The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-18
Pennsylvania Politicians Are
Held TO Answer Crimi=
nal Charges.
LOOT AT STATE CAPITOL
Architect, Contractors and OFF,
Gals Accused of RObbing the
People of MilSons"Of Money
in Erecting aud Furnish
ing Harrisburg Structure.

HARRISBURG, Pa Sept. ts.-War-
rants for the arrest of fourteen persons
involved in the State capitol scandal
ware issued today by tvAD Harrisburg
aldermen on Information furnished by
Attorney General Todd. Each OF the
defendants is charged on 'severei counts
with conspiracy to eneat and detrauo
the state by making false invoices, ana
fo,r of them are also charged with OBJ
tanning money under false pSetense'
Following is a list of the men for
whom warrants were issued Joseph
M. Huston, architect; John H. sander
son Congressman II. Burd Cassel,
James H. Shumaker, George E% Payne
and his partner, Charles g. Wetter'
builders; william p. Snyder, william
7. Math1ls. Charles F. Kinsman. wallis
Roileau John G. Neiderer and George
x storm. stockholders in the Pennsyl-
vania Brollze Company, and a
Irvine. who~ audited the ~ccunts'o the
contractors.
TIE arrcsts are based on the report
noaae to Gov rnor Stuart by ting commas
sion created by the recent legislature 10
investigate trr, capitol scandal. They VIII
~ allowed bv civil suits for the recovery
~ a norton of th $s.000,0 900 collected from
tbo state by tine contractors for the 1ur-
nisbing and equipl ling of the capitol.
In ia renort. mad e public about a month
ago. the commission named eighteen per
sons and firms as being involved IN the
capltol contracts, an prose-
cution of any and all persons concerned
IN the fraudulent TRANSACTIONS hauieu
.nsoi,cally. and al persons who may De
directly or indirectly involved Inc "en
involved in today's action are:
Ioaenh M. Huston. of Philadelphia,
whose commissions ~ architect for the
capitol commits sion for the construc1ph
of the building and of the board OF puphc
grounds and buildings by which IL was
Furnished and equipped, amounted 10 %ozo'-
OO0. Huston collected all OF his commas
sions except $104. 600. which Stare treasurer
Kerry refused to pay on tive ground tnat
tbare was evidence of fraud and collision
in hie transactions with the board.
Huston was considered and respected as
one NJ the foremost architects OF fhiia-
delnbja before he became involved IN ms
capitol scandal.
Tohn IT.. Sanderson, of Philadelphia, col
lected more than Sc, 10000 for lighting nx-
,ures marble and mahogany wainscoting
and DINER I1TIlSflliiBb VI AA0
derson has been n contractor Tor furniture
ana other State supplies for many years
ma no had a monopoly of the contract for
furnishing the new capitol. The state sui
owes him $10SlO00 for furnishings, which
State Treasurer Berry refused to pay, on
the ground that there was evidence OF
fraud In the contract. Sanderson Is q
member of the Union League, of Philadel-
ol,ia. of which Huston Is also a member
ma he served us an aide on the military
staff of Governor Beaver, many years ago
stiIl retaining the title of colonel. Jit
retired from business after the exposure
~ The capitol scandal, and has since beer
spending most of his time In New YORK
Congressman II. Burd Cassel, OF
Marietta, Is treasurer and executive ohicel
If the Pennsylvania CONSTRUCTION Com
,any. which has had n monopoly of thu
contracts for metallic furniture for thu
State DEPARTMENTS for ten years or more
Cassel's firm collected 1000, 900 from thu
S.nte for steel filing cases for the capitol
he contract for which was let within sil
Months after the contract for the con
,truetioi for the building was awarded
md before the stone used in the c%onstruc
ion of the building was selected. Casse
: one of the Republican leaders of Ian
caster County. and before he was electei
to Congress from that county, five year
ago, he served three terms in the Stat
Legislature.
James NJ. Shumaker, Of Johnstown, wa
superintendent Of grounds and building
and exl cutive officer of the board :
public grounds and buildings during tn
construction and equipment of the capito
He receipted for the capitol furnishing
without question and upon his certiieat
and that ot Architect Huston the bill
Cor these furnishings were paid. Shumake
was formerly Sheriff of Cambria County
and has been one of the Republican lead
ers of that codnty for many years. Shu
maker was taken i'll about the time h
was TO be called as a witness before tn
Capitol investigation Commission las
summer, and he has since been Il physici
wreck.
Geol 10 L. Payne and Charles g.. WettC
are members of the firm OF George !
Payne q Co., Of Philadelphia, contractor
for the construction of the capitol. Tn
firm was also the contractors for II
board of public grounds and buildings 4
fitting up the attic of the building, I,
which It collected from the State $3O3,OO
Testimony before the investigation con
mittee showed that this firm made fal'
invoice with intention to cheat ana d
fraud the State"
Wtniam p. snyder. as auditor of Il
board of public grounds and buildings. al
proved the warrants fol the capitol COZ
tractors. MIR. snyder was also a memb
of the Capitol Building Commission al
was the only State official who was
member of both bodies during the co
struction and equipment of the buildin
He has been one Of the Republican leade
of Chester County for twenty years al
served as a member of the House of Re
resentatives and afterward of the Sena
before he was elected Auditor-General
1904.
William l.. Mathues, as State Urea
urer. paid the bills of the Capitol contra
tors upon the certificates of Huston al
GhttnaoLap Npar1V all nf those bills we
raid during the Two years that Mathu
was State Treasurer. His commission g
Lirel in May. 1906. his successor bell
William IT. Berry. Democrat, who was t
hrst to expose the actual cost of the cal
III. Mr.. Mathues IS the Republican lead
Delaware County, of which he W
nrofhonotary four terms before he W
.'ccted State Treasurer.
TO COME HERE FOR FORGERY.