The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-20
NO NEW
FEATURESI !
The Trial of the Commissioners Still on
at POttSville.
CONTRACTS UNDER CONSIDERATION
The Defense Continues It's Testimony and
the Attendance at the Trial is on
the Decrease-The Case Likely
to go over to Next Week.

MIR. Mari said the Controller had made dill
gent search for Architect Hills 81 625 bill of
May II, 1895, but it could not be found. The
! Controller said the last he knew of it he had
given it to the Clerk.
Mr.. Ulrich said himself, Mr.. Connell, Mr.
Reber and the Commissioners attended the
state convention Of Commissioners at Mead
Vile, in September 1894, the bill of expenses
for which trip is alleged to have been
| illegally paid. We attended because we
thought the county would be benefited
The convention was composed of Commits
sioners, their solicitors and chief clerks,
Good roads and general management were
discussed. We staid but two days. We
travelled on passes to Williamsport and that
part of the fare was not charged to the
county. Mr.. Reber acted treasurer during
the trip and paid our expenses. All the
expenses, at least so far as | am concerned,
were for car fare and hotel bills. l know we
tried to get Pennsylvania railroad passes to
Williamsport and didn't succeed The first
year l was at the Commissioners office in con-
sultation very many days, to get things in
order We found everything in disorder and
had to put it in some decent shape.
Stenographer Patterson was directed to
read the bill of Architect Hill from his
records Deputy Controller Payne having
read it off earlier in the case. Witness
! Ulrch said he did not present the 81, 600
contract for Hill to the Court until after the
Sl635 bill was paid fully. 1t was paid by in
stallments, the last of which was given to
Hill on May II, 1896. The first bill was for
five per cent. of S32, 500.
On the Washington trip to see Senator
| Quay about defeating the new county bill
the witness expenses were S67 40. He es-
timated his expenses by counting the money
in his pockets upon his return and estimat-
ing the difference between that and what he
had when he left home. They left February
23rd, 1895, and with their stay at Harrisburg
on the return trip were absent until March
lst. They arrived in Harrisburg February
25th, and he may have gone home in the
meanwhile The bill of March 9th for S42 90
was inquired into. Congressman Brumm
was with him on the Washington trip. The
bill included car fare. He has no copy OF
the brief presented to Governor Hastings
and took no copy of it because he was in a
hurry. He charged for the brief June 49,
1895. His expenses that date were 81 s5.
He said he was counsel to the Commissioners,
and not the solicitor, because, technically
speaking, there is no such office
When Architect Hill submitted his bill OF
May II, Mr.. Ulrich required him TO furnish
his Studies" He said the bill before the
court was not the one he made out.
He asked for the bill with his bill attached
but it was not forthcoming
He did not file the financial statement in
the Clerk Of the Courts office. Clerk
Duhy's Endorsement showed it was filed JUNE
7, 1897.
Mr.. Mari here objected to more than one
lawyer examining Mr.. Ulrich, and Mr.
Schalck remarked they were merely follow
ing the example of the defenses lawyers
which led John w, Ryon to say, That's the
trouble with your side; you always follow
bad example" This sally produced laughter
and Judge Bechtel instructed that but ont
lawyer examine the witness at a time. Mr.
Ulrich himself said it did not matter to him
The defense offered the advertisements 70
Almshouse improvements in evidence anC
Mr.. Ryon read one of them.
sHORTALL ON THE STAND.
A. j, Shortall, who has been Il lieutenan
of Mr.. Sheafer, the prosecutor, in obtaining
evidence, was called
In answer to Mr.. Marr he said he wa
Clerk of the Courts three years, Count!
Commissioner for six years, County Recorde
three years, and was acquainted with tn
duties Of those offices. The certificate fo
the Independent School District of Nortl
Mannheim township report of Commissioner
was issued from his office when he was Clerl
Of the Courts. Judge Bechtel appointed tn
viewers, Nj. Whaen filed the petition.
This led Judge Bechtel to remark that tn
view and the viewers were not questioned b,
the 23rd count, but the right of the Commis
sioner to pay them was.
Q PAINTING CONTRACT.
VIM, A. Helms was called. He said
. Have been painter for 30 years himsel
and John f. Woll, had the contract for paint
ing the court house VOL, now deceased
had about 20 years experience, IA of whic
Q he worked in Chicago. Mr.. Vol supple,
| the ropes, ladders brushes, etc; the,
S charged but 20 per cent. commission for thei
use, although the usual charge by painters
so per cent. We kept our time and hande
a the daily slip to Mr.. COnnell.
We found the cement pointing between tn
window and door frames had worked out AM
| told Mr. Rentz that it would take coupl
tons of putty to fix it up, and that it woul
l. be cheaper to cement it. By the Commi.
sioners' direction | employed Chas. Hay an
son and Mr., Stork to do the cementing
the cement had not been put in it would hav
been impossible to heat the building Nj
Woll had four jacks specially made at a co,
of S. apiece, which Mr.. Faust said later h
would not give 80 cents for because they car
not be used on any other building We foun
some ioists so rotten you could stick a lea
pencil through them aud sUme of the windo
sills are rotten as punk now notably one i
the Commissioners olIce, The roof was ais
4 in bad repair. We put brass angles on ever
large window to keep it from springing
boiled linseed oil was used for painting
The witness then read a bill dated Angus
sth, 1896. Carpenters got 81 so per day an
painters So.
VIM. A. Helms was recalled this mOrninI
4 Witness said he had no pain shop of his ow
4 and got permission of the Commissioners
use the basement of the court house to kee
4 his paint and other materials while perform
n ing the contract, lie painted letters upo
4 the famous Tumbling Run balloon in the bas,
4 ment.
During the previous autumn he had SUI
J gested to the Commissioners that the cou
y house ought to be painted He spoke to NJ
q Rentz lie said they should have it dor
right or not at ALL Mr.. Martin suggestt
that he have partner and he talked sgai
, with both Rentz and Martin. Paint at