The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-03-26
Architect Of Pennsylvania House
OF Scandal Must Face
Trial Soon.
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY
Alleged that Joseph M. Huston Made
Ovcrcharge of $250o0 on 277 Desks
Furnished for States New
Capitol Building.

jury panel has been drawn ana All
preparations have been completed for
the trial Of Architect Joseph M. Hus-
ton. for completely i'm the capitol graft
conspiracy next week. The defend
ant is specifically charged with hav-
ing entered conspiracy to defraud
the state in furnishing 277 desks to
the capitol. on which an overcharge OF
more than $25,000 is alleged, and of
making false entries of the number
of feet contained in the desks. Hus-
ton had been indicted together with
four other men, but was granted q
separate trial. The other four men,
William Mathues who was state
treasurer at the time the big frauds
were committed. John III. Sanderson'
the chief "trimmer." DIR. VIM. +. Sny-
der who as state auditor general aud
tied the bills of the grafters, ana
James NJ. Shumaker. the former sup
erintendent of grounds and buildings
were tried and convicted The former
two died before being taken to the
nenitentiary. while the latter two ar
ter hard fight In the courts, whlcA
extended over nearly two years ended
with the confirmation of their sem
tence by the supreme court, were tax
en- TO the Eastern Penitentiary near
philadelphia on March s, of this year
and are now serving the two-years
terms of Imprisonment to which they
had been sentenced.
| After several postponersents the
trial of Joseph M. Huston was finally
begun before Judge Munkol last jan
uary, but the breaking out of scariet
fever in the family of one OF the jur-
ors. Cyrus Novinger. made 1t neces-
sary again to postpone the trial ~
was set for next week and it is con-
fdently expected by district attorney
| John Fox Weiss, that there VIII DC
nothing to interfere with bringing the
case TO n final termination this time
The history OF the new Capitol OF
pennsylvania, popularity called th'
"House of Scandal" of the gigantic
frauds perpetrated in its construction
and equipment. OF the subsequent dis
closures of these frauds. the indict'
ment. trial and conviction of the mer
held chiefly responsible for the graft
ing and of the strange fatalities "
tho wake of the scandal, would I'LL
book. The conspiracy, by which th'
: state was robbed of nearly slO,oOo'ooo
was widely ramified. or the four IN
dicted principals two died before pun
| tho two nov
serving their sentence are broken u
health and spirit ana may not I'VE 7"
sec freedom again. one or the prlh
cipal witnesses, who was also To be
witness i'm the case against Hustoi
committed suicide II few days afte
the subpoena, which for long tim
he had invaded, had been served up
= on him and six other men, more @
n less connected with the grating con
= sniracy. died since the frauds wcr
discovered.
The old capitol was completely de
stroved by fire on February 3, 1897 an
there is strong reason to believe tha
the fire was of inccndiary origin an
Y had been planned to enable the cor
snirators to carry out their gigant
plan. Under Governor Hastings WI
was I'm office at the time of the hr
the Legislature made an appropriate
y of S55OO0O for new capitol. Thi
g amount was considered entirely ina'
y eouate and no steps toward rebuildir
: were taken. Under Governor VIM.
70 stone an additional appropriation
10 "a O0O. 900 for a new state house WI
J. made and a building commission WI
created TO take charge of the wor
rs As later IL appeared from the eviden
- the grating did not assume its gigal
tic proportions until Governor Samu
w. Pennypacker came into ofie
. There has never been the slighte
suspicion that Governor Pennypack
~ was i'm the conspiracy or even had &
nc slightest knowledge of its existen'
hut there is no doubt that his childli
confidence in his officials connect
Ne with the work of rebuilding the capi'
'o made II possible for the conspirato
- to carry on their wholesale lootil
" with incredible boldness.
h, How cleverly the grafters had co
cred their tracks may be inferred ire
the fact that in September 1905 I
state officials announced that I
state capitol had been complet
n. within the appropriation of $4,000
and that a remaining surplus or ~
nd 600 would be returned to the trea
no ury. Not until state Treasurer WI
he lam II. Berry had been elected {
,,o months later and hads made an
nd vestigation. was 1t discovered u
nv nearly si4,000.O00 had been expend
$50 i'm building and equipping the capt.
bs An Investigation was ordered by
ng legislature. which began in Mar
1s 1907. AS result. six months lat
,ed warrants were issued for fourt'
nd men. three Of them former state o
In ciais. under the charge Of conspir'
to defraud the state. Four OF the CO