New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
Court Orders Sugar Trial to Go
On, and Lawyer Takes Stand
in His Own Defence.
DENIES ANY CONSPIRACY
Relates His Share in the Kissel'
Havemeyer-segal Transaction
Which Led to Closing of
Pennsylvania Refinery.

yester .ay i'm the United States District
Court at the trial in which ne, Wash
ineton e. Thomas, Arthur Bonner and
George II. Frazier are charged with
having conspired against interstate
trade.
In the deep hush OF silence that fell
upon the courtroom the white-haired but
vigorous figure Of Mr. Parsons rose out
Of the chair from which he had been
listening for two weeks 10 the evidence
offered against him and, smiGngly. con-
fidently. almost ioyously, he walked up
10 the clerk, who administered the oath
to him. Bowling to Judge Hand Mr..
Parsons then took his seat in the chair
on the platform between the judge and
the jury
During the twenty-five minutes Of his
testimony Mr.. Parsons held the court
room 7pellbound. He spoke slowly and
deliberately Before answering a ques-
ton he would pause to recollect the de-
tails Of a transaction that had taken
place eight years ago during a very busy
period of his life. His voice was strong
and clear, and carried into the furthest
corners Of the room.
As he went on with his story his cheeks
began to glow, and he seemed to display
a keen enjoyment in this opportunity to
give his side of the case. When De
LanCey Nicoll asked for an adjournment.
end delicately implied that the ordeal
might have been long enough for Mr..
Persons. the old lawyer protested. and
avowed his readiness to go on at any
length convenient to the court But
Judge Hand said he would rather see the
examination continued in the morning,
and adjournment was taken until 1870
o'clock.
After he left the stand Mr.. Parsons
was congratulated by his son, Herbert
Parsons, and a number of friends who
we're near him. Smiling at the news
paper men Mr.. Parsons said:
You have heard of the man who dis
covered the fountain of youth; not even
an indictment like this can kill him
viii Resume Stand To-day.
Mr.. Parsons will take the stand again
in tho morning. and after the direct eX-
animation by Mr.. Nicoll, Henry A. Wise.
United States Attorney, will cross-eX-
anime him. The defence minated that
il might close it's case to-day.
In answer to the first question by Mr..
Nicoll whether he was one Of the de-
PENDANTS in this case, Mr.. Parsons an
swered:
Il suppose so
He then said that he was not a prac-
Using member of the bar. but had been
one for more than fifty years, and that
he had been counsel for the American
sugar Refining Company from its or
gsnization until 1909. Asked about his
2 ge Mr. Parsons said that he was born
on October 4, 1899.
As TO his acquaintance with Gustav l..
Kissel, who figured as agent in the Sesal
loan transaction Mr. Parsons testified
that he had known Mr. Kssel socially
before the transaction mentioned in the
indictment. He added that since the
loan was made he had met Scgal fire.
quently.
Have YOU read the Indictment"
asked Mr.. Nicoll.
Il have not read every word, but
enough of it to understand this charge
was the answer.
Did you ever enter into such con-
spiracy?"
Il do not think 50" MIR. Parsons an
swered, and when Mr.. Nicoll qualified
the query by asking if consciously, the
aged lawyer said With much emphasis:
Certainly not
Mr.. Nicoll then read from the indict-
ment the various accusations made
against the defendants and asked Mr.
Parsons whether there was any founda-
tion for those charges.
Absolutely Not True"
They ar, absolutely not true" said
the witness, "and there is no foundation
on which such statements could, have
been made"
All the money transactions which had
passed between segal and Kissel prior to
the loan Of S1.250,OOO by the American
Sugar Refining Company were absolutely
new to him up 10 the time If this trial.
Mr. Parsons testified upon further ques-
tions by his counsel He was then led on
10 the beginning of the negotiations
which resulted in the loan, and Mr.
Nicoll asked him TO give the story of
everything that passed then between
him and Segars representatives as a pre-
hminary to the loan.
MIR. Parsons leaned back in his chair
and with slow. deliberate voice, appar-
emily weighing each word about to be
uttered, gave the account of the various
meetings as he now recollectcd them.
He said, in part:
had several conversations with Mr.
klssel at that time. He told me that Mr.
Havemeyer was going TO make a loan TO
Adolph Segal and al the beginning he told
me what the securities would be, and that
In respect to the matter Mr.. Segals law
yer would com; TO see me In general
way he outlined the transaction at that
Mr. Kissel told me that Mr.. Havemeyer
lid not want the American Sugar Refining
Company to figure the lender, and the
reason he gave was 10 the erect that Mr..
Segal would use IL TO show that this cor
loration vas interested in his enterprises
Throughout the transaction it was insisted
that. Mr., Segal should have nothing IN
out and say he had the American Sugar
Refining Company on his side.
When the matter was first explained [
was told that the loan was TO he made
upon 81 900 bonds Of the Majestic Apart
ment House Company, 10000 bonds Of the
Pepnsylvania Sugar Refining Company
and s. 10000 OF stock in that corporation
At the first conference I mad with him
AIR Harmed told me about the pooling
agreement that was made with the stock
OF the PENNSYLVANIA Company.
Immediately said that the loan could
not be made under such circumstances
Mr. Harmed then explained that the pool
LIZ III -