The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-19
HOW THEY MEASURED
Expert In Capitol Trial Explains
How They Did II.
FILING CASES IN COURT
CruS Of Case Lies In Method Of
Measurement Whereby Conspiracy
TO pile Up Exorbitant Charges Took
Plaoe-Psid BY Square Foot"

Harrisburg. May 16.-The cap.to,
conspiracy case has gone over untr
next Tuesday without the jurors hav
ing had an opportunity TO catch more
than glimpse of the two mct tai filing
cases that will prove one OF the states
most important exhibits i'm the case.
The fling cases. which have been
taken from the department OF the sc
retary OF the commonwealth. have
been set mp in the courtroom and care
fully covered with canvas.
The commonwealth had expected u
get the cases before the jury before
adjournment. and worked up 10 that
point by calling George II. Richter OF
Boston. the metal expert. who has eN-
amined and measured all the cases
and tables covered by the invoice IN
the present case.
When they were ready TO unveil the
cases il was discovered that some OF
the documents relating TO the files
were missing from the pigcon-hole
and as this made the ease incomplete.
the formal offer in evidence of the
cases was postponed Tor the present
Richter gave the cubic measure.
meut of one OF the cases ha had
examined. and was also questioned
as 10 the square feet of finished sur
! face IN the same case.
He said there was two main sec
/ tions 10 the case. and that there wcr,
5312 cubic feet In the lower or base
| section 1900 cubic feet ia the upper
section. and 1872 cubic feet In IN,
| entire case. lie also said that the
case contained three finished surfaces
! the front and two sides. and gave ia,
| square feet in three surfaces rs IS,
square feet in the base. 7ll6 in IN,
upper section and 1876 ia the onur,
| case"
Just as in the cases OF Sandorson' =
/ furniture. the cruX of the contest now
on is the method OF making measure
ments. Herein. according 10 the al
| legations OF the commonwealth lay
the conspiracy 10 pile up cxorbitani
charges.
So far rs per foot" measure for
sofas and chairs was concerned. the
first trial ended with fanfare OF
maneled arithmetic. with The real
problem undecided.
In Casscls case the Issue is plain
Documents introduced prove that his
company was 10 be paid by the square
foot. Despite this fact. il was shown
that mcasurcrs who in 1906 were busy
verifying Cassel's figures. multiplied
length. breadth and depth. divided
this obviously cubic result by I72S
the number Of cubic inches In a cubic
foot. and charged the state for the
resulting square feet" Moreover. the
measurers and state officials certified
to the correctness OF this calculation
and Cassels company get its money.
Introduction In evidence of the fur.
niture was assured only after a bat
tie between defence and prosecution.
in which attorneys for the defendants
scored number OF important points.
but failed to materially cripple the
commonwealth.
In the first place. the original of the
Cassel company contract was extend.
ed by extra orders by Huston. Steei
cases were paid for Then the "ex.
tras." including ornamental plasters.
etc. were covered in separate bills.
The defence succeeded in having kept
from the jury the amount paid fo-
these extras"