Evening star., 1908-01-27
GRAFT AT HARRISBURG
Capitol Cases Called Up in
Court Today.
ATTRACTS A GREAT CROWD
Story of Wild Extravaganza Reads
Like Fiction.
MADE PROFIT OF 1000 PER CENT
Furniture Paid for "by the Foot. !"
Great Array Of Counsel
on Both Sides.

HARRISBURG, fd.. january 6s.-A>"e
since the trial of United States Senator
NJ S. Quay. ten years ago. for con-
spiracy to wreck a Philadelphia bank, has
there been such interest In trial as
has been manifested throughout Penn
sylvania in the proceedings begun today
against the men charged with conspiracy
to loot the state treasury In connection
with the construction and furnishing OF
the big state capitol building. Since the
revelation Of nearly two years ago. in
which some OF the foremost men Of the
state were involved, the imposing white
marble structure on Capitol Hill. with
its ornate furnishings and frescoes. has
been a point Of great interest to curiosity
seekers and citizens generally. Excur-
sonists have come from all the state
inspired by a desire to see the bronze
chandeliers alleged to be loaded with
tons Of lead. the commonplace furniture
and the paintings and frescoing for which
there is said to have been an overcharge
of hundreds Of thousands of dollars.
Courthouse. Crowded.
The trial Of the alleged conspirators is
being conducted in the dingy. old-fashion-
ed county courthouse. and its resources
have been stretched to the limit to ac-
commodate the defendants, attorneys and
newspaper correspondents.
A special panel Of eighty is on hand and
Judge George F. kunkel, once member
of the legislature. and a newcomer on the
Pennsylvania bench. is presiding. Judge
kunkel has expressed determination 10
push the trial with the least possible de-
lay. and his manner in the preliminary
proceedings incident To the great case has
led to the conclusoa that he viii not toll
crate dilatory tactics.
First of the Cases.
The first of the live conspiracy cases
listed involves payments Of $40. 4l1.so FOR
sofas. tables and clothes trees. The items
We're paid for by the state AT tile rate Of
S1S.40 per foot" The commonwealth al
leges that frauds to the amount S19-
40 We're perpetrated. The defendants
in these five cases are Chief Contractor
John II. Sanderson and. Arch:i &C. Jos. VI.
Huston OF Philadelphia. former Auditor
General William r. Snyder OF Spring City,
former State Treasurer William l.. Ma
thues Of Mqdia and James NJ. Shumaker of
JohnstONn. former superintendent of
grounds and buildings. Neither Represen-
tative ii. Rurd C.sseil OF the Peans Viva
mia Construction Company nor the remain
ing eight defendants II the prosecution fig
ure II these conspiracy cases.
The prosecution is being conducted 10y
Attorney Todd. James Scarlet chief coun-
sci for the legislative investigation COM
mission: Assistant Deputy Attorney Gen
eral Jesse r. h. Cunnin glIam: State Sem
ator John f. Fox OF Harrisburg and Dis
trict Attorney John +. Weiss. The de-
PENDANTS are represented by George 5.
Graham, A. S. l.. Shields. +. +. Rothe :
mel. jr.. eN-Judge \. NJ. Beitlsr. Samuel
VI. Clement. jr.. of Philadelphia: former
Attorney General William l.. iI-ns-l
Lancaster: William l. Schaffer. Media:
Charles IL. Bersner. Lyman ID. Gilbert
and State Representative f.dwa !. f.
Heidieman OF Harrisburg
Contractor Sanderson
Sanderson supplied most OF tie, furnish
ings Of the capitol His contract amount
ed to SI.4s1. .sa9 IL. and his profits in
some instances are alleged 10 have been
as much as 4.OuI per cent. Huston tie-
signed the building and furnishings. his
commission amounting To $4136::l.a1.
Shumaker is accused OF having failed
10 audit the bills OF Sanderson and is
also charged with having accepted Hus-
tons certification that the work was up
to the specifications and contract.
Mathues is alleg ged to have paid the bills
of the cont actors without havin: them
audited.
Snyder is charged with nom performance
Of duty in not auditing the bills.
The trial, which was scheduled TO be-
SlIt Ut ~ NiS ueitlru SllSnllN
By the clearing up Of other cases before
the court.
F Case Has Commenced
District Attorney Weiss called the five
conspiracy cases at 1l::O o'clock. Mr..
Graham stated that he. Mr. Shields and
Mr.. Clement represented Mr. Huston. and
moved for separate trial for their client.
Mr.. Cunningham said the commonwealth
had no objection. and joined with the de-
fense for this request. The court took
recess for fifteen minutes TO enable coun-
sci for the various defendants to mold a
conference in adjoining room. The
mot ion of HustonS attorneys was evi-
IDENTIFY surprise 10 the attorneys for
his co-,iefendants. and would seem to in
dicate tina. Huston IS going TO take care
of himself. matter how il affects the
other defendants.
When the attorneys again came into
court Mr.. Bergner presented petition
asking that ShumaKer be lied separately.
HAS NOTHING TO SAY.