The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-02-20
PENNYPACRtR'S TALf
Former Governor a Witness IN
Capitol Trial.
ne. TOO. RELIED ON HUSTON
Admits he Did Not Know si.o6s. eco
Had Seen Paid Without Proper
Approval - How ssnderson Com
puted Bills


pused Bills
Harrisburg. Pa. Feb. l9.-Former
Governor Pennypacker was most
important witness Al the state capitol
conspiracy trial In the Dauphin county
eourt. Mr.. Pennypscker was president
OF the board OF grounds and buildings
dorins the construction and equipment
Of the capitol.
His colleagues on the board were
former Auditor-General snyder aud
former state Treasurer Mathues.
Its executive officer was former SUD
erintendcnt Shumaker. The former
governor Was called as witness for
these three former state officers.
Mr.. Pennypacker told OF the selection
OF Joseph NJ. Huston. by the board TO
prepare the plans and specifications
for the capitol furnishings and OF the
award 81 the contract to Sanderson.
He said extraordinary precautions
had been taken 20 safeguard the CONF
inonweaith IN the payment OF the bills
BY requiring the architect and the
superintendent OF grounds and build
ings 20 certify 70 them and the con-
tractor to make oath 70 their correct
ness. RE was asked n Huston was re-
CURED. under his contract with the
board. to supervise the manufacture OF
the furnishings and whether It was his
duty 10 weigh and measure the furnish
ines.
Counsel for the commonwealth OBJ
/ iected or the ground that the contract
!
governor testimony was not evidence
The objection was sustained by Irdge
Kunkle and the defense took an ex-
ception. Mr.. Pennypackcr was not ex-
aminei on the statement OF SANFORD
| D. Lewis assistant TO Huston. that the
/ famous Huston letter 20 former Al,
I toruey General Carson was prepared
az a conference between Pennypackor.
Snyder and Lewis and that II was made
/ % dovs-tail into other letters written
by persons connected with the capitol
| contracts.
This letter was put IN evidence by
the defense prior TO the examination
OF Mr.. Peunypacker and he may be ex-
amined upon Il when he IS recalled.
! The court adjourned over Wednesday
TO enable AR Mathues 20 attend the
funeral Of his sister. Mrs William Nc
Call at Prospect Park. Delaware
county.
1ir. Pennypackcr admitted under
/ cross examination that he did not
know that Sl.0C9 600 had been paid by
Snyder and Mathucs 70 Sanderson
without the approval OF the board OF
that on Jan. 70. 1905. the date Of the
adoption OF the resolution by the board
! requiring the architects certificate on
the BILL thst S2.000.000 had been paid
TO S2nderson In excess cf Huston's
estimate on the cost OF the furnish.
ines.
He was asked IL he understood from
the quantities" plans and the "Quan-
Titles" books that a sofa for which
Sanderson charged the state S35S could
have been billed for Sil00. But coun-
sci for the defense objected and Mr.
Scarlet withdrew the question
Asked how long he relied upon the
certificate OF the architect. Afr. Penny
packer replied that he might SAY 10
the present time"
The commonwealth showed IN the
cross-examination Of James II. Steven
son. Sandersou's bookkeeper. that bills
for furniture for the senate and house.
/ amounting to over Ss00. 600 were made
out as so many feet In bulk and paid
In the course OF Sanderson's business
and that several months orierward
/ Stevenson, when ordered by Sandcrson
20 MAKE ont detailed bills. simply took
| the lump sum OF feet and "apporticned"
| it among the articles. cleaning some
/ Information from blue prints and re-
celvinE the remainder from Sanderson.
Stevenson had some left and he add
| Cd that 70 the rostrums Of the senate
and house caucus room. Evidence was
introduced by the defense to show that
IN spite Of the approximation" system
OF billing the Sandorson furnishings
the state was the gamer TO the extent
Of S34S.22s.15 on Sanderson's bills for
furniture and that Sanderson could
have collected Sl.22A293 IS instead Of
sS76os6.sO for the furniture.