The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-24
PROSECUTION PUTS
DEFENSE IN
A DEEP HOLE
Continued From Page one)

CONTINUED From Page One.)
raises in the pay of the government
checkers.
1t had been testified earlier in the
trial that the government checkers got
SO extra per week over and above the
sum noted on the pay envelope Ben
dernagle sometimes ordered the adj
vances, testified the witness. This,
too, was in confederation of Spitzer's
testimony.
Surprise for Attorneys.
When Splitter took the stand John B.
Stanchfield, fer the defense, claimed
that under the federal statute Splitter,
the convicted man, could not testify.
The sensation OF the trial was then
created by the declaration in court that
Splitter had been pardoned by President
Taft.
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 1894
and 1895, when, he said, an investf-
cation 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
scale, causing the recorded weights to
drop below the actual often as much
as forty pounds on each draft.
In addition, Splitter said, il 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 cord and steel was
begun and continued.
1t 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
liamsburg docks.
Gave a Demonstration.
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 court room 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of the wire spring, which superseded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.
Spitzer'S testimony regarding the
notwithstanding device of the news
papers underneath the scale was a new
development. Heike listened to Spit
zer's testimony with tense 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
the rebate to the government as re-
suit OF the federal suit.
Did you arrange 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 weighers Of any sudden dan
How We're the lights worked?"
by a switch in my office" replied
Splitter, who said that the switch was
turned whenever government Of
fetal was seen to approach.
Splitter said an electric light had
been used in the scale houses for
many years, but that he made a change
in the signal system by installing red
lights In reply to an Interrogation Of
the prosecution if he had ever report
ed the weighing frauds to anyone,
Splitter replied he had informed a man
named Leroy, who worked in the Wall
street office Of the sugar trust.
Splitter told of conversations he had
with former Cashier James +. Bender
nagel and ex-Superintendent Frank
". Gerbracht, two of the defendants.
The witness said when he wanted to
raise any Of the checkers wages he
was obliged to put the matter before
Bendernagel and Gerbracht. He also
confirmed the testimony OF other wit
nesseS that the checkers of the gov
eminent weigherS were favOrite over
matter Of wages. He said every eff
fort possible was made to conceal this
from the other workers on the dock.
Splitter said in the fall of 1906 he
received a 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
Protection Promised.
Splitter said following the raid in
November. 1907, by the government,
he was informed by Mr.. Gerbracht
that the weighers and himself would
be taken care Of
when the six weighers were dis
| charged what happened?'
7 paid them the same wages every
| week at my home" replied Mr.. Splitter,
/ who said the money was given him
! each week by Mr.. Gerbracht, who left
! it in a package at his garage.
| When did this money cease?'
! when I was sentenced last Feb
! ruary." answered Mr.. 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.
II nv