The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-05-27
SENSATION IN
HEIKE TRIAL
Prosecution Plays Its Trump
Card In the Sugar Frauds
SPITzER ON WITNESS STAND

by President That He May Appeal
Against "Men Higher Up"-He
Gives Some Interesting Testimony
New York, May 24.-The TRUMP
card in the prosecution of Charles R
Heike, secretary of the American Su-
gar Refining company, the so-called
man higher up" was played at the
sugar trust underweighing conspiracy
trial when Prosecutor Stimson called
as the governments first witness
Oliver Splitter, superintendent Of the
| Williamsburg docks, who some
months ago was convicted of under
weighing and sentenced to two years
in the federal penitentiary at At
lanta.
When he took the stand John B.
Stanchfield, for the defense, assert
ed that under the federal statute
Splitter, as a convicted man, could
not testify. The sensation of the
trial was then created by the dec
laration in court that Splitter had been
pardoned by President Taft.
Heike is on trial in the United States
circuit court with five former en-
ployes of the American Sugar Rein
ing company on the charge of con-
spring to defraud the government by
underweighing cargoes of sugar i'm
ports. Splitter, who was the dock
superintendent at the time, was con-
victed with four checkers employed
under him of connection with the con-
spiracy to perpetrate frauds whereby
the government was cheated out OF
millions of dollars In sugar duties.
AS Splitter testified to the under
weighing frauds on the docks it was
developed that President Taft granted
him an unconditional pardon on May
10 last. Splitter went back to the
years 1894 and 1895, when he said
that an investigation he made de-
veloped the fact that the checkers
were affecting the weights on raw
sugar by placing small bags of lead
ton 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 to
the bags Of lead placed on the beams
to affect the weights, Splitter said 1t
was also the practise to stuff paper
under the floors of the scales for the
same purpose. He added that when
Deputy Surveyor of Customs Vail took
Office these devices were abandoned
and the use of the steel corset spring
instead was begun and continued.
Spitzer's testimony regarding the
weight lessening device of the news
paper underneath the scale was an alb
solutely new development, and the
jury as we'll as Heike listened to his
testimony with tense interest.
Splitter talked freely about the
frauds by which the government was
robbed of millions Of dollars. He
said the use of the steel springs |
was stopped after the sugar trust had
paid the rebate to the government as
a result of the federal suit.
Did you arrange a system of sig
nal lights in the scale houses?" sud-
denly asked the prosecutor.
Yes" replied Splitter, who then
related that the signals were used to
warn the weighers of any sudden dan
ger.
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 to approach. Splitter said [
hat an electric light had been used
N the scale houses for many years,
put that he made a change in the sig
lal system by installing red lights.
Splitter said that in the fall of 1906
lie received a certain telephone mes
age which caused a letting-up in the 7
rauds. He said he did not know who +
ent the message, which warned him /
o be careful of the wire springs, as \
he government was watching the l
locks.
Splitter said that following the raid I
q November, 1907, by the govern a
lent, he was informed that the r
7eighers and himself would be taken Z
are of. h
when the six weighers were dis
harged what happened?" y
Il paid them the same wages every Il
eek at my home" was the reply OF it
pitzer, who said that the money was W
lven him each week by a sugar en- q
loye, who left the money in a pack ~
ge at his garage.
when did the money cease?" %,
when / was sentenced last Febru- ST
~" answered Splitter. "
Splitter said he knew Heike, but W
ID not connect him in any way with =
of the false weighing. :,
DISCRIMINATION of the witness was -
sferred. Prosecutor Sumson said
Ditzer became conscious stricken vi
lille in prison and desired to tell all to
! knew of the alleged frauds.
ALLEGED Horse Poisoner Held