The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-11
VOICE FROM THE GRAVE.
Death Bed AFFIDAVIT Read at Sugar
Trust Investigation.

Washington, July IA death bed
affidavit of Gustave Kissel of New
York, indicted jointly with former Of
ficers of the American Sugar Refining
company, on charges of conspiracy to
restrain trade through tie absorption
Of the Pennsylvania Sugar Refining
company in 1908, was introduced in
evidence today when the house sugar
trust committee resumed its inquiry:
The affldavit, never before made
public. was submitted by T. s. Fuller,
counsel for the sugar trust, upon re-
quest of VIM @. Guthrie kissePs at
torney, and members of Kfssel's fam
lily. 1.-The affidavit" said Mr.. Fuller,
was taken in the hospital in New
ork a few days before Kissefs death
last April when he realized that he
probably would not live to go to trial
on the Indictment"
Kisse1s statement was that he had
expressed a desire to testify under
oath before the federal grand jury re-
garding his connection with the
81 $50, 900 loan made by the American
Sugar Refining company through him
to Adolph Segal of Philadelphia, on
which transaction Kissel's Indictment
was based, bit that he had been in
dicted before he had an opportunity
to testify.
Conscious Of his dangerous Illness
Kissel made this declaration:
1.-THE charge made in the Indictment
that | entered into an unlawful con-
spiracy with the directors of the
American company or anybody else in
any way or form is untrue and the
allegations that 1 deceived Mr.. Segal
at any time or in any way and that l
wrongfully and unlawfully endeavored
to injure him financially and to hinder
his paying his debts and to prevent the
Pennsylvania Sugar Refining company
from engaging in business are without
foundation or support in the facts, and
directly in conflict with the truth.
did everything in my power in good
faith to assist him financially and to
help him pay off the loan and start
the refinery, and my financial interests
were at all times with him and not
with the American company"
Kissel admitted voting to close down
the Pennsylvania sugar refinery be-
cause it required too much money to
operate.
Robert NJ Harker, traffic manager
of the American Sugar Refining COM
pany testified today that the sugar
trust had no advantage over Compel
itors in railroad rates in New York.
He was interrogated regarding prose-
cution of railroad and sugar trust Of
hcials in 1908 for rebating.
THAT case killed two men," said
Harper.
''Who?'' asked Chairman Hardwlck.
"Guilford and Pomeroy Of the Ne v
York Central died after they were IN
dicted."
Did the American Sugar Refining
company ever receive any offer of low
er rates from the railroads?"
"Nct to my knowledge. I would tell
them to give the same rates to all
Then you don't want concessions? p
mo. we don't want to go 10 Jail
Mr. Parker said the company prepaid
| its freight at an annual loss of $4,000
for the purpose of controlling the rout-
ing and Of giving the customer advan-
tage Of the cheapest routes.
"Don't the railroads have to cut IN
der their published rates to meet some
low water rates?'
sJ'hey never do. You could not get
railroad in the United States TO
charge under a published rate under
any conditional