Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-05-16
The CAPITOL TRIAL
Prosecution Opens Its Case Against
the Trlmmers.
SAYS STATE WAS CHEATED
Mr. Scarlet Tells Jury State viii
Show That Huston, cassel and
Former Officials conspired On the
Capitol Job.

snow mat huston, GaSsel ana
Former Officials conspired On the
Capitol Job.
Harrisburg Pa. May i4.-Consider-
able progress toward establishing the
grounds upon which the common
wealth hopes to prove its case was
made In the capitol trial. The state
opened its side and presented docu.
mentary and formal proof OF various
matters which will figure later in the
trial The day was occupied chiefly by
routine testimony.
Attorney General Todd Joined the
attorneys at the commonwealth II.
Bile Mr. Scarlet made the opening ad-
dress. and Mr. Cunningham Is eondi act.
ing the examination OF witnesses
MIR Scarlet calculated the charges
against Congressman H. Burd Cass,l
Joseph NJ. Huston and the accused
former state officials. and expia.ne
clearly what the state expected u
prove He explained the Indictment
against the accused and said to prove
fraud the state must prove that the
bill which was rendered was false.
Continuing. he said
Then 1t will be incumbent upon the
commonwealth to show that there was
an agreement To pay this bill. know
ing ii TO BE- false. and thirdly. whether
any two or more Of these persons who
are indicted were concerned in -
agreement to pay that bill, knowing II
to be false.
THE bill is false. as we allege. In
measurements which. under tl,e con
tract, ought to have been sl2.G99.69.
and was in fact s17.7ss.70. Now We
contend that il is false in other par
ticulars which will be shown. Among
them is this that under this particular
contract II should have been render
for part heavy and part light con.
struction. which would have made a
still further difference in the bill.
Nov then II We prove that IN bill
is false. and il We prove that these de.
PENDANTS paid it knowing 1t to be false.
then the commonwealth will have su'
aimed this indictment here. and We
shall ask for conviction al your
hands"
MIR Scarlet told how soon after Illus
tons employment as architect revised
plans and specifications were submit.
ted ANA adopted and resolution pass
ed by the board authorizing payments
to the contract on the approval OF
the architect. and pointed out that un-
der the change in the plans total
OF $+25.000 was paid the Pennsylvania
Construction company tor extras or.
dered by the architect
on March 81 1904" continued Mr..
Scarlet the bill in this case was II
fered for payment by II Burd Cassel.
on April Z Mr. Cassel made an aft
that they We're true and correct This
bill was certified TO by Mr. Shumalier
as being correct II was also certified
20 by Mr.. Huston. II was also audited
by Messrs. Snyder and Mathues and
a warrant was issued for It.
Now. in addition to all this, the
bill was measured up by Mr. Shu.
maker ana by Mr. Irvine who was sent
ont Tor the particular purpose OF de
termining whether or not the bill was
correct They reported to the board
that they had measured this particular
bill, and that they found il to be cor.
rect
AS | have said to you and as our
proof believe will be. this bill is
false as TO measurement. and it is
false in other particulars. as We Will
show you
The foreman Of the jury is Samuel
Cole reputable resident OF Steelton.
The other jurymen are
Samuel 5. Dewalt. miner. Williams
township.
George C. Ebersole. farmer. Lower
Paxton township.
Thomas K Rife clock repairman.
Harrisburg.
Benjamin Ulmer. clerk. Middletown.
John Barry teamster. Elizabethville
Aaron Emanuel moulder Harris.
burg
Dennis Crolley, steel worker. Steel.
ton.
Isaac Ulrich, farmer. Penbrook.
Franklin 5. Anderson. solicitor. Har-
risburg
John 5. Miller. janitor. Harrisburg
David Brandt. Sr. labOrer. Middle
town
No application was made for sever
ance All OF the defendants including
Architect Huston, were present with
a formidable array OF counsel
Woman's Body Found In the Delaware.