Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-15
TRIMMERS TO HIDE
BEHIND HUSTON
Capitol Contractor Claims DE Wa,
Responsible For PAYMENTS
HINT AT RAKE OFF IN JOE

Harrisburg. Pa. FEB l3.--That IN
blame for the alleged abuses IN Tie con
tracts for the furnishings OF the new
capitol will be shifted from Contractor
Sanderson and the three former state
officers now on trial in the Dauphit
county court for conspiracy to Architect
Huston is apparent from thc opening
arguments OF counsel for the defeu..
to the jury
Following the refusal OF Judge Kun
kel to make an order 10 give bludu
instructions TO the jury 70 acqult an of
the four defendants the lawyers t9t
the defense began their opening argl.
ments.
Arguments were made by Nlr Roth.
ermel for Contractor Sandcrsou and By
Mr.. Gilbert for former Auditor Genera
Snyder They contended that As asaut
of the board OF grounds and buildings
the defendants relied on huston as e
the correctness OF the bids of the con
tractors and that 10 was hts duty ,a geo
tify to the quality and quantity ot al
the furnishings before ths bills Were
paid
A main reliance Of the defense So tai
as Sandersou's charges ar concerned
will be the contention that the contract
was an average one that prices NAV
have been high on some trimmings
but they were very low on others ane
lhus averaged oh9S lal' s4l' e" n
classes OF furnishings.
AeVoiuins ~ 1he aaSei WIS n o"H
Osrsoh counsel tAr liiiiiii'i '"''
money on some Iliies aug oult "47 '"'
aoieu 10 hhlsh MS "o'A WIZ" q J"s'
ptoht py Tue hlshei HsHi's Pa'a "
others
hr'd mat me tohtEa, t3I Wa
ea'. i'HisA 's Na5 % 'IlH
hl4hs7 iha-t 'tem r. ta,' ZOO
price ~ sia 'oeg
~ hothethr. +l sander
son 1850 ae -Na >r4 p''Fiirsei
under had only
eaa' -ea furniture
~hen he ~'e"e tetfd To-
4oVVV
Mt Rothermel insisted mat me san
derson bills were charged under tAe
proper Item numbers despite ~ s'a
contention TO the contrary tis a'sS
eclared the measurements 81 furniture
were ~ conformity with me roniFae
per foot system. Ignoring the com
monwealth's arguments that me lneaI
and not the surface method ri coMpit
Ing the feet was In vogue. and tha
sanderson charged IN some instances
for air space
Stanford =. Lewis. assistant
Architect Joseph NJ. huston declared
on the witness stand that contractor
John II sandeFsoh. one oi the deienl
ants. complained that he dld not Wah'
to cut down his bills because ne nae
TO put up biz wad Ior other people
Lewis also destined that enc 'e'tel
which he produced MONDAY win tht
explanation that i was responsible
Tor his being indicted TOT conspiracy
in the capi'oi prosecutions haa oeei
written anu brought TO hlm by FORMER
Auditor General snyder. lelehlah
In the present case. ioF nus signature
In which Lewis was mace lo say h'
had certified 10 ON tor SlN''@'.-'
paid to the PENNSYLVANIA constructor
company ior metaiile hllihs case
which ne had FOUND correct
Lewis testimony came Ike snocF
70 the defense ioliowlut AZ u aug Yrs
introduction OF great amount OF uo'
umentary evidence . sho" thal lhol
sands OF dollars We're paid 70 sander
son Tor capltol furnishings months
before their delivery IN spite ol 'As
fact that ceruheates o. receipt r. so"e
condition We're required by IA" 9eioft
bills could be approved by the 9oafe
OF grounds ana ouiiulnks'