The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-24
CONVICT AIDS
IN SUGAR CASE
Splitter, Pardoned by Taft,
Turns States Evidence.
SURPRISE TO DEFENSE

Former Superintendent Starts to Tell
All About Alleged Weighing Frauds
and How He Devised Warning Sig
nails.
New York, May "a. - A sensation
was sprung at the sugar trust under
weighing conspiracy trial when it 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 R.
Heike, the American Sugar Refining
company'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
supposed that Splitter was still in
prison.
When Splitter took the stand, John
B. Stanchfield. 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 to the under
weighing frauds on the docks 1t was
developed that the president had
granted him an unconditional pardon
ON May 10 last.
stimson says that Splitter decided
to save his comrades by making
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 it 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 He walked
over to the sample sacks and indicat-
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 flrst and then a spring consider
ably lighter.
Spitzer;s testimony regarding the
weight lessening device of the paper
underneath the scale was an absolute
ly new development. Heike listened
to Spitzer's testimony with intense in
terest.
Spitaer talked freely about the
frauds by which the government was
robbed of millions of dollars. He said
the use of the springs was stopped af
ter the sugar trust had paid the re-
bate to the government as a result of
tile federal suit
did you arrange system of signal
'<Ghts in the scale houses?" suddenly
asked the prosecutor. Yes, sir" re-
piled Splitter, and then related that
the signals were used to warn the
veighers of any sudden danger.
How were the>lights worked?" by
q switch in my Office" replied Splitter,
who said that the switch was turned
whenever a government official was
seen to approach.
Splitter said that an electric light
had been used in the scale houses for
many years, but that he made
change in the signal system by Install
ing red lights. Splitter said that he had
informed q 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 il the fall OF 1906
he received telephone MESA &c that
caused a letting UP in the frauds. He
said he did not know who sent tn
message. which warned him to be
careful of the wire springs. as the gov.
eminent was watching the docks.
when the six weighcrs were dis
charged what happened?" was asked
BY the prosecutor 81 paid them the
same wages every week at my home"
was the reply of Splitter, who said the
coney was given him each week by
Gerbracht. who left the money in a
package at his garage.
when did this money ce1so?"
when ! was sentenced last Febru
ary."
Splitter said he knew Heike. but did
not connect him in any wav with
knowledge NJ tho false WEIGHING.