The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-05-26
TURNS ON TRUST
Taft PardOnS Convict to Aid
in Sugar Case.
DEVISED WARNING SIGNALS
Oliver Splitter Tells All About AL.
legged Sugar Weighing Frauds
and How Government Was
Wsa RahhaS ~ Drs,a.
Robbed Of Duties.

New York. May "a. A sensation
was sprung at the sugar trust under.
weighing conspiracy trial when il was
announced that President Taft had
pardoned a convict so that he might
be star witness for the government.
AS a result. Oliver Splitter. former
superintendent of the williamsburg
docks, testified against Charles II.
Heike. the American Sugar Refining
oompany's secretary. and FIVE former
employees of the trust
The trump card OF the prosecution
was played at the opening OF the trial
when the prosecutor. Mr.. Stimson.
called Splitter as the governments
/ first witness Splitter was convicted
several months ago OF underweighing
and was sentenced to two years in the
/ federal penitentiary at Atlanta. Until
1 his name was called il was generally
b supposed that Splitter was still in
prison.
When Splitter took the stand. John
h Stanchheld for the defense. con
tended that under the federal statute
Splitter. as a convicted man. could not
testify. Then the sensation of the
trial was caused by the declaration In
court that Splitter had been pardoned
by President Taft.
AS Splitter testified 10 the under
weighing frauds on the docks it was
developed that the president had
granted him an unconditional pardon
on May 1s last
Decided to Save Comrades
Stimson says that Splitter decided
10 save his comrades by making a
confession. At the time he began to
confess. Mr. Stimson says. there was
no suggestion that Splitter might be
pardoned. After making the confes
sion Splitter was brought TO this sec
ton OF the country and kept in an ad
joining state until put on the witness
stand
Splitter went back TO the years 1894
and 1895. when. he said an investiga-
ton 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. causing the recorded weights
To drop below the actual. often as
much as forty pounds on each draft.
In addition Splitter said II was the
practice TO stuff paper beneath the
floors OF the scales FOR the same pur-
pose. He added that when Vail. dep
uty surveyor OF customs took Office
these devices were abandoned and the
use OF the steel cornet spring instead
was begun.
Splitter demonstrated in court the
use of the bags OF lead lie walked
10 he nj
ed the place where the bag was sus
pended
Testifying regarding the use OF the
wire spring. Splitter said that two
styles of spring were used. heavy
one first and then a spring consider.
ably lighter
Spitzer's testimony regarding the
weight lessening device Of the paper
underneath the scale was an absolute
~ new development Heike listened
10 Spitzer's testimony with intense in
terest
Splitter talked freely about the
frauds by which the government was
robbed OF millions OF dollars He said
the use Of the springs was stopped az
ter the sugar trust had paid the re-
the federal suit
Arranged Warning Signals.
Did you arrange a system OF signal
lights in the scale houses7" suddenly
asked the prosecutor. YES. sir" re-
piled Splitter. and then related that
the signals were used 70 warn the
weighers of any sudden danger.
How were the lights worked ," by
switch in my office" replied Splitter,
who said that the switch was turned
whenever a government Official was
seen 10 approach.
Splitter said that an electric light
had been used in the scale houses for
many years. but that he made a
change in the signal system by install.
ing red lights. Splitter said that he hac
Informed a man named Leroy. who
worked in the Wall street office of the
sugar trust. OF the weighing frauds.
Splitter told OF conversations he had
with James F. Bendernagel. former
cashier. and Frank W Gerbracht, for
mer superintendent, two OF the de
PENDANTS. The witness said that when
he wanted TO raise any OF the check
ers' wages he was obliged TO put the
question before Bendernagel and Ger
bracht
Splitter said that In the fall of 1906
he received a telephone message that
faused a 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 gov
eminent was watching the docks.
When the six weighers were dis
charged what happened?" was asked
by the prosecutor Il paid them the
same wages every week at my home. +"
was the reply OF Splitter. VINO said the
money was given him each week by
Gerbracht. who left the money in a
package at his garage
/ When did this money cease?"
When l was sentenced last Febru.
airy"
Splitter said he knew Heike. but did
not connect him in any way with q
knQxlsdge OF the false weighing.