Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-02-13
THOSE HIGHER UP
Names Of Former State Omcials In
volvsd IN Psnnsylvania Capt
tol Graft Scandal.
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY



Harrisburg, Pa, Feb. S.--The names
Of former Gov. Pennypacker and for
mer Attorney General Hampton l..
Carson, were brought into the capitol
prosecutions Friday by the testimony
Of Stanford b. Lewis, assistant OF
Architect Joseph M. Huston, at the
trial for alleged conspiracy OF Con
tractor ]. H. Sanderson, former Audi
Or General Snyder, former State
Treasurer Mathues and former Pub
lie Building Superintendent Shumaker.
When State Treasurer Berry first
called attention to the alleged capitol
frauds IA months ago, Gov. Penny.
packer directed Attorney General Car
son to make an investigation OF the
charges. Mr. Carson accordingly
wrote letters to all persons concerned
in the construction and furnishing OF
the big building asking them for In
formation bearing on the charges. All
of them replied and the attorney gen.
eral made a report which showed that
no laws had been violated.
Friday Lewis, under cross-examina-
ton by counsel for Snyder and
Mathues, declared that Architect Hus-
toms letter in the Carson inquiry was
suggested and framed by Pennypack-
err, Carson and Snyder, by whom
Lewis was called to Harrisburg to
discuss this matter. Lewis said the
statements in the letter that every arti-
Gle Of furnishings had been carefully
weighed and measured by the archi-
tect before they were delivered and
paid for were partly true and partly
misleading. He explained that the
Huston letter was written to dovetail
into the letters written by other per-
sons connected with the construction
and equipment of the capitol to the
former attorney general.
Lewis testimony was the most SEN
sational of the trial In his cross
examination on Wednesday he said
whatever changes in weights and
measures made by Architect Huston
were computations furnished by Audi
tor General Snyder. His testimony
on this could not be shaken Friday:
"Do you know of a resolution adopt
ed by the board Of grounds and build
ings, making Huston responsible for
all goods received and work?" he was
asked
Eight or nine months after the
resolution was adopted we learned OF
1t. It came as great surprise to US"
"Do you have knowledge Of the let
ter Of Huston to former Attorney
General Carson, Jan. Z, 1907"
"Yes, sir, assisted in its prepare
tion."
"Then Lewis, excitedly rising in the
witness box continued dramatically:
II was called by telephone by Auditor
General Snyder and Gov. Pennypacker.
I came to Harrisburg and went over
the letter with him and Snyder. l
was not aware of any wrong doing
alleged in the Indictment. The let
ter was written to dovetail In with the
letters Of other state officials con-
nected with the construction and
equipment of the capitol. was proud
81 the great building and had no
thought Of anything other than doing
what was right. That was a correct
and frank statement Of our connec-
ton with the work"
Then Lewis resumed his seat visibly
excited and nervous. The letter to
which he referred declared that the
weights and measurements of the capt.
toll furnishings were correct and that
the work on the building had been
done honestly.