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

COLUMBUS. O.. Feb 1.-THE STATE
uau probe went deep today
J. +. Brelsford. one time partner Oh
former state printer Mark slater al
mitted before The legislative commit
tee that he had drawn payment OK
hills aggregatirg over $4,000 Whl!'
the goods supplied cost him only W.
tile over 1850 The goods actually
delivered were billed for 10000 and
no delivery II all was made Of about
| $4,000 worth for which payment was
received
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 in getting any part OF MS
share. He said he collected the futi
amount OF the bills and then turned
over the excess 20 Slater, sometimes
at Dayton and sometimes at Colum'
bus.
After the committee had gone over
the bills furnished by the state audit
OF and Brelsford had pointed out the
material that had been paid for ana
never delivered. the climax came when
Brelsford, in response TO questioning.
said:
The total OF the bill presented and
paid was over $4,000. received u
all. can only make an estimate Of
the amount / retained for the goods
actually delivered II was about So
GOO. have not full data on what
those goods cost me but what data
have totals $I317.5S and there was
probably few hundred dollars more.
SIR Slater got the difference between
the $4,000 or so which | retained and
the $4,000 which 7 received in paw
ment No goods were delivered for
that money"
Chairman Deaton asked How was
this plan and scheme to defraud in
augurated?'
Brelsford said: The first order
was in good faith Then pressure
was brought 20 bear by Slater TO raise
the amount OF the bill The same
thing occurred with the other bills.
Slater brought the pressure 10 bear.
il was the understanding that I was
to get the excess. had trouble get
ting any OF II.
sometimes al 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't
remember any Of the business he had
with Slater IN supplying material 20
the state printing department. When
he took the stand this afternoon Sen
ator Deaton read TO him the statutes
furnishing the witness immunity from
the results OF anything he might tell.
Brelsford said he had not understood
that when he was before the commit
tee last week. He looked nervous and
worried but answered all questions
without hesitation The committee
evidently knew just what 10 expect.
and 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 70
the grand jury one OF the specific
charges will probably be presenting IF
false vouchers.
As a result OF Brelsford's confession
the Franklin county grand jury VIII
investigate Slaters administration
TIE probe committee laid their evil
dence before Attorney General Den
man. and he In turn will turn 1t over
TO the local prosecutor
The committee Is rebuilding its ef-
forts 10 locate Slater. 4 week ago
Chairman Beatty heard from him IN
the north peninsula OF Michigan. but
his present whereabouts are I'M
known.