New-York tribune., 1908-01-30
HUSTON FOR HIMSELF.
Becomes apparent from Testimony
of His Brother at Harrisburg.

Harrisburg, Penn, Jan. 29.-It became appar-
ent that Joseph NJ Huston means to take care OF
himself at the expense of his four co-defendants
in the state Capitol conspiracy cases now on trial
in the Dauphin County Court, from the testimony
to-day of his brother, the Rev. Samuel C. Huston,
of Philadelphia. retired Presbyterian clergy
man. who was called at a witness for the COM
Inonwealth.
Stanford 3. Lewis the architects active assist
ant while the Capitol being constructed and
furnished. and who is under indictment on two
charges of conspiracy to cheat and defraud tle
state in the payment of bills aggregating s92,-
7ot so for Capitol furnishings. was also witness
for the commonwealth.
The Rev Mr.. Huston testified that when his
brother went 70 Europe in the spring OF 1906 on
business for the state he left with him signed
blank architects certificates and power OF at
torney. Soon after the architects departure
John H Sanderson, the contractor. one of the de-
PENDANTS. appeared with a bill supported by an
affidavit purporting to be in proper form. for
which he asked and obtained certihcation or the
architect by the brothers signature
The commonwealth expects to prove that this
bill was fraudulent. in that sanderson got the
contract for certain furnishings under one item
in the special Capitol furnishing schedule and
billed these articles 10 the state under another
item, the amount OF which is in excess of the
item under which he obtained the contract, and
also that Of these articles were invoiced to
the state and paid for containing three times
as many feet they actually contained
and that of Lewis to the effect that the architect
expected to certify only TO the quality and not
to the quantity of furnishings. the commonwealth
had brought into court and exhibited to the jury
two SOFAS table and two clothes trees supplied
by Sanderson for the Capitol under the per foot
system. One of the sofas was measured for the
information of the jury and was shown to be Q
feet long Sanderson billed this sofa to the state
az I2 feet and paid for it at the rate of SIS 40
Ter foot" The other sofa also measured feet
and billed and paid for as containing 1872 feet
The table had been billed under item = in the
schedule SIS 10 per foot, instead of under item
"a. at $40 40. called for by Sandersons contract
The clothes tree billed containing II feet.
at SIS 10. and the commonwealth asserts should
have been furnished for $ 55.
Ephraim Oswald, carpenter for the board Of
grounds and buildings, by whom all the furniture
for the Capitol was received sud distributed &C
corGing to the tag each article. was called TO
identify a table and other articles offered in evil
dence, and was the stand when court adjourned
for the day.
Ex-Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker. who was
president Of the board of grounds and buildings
while the Capitol was being furnished. is here to
testify for the defence. and Will probably be called
Friday.
Pennypacker's colleagues the board were for
ner Auditor General William P. Snyder and for
rner State Treasurer William L. Mathues. defend
ants IN the case trial
James NJ Shumaker, former superintendent OF
grounds and buildings. also defendant, was the
executive officer of the board during the time
Pennypacker president.
The commonwealth does not expect to close it's
case before Friday.