The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-06-03

Mysterious Phone.
New York (SpeciaD oliver Spit
ger. man whose conscience hurt
him, came back to New York like a
spectre from the grave, and. with
pardon from the President in his
pocket, gave testimony at the trial
OF Charles K. Heike. secretary-treas-
urer of the American Sugar Rein
ing Company. who, with five subor-
dinates, is charged with conspiring
to defraud the government in under
weights of sugar imports.
Splitter, as superintendent of the
company's Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
docks. got two years in the Atlanta
Penitentiary for his participation in
the frauds, but he was quietly par
doned by the President last Thurs
day. after serving only three months.
and. having made full confession.
from now on will aid the govern
ment in its attempt TO convict his
former associates.
Spitzer's story on the stand did
not directly connect Heike with the
frauds. but his confession resulted
in one new arrest. James Q. Brzen-
inski. formerly an employe of the
Treasury Department and now pri-
vate detective was locked in the
Tombs. charged with perjury.
Splitter confessed that he attempt
ed to bride BrzeninsN TO conceal the
frauds and the latter is alleged to
have denied this before federal
Grand jury. This apparent conflict
brought about Brzeninskis arrest.
Splitter told an amazing story on
the stand under direct examination
and hurried from the court to the
federal grand jury room. This led
| to the rumor that his full confess
sion would result in another batch of
indictments.
He was not cross-eNamined by the
defense because OF tho Deculiar sltua-
| ton created by his sudden appear
| ance as a government witness, TWO
! OF the defense's lawyers had pre-
viouslv appeared for Splitter when he
was defendant and for ethical rea-
| sons could not now examine him.
No promise OF parodn brought
| about Spitzer's confession. say the
federal authorities. His conscience
merely hurt him. il was explained,
but realizing the Importance of his
| testimony and the legal obstacles
likely to bar il were he convict.
action was taken TO restore him TO
citizenship.
Splitter went back 10 the year Ss4
and 1895. when he said an investi-
CATION he made developed the fact
that the checkers were altering the
weights on raw sugar by nlaclns
small bass Of lead on the beams OF
| the scales. causing the record
weights 10 drop below the actual
often as much as 40 pounds on each
draft In addition. Splitter said, II
was also the practice TO stun paper
underneath the floors of the scales
for the same purpose. He added
that when Deputy surveyor OF Gus
/ toms Vail took office these devices
were abandoned and the use OF the
steel corset spring instead was be
sun and continued.
Splitter demonstrated in court the
use of the bass of lead. He walked
over 10 the sample scale in one Of
the government exhibits in the case
ana indicted on the beam the place
where the bag was suspended. The
Jury and the defendants and every
body in the court room followed his
demonstration with the closest At
| tention.
Tesufying regarding the use o
| the wire spring which supercedet
the hag Of lead. splitter said that tive
styles Of springs were used. heav!
one first and then 3 spring eon-ider
ably lighter in weight.
Spitzer's testimony regarding th'
weight lesSening debice Of the news
paper underneath the scale was az
absolutely rev DEVELOPMENT and tbs
jury drank in his every work. Heik'
listened to Spitzer's testimony witt
tense interest.