were being watched, not Bender
nagel," said Thompson. The witness
also denied calling Ernest F. Gerbracht,
the refinery superintendent, on the tel
ephOne regarding sugar weights. he
also corrected his testimony in other
details, mostly of minor nature.
Loses Weight in Refining.
Theodore L. Keppler head Of the sugar
company's refinery in South Boston, testi-
fed as an expert to sugarmaking pro-
cesses, and was led to state that raw
sugar would lose in weight by being re-
fined. 1t is the governments contention
that more sugar was turned out Of the
various refineries of the true. than was
shown by the government weight returns
to have been received in a raw state.
There was a general rustic OF expect
ancy in the courtroom as Splitter was
called to the stand for cross-examination.
Washington d. Davis. president of the
American Sugar Refining Company. who
is under subpoena to appear as govern
ment witness. watched the former en-
ploye of the corporation closely as Splitter
began his testimony. Splitter was cross
examined by former State Senator Car
ence w. Lexow.
Splitter said that Theodore A. Have
meyer, brother of the late II. o. Have
meyer, appointed him superintendent of
the Williamsburg dock. When he left
Atlanta prison Splitter said he had no
hope of pardon, and added:
Il left my effects in Atlanta. l came
here TO unburden myself of the great
wrongs l had done all these years.
wanted to confess all my sins before this
court and tell all / knew.
ATTORNEYS Advised Confession