The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-04
HAHN PROBE
WITNESSES
WERE SICK
Superintendent Martin and
Assistant at R~efOrmatOry
Not at Hearing Today.
Especial to the evening start

lRPtSAnl " Ah0l NCAA DNo%f
TRENTON, Sept.4-When the Hahn
investigating committee was called to
order this morning John H. Backes,
counsel, announced to the committee
hat subpoena servers could not n
George H. Squire. president OF n
Railway Reformatory Commission MT.
Backes said that Mr.. Squire was the
oldest living member of the commas
sion and was the only man who could
give testimony about the building Oh
the institution. Counsel said tnat the
dome was built first and that the walls
were FIVE feet thick. This he char
acterized as a waste of States moneys.
Manton Martin toe the stand ana
testified that his father, Captain Jo-
seph Martin, and Assistant Superin-
tendent Charles Abbott were iii. Man.
ager Georges-H. Wilson sent a ply
sician's certificate saying he was sick.
Counsel Backes brought out from
Manton Martin that he knew Inmate
Tooker, and he testified that the in
mate died from hemmorrhage. He de-
MED that the inmate died from gun
shot wounds, and declared that his
death was the result of an accident in
the tailor shop.
Manton Martin was directed to pro-
duce the books of accounts with in
mates. and while be was gone Assis-
tant Sergeant-at-Arms Fletcher was d.
rected to make a search for Mr.. Squire,
who lives at Morristown with a mai
named Glazobrook. Counsel Backes
took occasion to state that Manager
Freeman Woodbridge was detained be-
cause of a law engagement, Chairman
Hahn directed hat subpoenas be re-
issued for the members of the BOARD OF
managers for next Monday.
The books of accounts with inmate
being produced, Mr.. Martin said that
moneys to inmates came from over
tasks" OF this 'overtask" money the
State got falf and half was credited
to the inmate. Witness testified tnat
the books of account with inmates were
written up to August 10, the late when
books were placed in the custody or
the committee. At that time there was
$500. go in his hands to the credit or
the inmates. OF this amount $500 was
in the Railway Savings institution
drawing 4 per cent. interest. The re-
mainder was in his possession in the
reformatory, where it could be sent out
on orders of inmates. Counsel sought
to make a point Of not having the run
amount of money on hand August TO-
hit Mr.. Martin showed that three in
mate had overdrawn their accounts.
Mr.. Martin testified that he purchased
STAPLES in bulk to get It cheaper. In this
way a surplus of $500 had been created.
He did not think this surplus belonged TO
the boys, nor to the State, and denied tpat
II belonged to him. witRess said In ex-
planning the surplus that 1t began In a
small way. He would buy a box OF soap
and charge inmates ten cents. Inc cVsl
would be 81 cents. Asked why this money
was not put in the bank. witness saidp
'.Because 1t was not the States money,
nor did it belong to the inmates. 1t does
NOT belongSto me either. 1 do not know
10 whom Il belongs. I think it should re-
vert to the State" !.
Chairman Hahn said the money belonged
to the inmates. 1t was shown that there was
almost 100 per cent. profit on cough drops.
: He bought them at wholesale ana SOU
~ retail. but denied thai he ever received
one cent profit himself. Witness denied
that the moneys been put In the re-
formatory account since the investigation
went on. He had loaned 1t to the state
to pay salaries, but got 1t back.
Witness testified that he kept the gooos
at home because ne nileQ tnO OiNOf
nights. not having time to attend to tne
work during day time. He further testi-
fed that he was appointed chief clerk June
1916. displacing Louis f. Price. Before
that he was secretary Ito superintendent
Martin. As secretary he was drawing
81, 900 a year and 50 a Sunday FOR playing
the organ. Price at the time he was dis
missed was drawing $500. Martin got
$1,000 when he was first made chief clerk.
His salary was advanced to 1880 by three
different Jumps by the superintendent.
with the approval of the commission.
Relative to Witness Swartz testifylnS
last week that Martin showed a letter adj
dressed to the superintendent and closed
il again. witness denied 1t In toto. Witness
testified that he prepared the pay roll OF
December. 1906. which was padded anu
that he dill 50 by the direction OF the SUI
perintendent. He knew that the rolls were
padded" but denied that the mopeys
were used for other purposes than to pay
back salaries. 81
At this point the committee adjourned
until Friday morning, there being no wit
nesses present for further business.