Evening journal., 1910-05-23
DEFRAUDINC
GOVERNMENT
Splitter TeStlfleS About Man
ipuIatiOnS Of the Sugar
Trust

by which the government was defraud-
ed of S2.000O0O in duties by short
weighing of imports by the sugar trust
told the whole story under oath today.
He was Oliver Splitter. for 25 years
superintendent Of docks for the trust.
convicted last December of conspiracy
to defraud the government and 1sen-
fenced to two years in Atlanta prison.
Restored to all his rights by a full
pardon, secretly granted by President
Taft, Splitter, took the stand to tes-
tify against Charles R. Heike, secre-
tary Of the trust and the former en-
ployes now on trial. He related the
story of the frauds duplicating di-
rectly all of the checkers. Former
Cashier Bendernage land former Sup
erintendent Ernest w. Gerbracht. He
stated, however, that he knew Heike
only slightly.
Spitzer swore that he had received
his own and the wage sof all discharg-
ed checkers up to the time he was
taken TO Atlanta to serve his term
and that the money was paid to him
by Gerbracht. His story threw the de-
fense which had been taken completely
by surprise into confusion. and the at
torneys asked that his cross -examina-
ton be deferred until they could de-
eide what they wanted to ask him.
AS soon as Splitter had been sworn,
Special Prosecutor Stimson asked him
why he was in New York to testify.
He pulled a paper from his pocket
and said:
Il have been pardoned by President
Taft to come here and tell the entire
truth regarding the sugar frauds"
He stated that he had been in the
employ Of the American Sugar Rein
ing Company for twenty years.
twenty-five of which had ben as dock
superintendent of the Williamsburg re-
hnery.
The pardon which was displayed by
Splitter is dated May 10, and is full and
unconditional. Splitter made a complete
confession of his part m the sugar frauds,
his testimony being IN direct contrast to
that which he gave at his trial last De-
cembeF when he swore positively that he
knew nothing about the frauds.
He swore that as far back as 1895 he
used devices by means of which sugar
was under weighed. Originally, he swore,
the checkers used bags Of lead to keep the
weight of sugar down. When the scales
were ordered boarded up he furnished the
checkers with two sets Of steel springs by
which they could manipulate the scale
beams
At the trial last December Splitter swore
that he knew nothing about the seven
teen holes" in the standards Of the scales
through which the springs were manipu-
lated. To-day he swore positively that he
not only knew about. out that he had per-
sonary bored the holes in each Of the
seevnteen scales on the dock which he had
charge of.
did you arrange a system of signal
lights in the scale house?" asked slim
son.
eyes"
Splitter explained that there had al
ways been edectric lights in the scale
houses but a few years before Richard
I Parr made his raid. he installed red
| lights. They were used for the pur-
pose of signalling the checkers that
There was danger when government
\ officials were about. These lights were
! flashed from a switch in the dock sup
erintendent's Office. Spitzer said that
he reported the Irregularities in the
Weighing of the sugar TO "Mr. Leroy,
but he was not asked what position
lie Roy held with the sugar trust.
The witness related various conversa-
tions he had had with former Cashier
James +. Bendernagel and former Sup
erintendent Ernest w. Gabrecht, who
are among the men on trial. When
ever he desired to raise the wages OF
checkers, he said he had TO take the
matter up with Bendernagel and
Gerbracht. Tallymen who checked on
the government weighers received more
than those who worked with the city
weighers, he said In order TO avert
this becoming known. the witness de-
clared. Cashier Bendernagel marked on
their envelopes SIS although they con-
tanned SIS.
Spitzer's testimony was frequently
interrupted by objections from John b
Stanchfeld, Charles r. Heike's attor-
ney and Henry NJ. Cockrane, who rep.
resents Gerbracht. but in every in
stance their objections were over
ruled
/ At the latter part Of 1906 Splitter
swore that he received a telephone
message warning him TO be careful witt
the wire springs. He was informed
that the government officers were keep
ing a close watch.
'EEem whom was that message
:asked Stimson.
II don't know"
Splitter stated that following the raid
on the docks by Richard Parr, the
checkers who had been using the
springs came to him and asked him
If they were to lose their jobs.
II told them." he said. "that Ger
bracht had promised to take care of them
l then went 10 Gerbrecht and asked hin
what was to become Of me and tho
checkers as we had all been discharged
He told me to go on home and that III
would call on me later at my garage. II'
did so and from that time on used {,
meet me once a week and give me
package"
what did that package contain2" ask
ed stimson.
There was money In 1t. Gerbracht toll
me to take out my wages and the wage
Of all OF the discharged checkers. whicl
/ did. This continued right up TO Feb
ruary. 1s40. when I was sent away &
the Atlanta prison.
That's ALL" snapper Stimson at thi
point and the counsel for the defendant
who were plainly greatly upset by IN
developments Of the day. asked that IN
cross-examination Of the witness he post
poned indefinitely. Escorted by Chief
Flynn OF the Secret Service who refus
ed to let any one speak to him. Spite
left the court room