The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-01-16
Pennsylvania
GGRRAAFTERS SEEK TO
DELAY TRIAL

Harrisburg, Pa. Jan. 1.-THE ill
ness of James M. Shumaker, of Johns
town, former superintendent of grounds
and buildings, has been seized upon
by the defence as an excuse do de-
lay in the trial of the Ia alleged state
tcaiptol grafters In the Dauphin county
court on January 81.
Couns for Shumaker will go into
court and ask that the cases in which
Shumaker is involved be continued. 50
far as he is concerned, on the ground
that his physical condition is such
that he cannot stand trial DR.. Low
man. of Johnstown, Shumaker's family
physician, will be here to testify to
his condition.
Shumaker is under Indictment under
80 charges of conspiracy to cheat and
def,aud the state in the trimming,
Of the capitol. He IS accused of having
failed to audit the bills of the con-
tractors, n also of having accepted
h certiication of Architect Huston
that h work was up to the specifica-
tions.
Fight Against Delay.
Counsel for the prosecution will re-
sist vigorously the effort to continue
the cases SO far Is Shumaker is con-
cerned, unless it is proved to their
satisfaction that his condition is such
that it is impossible for him to app
pear for trial.
1t is suspected that If a continuance
is granted in the case of Shumaker;
then ounsel for the other defendants
Will ask for delay on the ground that
Shunlaker is a material witness for the
defense n that it is impossible to go
ahead without him.
Shumaker vas seized with neuritis
last summer about the time he was
to have been called to testify for the
Capitol investigation commission, and
mas since been confined to his residence
at Johnstown.
Friends Say He's o. X.
His friends here who have seen and
talked with him the last month say he
is getting better daily and thai his
condition is not SO serious as to prevent
him from coming here for trial on jan
uary "a. If he were so disposed.
Attorneys for the prosecution say
they can go ahead with the trials with
out Shumaker, and under no condition
will they consent to a continuance In
the cases against the other defendants.
It is evident that counse for the de-
Tense are not ready to go ahead with
the trials, and that Shumaker's illness
has been seized upon as an excuse for
delay, in order that more time may be
had to prepare a defense that will fit
the cases against all the alleged graft
erS.
Furniture Case First.
1t is believed that one. of the furniture
cases, No. 2ss, win be tried first. This
includes all the furniture bought at $3.50
per foot" being IS sofas, 80 oblong tables.
"a oval tables, SO round tables. seven
square tables and 147 clothes trees. The
total charge to the state was $40, Az 80. The
alleged real value was $50, 1o9. 40, making an
overcharge of $19, 3os. 40, mostly for air
space.
The other cases are No. $40, involving
22 desks, costing ss1, Gas. 20, ard an approxi-
mate overcharge of $4,000; No. 235, chan
deliers. alleged o~vercharge 5000; No. PAL,
bronze standards. alleged overcharge. sG,-
600; No. 242, marble, alleged overeharge,
1874, 900. -
Harry Sandersen. of Philadelphia, a
brother of the contractor and chief trim
mer," is here with a corps of assistants
measuring the furniture supplied by the
defendant. Wallis Roileau, of Philadel-
phia, one of the defendants, was also here
examining the lighting fixtures. Boileau
and Sanderson were gathering data to be
used by the defense.