The Detroit times., 1910-02-15
ADMITS He TOOK
CRAFT MONEY
Partner of Former State Printer Of
Ohio Says No Goods Were Deliv'
cred For $4,000 Payment.

COLUMBUS. q. FeD. Ia ne S'e''
GRAFT probe went deep today
j. L. Brelsford. one time partner o.
former state printer Mark slater al
mitted before the legislative commit
tee that he had drawn payment OF
|Lnis aggregatng over $4,000 Whi!s
the goods supplied cost him only NJ
| Tie over $3.50 The goods actually
delivered were billed for 10000 anu
no delivery al all was made OF ABOUT
$4,000 worth for which payment vas
II Ceived,
Brelsford said there was an agree
ment between himself and Mark
Slater by which equal division Was 10
be made OF this excess, but that ne
had trouble Ia getting any part OF ms
share. He said h collected the Iuil
amount of the bills and then turned
over the excess TO Slater. sometimes
at Dayton and sometimes al Column
Gus.
After the committee had gone over
the bills furnished by the state audi
or end Brelsford had pointed out the
material that had been paid for and
never delivered. the climax came when
Brelsford. in response 10 questioning.
said.
The total OF the bill presented and
paid was over $4,000. | received "
all | can only make an estimate or
the amount | retained for the goods
actually delivered IL was about So
00O. / have not full data on what
those goods cost me but what data
have totals $l.3l7.5S and there was
probably a few hundred dollars NOR.
SIR. Slater got the difference between
the So 600 or SO which | retained and
ment No goods were delivered for
that money"
Chairman Deaton asked How was
this plan and scheme 10 defraud in
auguTated? -
Brclsford said: The hrst order
vas in good faith. Then pressure
was brought 10 bear by Slater 10 raise
the amount OF the bill The same
thing occurred with the other bills.
Slater brought the pressure 10 bear.
II was the understanding that was
to get the excess, ! had trouble get
ting any OF H.
Il delivered the excess 10 Slate:
sometimes AT Dayton and sometimes
at Columbus. DO not know OF any
other person or persons participating
in this"
When Brelsford was before the COM
mittee last week he said he couldn'
any OF the business he had
with Slater IN supplying material %
the state printing department. When
he took the stand this afternoon Sen
ator Deaton read TO him the statutes
fui nishing the witness immunity from
the results OF anything he might tell
Brelsford said he had not understooi
that when ne was before the commit
tee last week He looked nervous and
worried but answered all questions
without hesitation The committee
evidently knew just what TO expec',
ond armed with data furnished from
the state auditors department. made
the questioning brief and pointed
Member OF the committee said the
matter would in all probability go SC
the grand jury. One OF the specific
charges will probably be presenting Of
false vouchers
As a result OF Brelsford's confession
the Franklin county grand jury Will
investigate Slaters administration.
The probe committee laid their evil
dence before Attorney-General Den
man. and he In turn will turn IL over
TO the local prosecutor
The committee is redoubling It's ef
forts 10 locate Slater. 4 week ago
Chairman Realty heard from him In
the north peninsula OF Michigan but
his Dreseut whereabouts are nm
known