Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-08
SHOWS HIS HAND
In CAPITOL TRIAL
Huston's Assistant Gives Damaging
Testimony Against Defense.
FURNITURE PLANS PR0BED

Harrisburg. Pa. Feb 6.-Architect
Joseph NJ. Huston virtually turned
states evidence by proxy against his
co-defendants. Contractor Sanderson.
former Auditor General Snyder. for
mer State Treasurer Mathues and for
mer Public Buildings superintendent
Shumaker. in the trial for conspiracy
in the Dauphin county court
Through his assistant. Stanford b..
Lewis. the architect who remained in
seclusion in his room al hotel aear
the court house, and was accessible
only TO his lawyers and confidential
friends. gave damaging testimony
against Sanderson and the form r
state officers He was subjected by
Mr.. Gilbert. Of counsel for Mathues
and Snyder. to a most searching cross.
examination.
Mr.. Gilbert's questions AZ the start
were so keen and pitiless that Lewis
gritted his teeth gave eyasiye an
swers and finally refused 10 answer
He insisted that Lewis was a partner
OF Huston in the capitol work and
was refusing 10 reveal his true reln-
ton to the contract for fear of in
eliminating himself Lewis denies
this.
He strenuously denied that he had
ever made a statement 20 the effect
that IL Snyder would get a stamp the
witness and Huston would be respon
sible for measurements In the capt
toll contract In trying 10 force Lewis
to explain why Deductions We're made
from bills for metallic furniture over
Illusions signature il the architect did
not consider himself responsible for
measurements, Mr. Gilbert met with
an unexpected retort.
Lewis declared the deductions hat
been made in accordance with hs
rres furnished by Snyder who
brought them personally 70 huston
The architect made the deductions 1t
Snyder's request, according 20 Lewis.
After showing that Shumaker pre-
pared the special furniture schedule
upon which Sanderson was given his
contract. the commonwealth offered
testimony 10 prove that Snyder prac-
tically dictated the preparation Of thu
Quantities book" This book specified
how much and the kind OF furniture
was TO go into each room Of the capitol
and the item number under which ID
was TO be purchased.
The states lawyers claim this evil
denee.shows that Shumaker and snyder
controlled absolutely the making 81 all
plans for capitol furniture and that
Hustons duties in this respect We're
merely perfunctory
Lewis also testified In his direct tes-
timony that at the request Of snyder
he prepared list OF capitol furniture
from the quantities plan" and from
sub-contractors he produced his orig
inal list. He said after his list was
made up II was submitted 10 Snyder
and the latter made numerous changes
in pencil
The commonwealth expects TO close
its case Friday The defense will i'm
mediately ask that It be nolle pressed
on the ground that the commonwealth
has not proved its case. Should the
court over-rule this motion the defense
will attempt to show that sanderson's
contract was granted legally and that
under H. he was permitted TO measure
furniture by the surface foot" that he
fulfilled his contract 10 the letter and
that the state officers involved did NOT
do anything unusual in passing the
bills in the manner testified.