Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-05-25
SPITzER ADDS
TO STORY OF
SUGAR FRAUD
Pardoned Convict Goes
Deeper in duplicating the
Men Higher up.
GOVERNMENT READY TO
PRESS MATTER
spsctal ou unttsa Press w.rs.


New York, May 25:=That the
trial of the sugar frauds lead direct
ly to the late Henry o. Havemeyer,
organizer of the sugar trust, was the
declaration of Oliver Splitter, former
dock superintendent, in the federal
court today when he was called for
eross-examination. He testified that
his lawyers had advised him TO tell
the truth and that they had inform
ed him If he had told everything at
his trial he would implicate Have
meyer. He denied that he had been
and said he took the stand of his
own freewill.
Splitter spoke as man familiar
with the details of the inner work
ings of the lawless conspiracy and
was an interesting figure on the
stand owing to the fact that he was
only recently a convict in Atlanta
prison, where he was sent after hav-
ing been found guilty of weighing
frauds. Even under the handicap
thot his discarded stripes placed up
on him the man had the appearance
of telling the truth.
The time tried plan when a great
corporation is accused of breaking the
law to put responsibility on somebody
who Is dead has been developed by the
lawyers for the defense.
John HI. Thompson, an old clerk of
the American Refining company, ON
the stand as witness for the prose-
cutlon said that in each instance where
he had noticed discrepancies between
the city weighers reports on sugar
cargoes and the government weigher's
reports it was H. o. Havemeyer, the
head of the trust now In his grave,
who directed him to report the differ
ences to Cashier Bendernagel, one of
the present defendants. This accusa-
tion against the dead millionaire did
not develop on the witness direct ex-
animation. 1t was brought out by
John b. Stanch6eld, chief counsel for
Heike during cross examination.
Much of the testimony offered on
behalf of the government was directed
to prove that knowledge of the frauds
which We're being practiced daily was
common among clerks and suhordi-
mates, not only on the docks, where
the cheating took place, but In the
Wall street Offices of the trust and
that high officials gave orders and di-
rections which showed them acquaint-
ed with all that went on.
Washington b. Thomas, the new
president of the American Refining
company, which is the parent organi-
cation, sat on a bench reserved for
witnesses yesterday. At his side was
DR.. Samuel d. Hooker of Philadelphia
member of the board of directors Of
the same powerful corporation.
Mr.. Thomas was plainly very un-
happy man. Drops of sweat kept
beading out on his forid face He
twirled his hat nervously In his hand,
and when Judge Martin entered In his
robes and he stood up, with everybody
else, he was licking his dry lips.
Just then Special Prosecutor Henry
ID. Stimson, who has been setting off
so many mines under the trust these
last few days, passed him. Mr.. Thom-
as laid tremulous hand on Mr.. Stim-
sons arm and said something under
his breath.
II am very sorry" answered Mr..
Stimson in a louder voice. II meant
to notify you this morning that you
would not be needed today, but l was
so busy that 1t slipped my mind. You
may leave If you desire to do So"
Evidently the desire was most
ardent with Mr.. Thomas He almost
ran out of the court chamber.
1t is expected that he will be called
to the witness stand late today.