Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-01
HUSTON LEFT
SIGNED BLANKS
Architects Brother Says Sanderson
Hoodwinked Him
FURNITURE SHOWN TO JURY

Harrisburg Pa, Jan. 30-That
Architect 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 Is appar-
ent from the testimony OF his brother,
Rev. Samuel G. Huston OF Philadel-
phia. a retired Presbyterian clergy.
man, who was called as a witness for
the commonwealth.
Stanford b. Lewis. the architects
active assistant while the capitol was
being constructed and furnished and
who is under Indictment on two
charges OF conspiracy to cheat and de.
fraud the state in the payment Of
bills aggregating s92 .704s0 for capitol
furnishings. was also a witness for the
commonwealth.
Rev. Mr. Huston testified that when
his brother went to Europe In the
spring OF 1906 on business for the
state he left with him signed blank
certificates and q power OF attorney.
Soon after the architects departure.
Contractor John H. Sanderson. one OF
the defendants. appeared with a bill
for s53.3ls supported by an affidavit
purporting to be in proper form for
which he asked and obtained certifica-
ton OF the architect by the brothers
signature.
The commonwealth expects TO prove
that this bill was fraudulent In that
Sanderson was given the contract for
certain furnishings under one item in
the special capitol furnishing SEIZED
ule, and billed these articles 10 the
state under another item. the amount
OF which is in excess of the item under
which he was given the contract. and
also that some OF these articles were
invoiced To the state and paid for as
containing three times as many feet
as they actually contained.
Following the testimony OF Rev. Hus-
ton-and that OF Lewis. that the archi-
tect was expected to certify only to the
quality and not 10 the quantity OF fur
nishings. the commonwealth had
brought into court and exhibited to the
Jury two OF the sofas table and two
clothes trees supplied by Sanderson for
the capitol under the per foot sys-
tenn One OF the sofas was measured
for the information OF the jury and
was shown to be six feet long Sander
son billed this sofa 10 the state at eigh-
teen feet and was paid for at the rate
OF $3.50 per foot" The other sofa.
also measured six feet and was billed
and paid for as containing nineteen and
one half feet The table had been
billed under item twenty-five in the
schedule at $3.50 per foot instead OF
under item twenty-four az $40 40 as
called for by Sanderson's contract The
clothes tree was billed as containing
one and one-half feet at $3.50 and
should have been furnished the COM
monwealth claims for 1855.
Former Governor Samuel W Penny
packer, who was president OF the board
OF grounds and buildings. while the
capitol was being furnished is here TO
testify for the defense and will prob
ably be called on Friday
Pennypacker's colleagues on the
board were former Auditor General
William p Snyder and former State
Treasurer William l.. Mathues. defend
ants In the case now on trial
Mr. Pennypacker said that while he
was summoned as witness for the de-
Tense he was willing to 90 on the stand
for the prosecution. and II his testl-
mony would aid the commonwealth he
would be satisfied with that result.