The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-23

The matter of the ex.county COM
missioners' appeal from the auditors
surcharges was on all day yesterday
before Judge Savidge and 1t Is likely
to continue all of today and at least
part of tomorrow.
The auditors closed their side of the
case at II O'Clock, after presenting
testimony to show that the repairs were
never legally authorized and then ex-
Judge Knapp opened for the defense
with forty-flve-minute address. in
which he said every one of the sur
charges would be justified and the
commissioners shown to be deserving
of praise rather than the censure
which the auditors would publicly draw
down upon them.
The first witness for the auditors
was p. r. Howley, Of the firm of P. F.
& NJ. T. Howley. Of Wyoming avenue.
He was recalled to testify as to The
substitution of inch pipe for inch and
a-half pipe in some Of the closed
plumbing work. When asked about
this on the preceding day he was dis.
qualified from testifying because of his
not having investigated the m liter
personally. At the instigation of the
auditors he made an examination dur
ing the early morning and founl tha:
it was as the auditors alleged. The
plumbing in the basement was laid
open and smaller pipe than the one
specified was discovered. This change,
the commissioners say, will bn satis-
factorily explained.
TEsTIFYING FROM RECORDS.
W. G. Daniels. chief clerk Of the
county commissioners, was put on the
stand to testify from the minutes of
the old commissioners as to the issu-
ing of the s135.O00 bonds to pay for
the repairs. and Emil Bonn, deputy
clerk OF the court. was called to show
that the grand jury's recomm andations
for the repairs of the court house hal
never been approved by the court. as
the law directs. This, it will be con-
tended by the counsel for the auditors,
makes the commissioners personally
liable for the whole cost of the r.
pairs.
The commissioners first witness was
l.. ID. Fulton, of Mott & Company.
of New York, whose closets were sub.
stituted for those of the PECK ,orl-
pany. called for in the pocifrai;Grs.
His testimony tended to show that th.
Mott closets were the equal. if not
superior. to the Peck, and that Il there
was any material difference IN them
at all the Mott closet was a lrihe
cheaper than the other
Then was heard the testimony Of the
expert decorators calied bv the COM
missiOners to show the alleged a5-
surdity of the claims of the auditors
experts that the superior court roou =
decora tions, which cost GOO, could
have been put up for about $4,000.
COST OF DECORATIONS.
Gustave Brickeimaier Of New York,
who was formerly associated with y.
I. Hall & Co.. who did the work, gave
an item!zed statement Of the job show
ing that it was worth between Sl1, 900
and $4,000.
T.. w. Lawrence. of Branhall, Nes-
b!tt & Lawrence, New York decorators,
gave II as his estimate that the Job
was worth $4,000 without figuring Oh
any profit
William Ford. another New YORK
decorator. figured the job to he worth
$lO.l1O. T.. II. Norris. OF this city, now
with n Boston firm of decorators. gave
it as his opinion that $4,000 would be
the least he would take the job for.
When asked on cross examination to
explain how it was he had been sub
poenacd, he said he was at a loss to
explain it himself unless It was that
remark he had made concerning the
matter had been carried to the com.
mssicners. When pressed further, Mr..
Morris said the remark in question
was that any man who said that job
could be done for $4,000 was a fool.
4 unique feature of this part of the
case was that the trial is taking place
in the very room which the disputed
decorations make so beautiful.
Frank Carlucci. the well known stone
contractor. testified that the sub-base.
which the auditors experts claimed 20
be slate was in reality Just what was
called fer in the specifications. black
Glens Falls marble. He exhibited a
sample of it together with sample of
slate and the two were turned over to
the jury
At adjournng time Architect Lacy
was on the stand explaining away the
alleged unwararnted extras. Twenty
seven items We're gone owed before adj
journment and In every instance he
showed a plausible reason for the ex-
ira. His examination will be continued
this morning.
Y;-k YYaz n>>S, E-L...l~S