Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-17
RHoADEs CASE ON TRIAL.
Judge Case and Jury Hear Evidence
 in Alleged Padded Bill Fraud.


 With Judge ". S. Case on the bench Thursday in this city, the entire days session of the superior court was oc- cupted with the trial of the case of the state vs Edgar Rhoades of this city, charged with attempting to de- fraud the state of Connecticut in con nection with the construction and cree tion of the temporary dining hall at the Connecticut agricultural college at Storrs, Mansfield, last summer. The case was heard before a jury. The ac- tion came up for a preliminary hearing in the local police court a short time ago, and Judge w. A. Arnold, finding probable cause, bound Rhoades over to this term of the superior court under bonds of $500 that were furnished me case resulted over controversy De- cause of an alleged padded Dill Tor work done in connection with the org inaI contract that would not be OK by the trustees.
 The jury drawn to pass on the case consisted of George T. Crane, Chaplin; Charles Barstow, Canterbury; Andrew G. Morse, Eastford; Fred Lttchtield, Hampton; Eugene Chesebro and James A. Shippee, Killingly; Clarence M. Daggett and John A. Baton, Plaintield Charles B. Spaulding Sterling; Wilfred c. Mills and E. L. Huntington, Thomp- son and William R. Gallup, Woodstock.
 The states case was conducted by States Attorney Charles E. Searls and Prosecuting Attorney E. Frank Bug bee, the latter conducting almost all the examination because of his famil- iarity with the case. The defendant was represented by Attorney Samuel B. Harvey, who appeared for the ac- cused at the time he was before the local police court.
 Architects Evidence.
 Charles s. Palmer of Meriden, an architect was the first witness. 1t was under his supervision that the building in question had been erected. He identified the plans and explained what was called for under the contract, the various changes that were made and other matters that counsel from either side desired from him.
 Secretary Capen Testifies.
 Charles A. Capen, secretary of the board of trustees of the Connecticut agricultural college, and also a mem Der of the building committee testi- fled, as he did in the lower court, that MT Rhoades came to him one day and asked him to make out the bill for the extra work that he (Rhoades) had done, claiming that he himself was poor hand at writing and figuring, Witness testified that he had made out the bill while Mr. Rhoades called off the items of figures to him and that personally he had no interest in the matter. What he had done was mere ly a favor for MT. Rhoades. He said the bill had been disputed by Presi- dent c. L. Beach of the college, who claimed that it was too much money for the amount of work done.
 The bill had never come before the board of trustees until the April meet ing, when Gov Simeon F. Baldwin had recommended prosecution of Conrac- tor Rhoades. MT. Capen's further tes timony was practically the same as it was in police court
 Painter on the Stand.
 Arthur Atkins of Mansfield, who did the painting at the college, rehearsed the same story that he told in police court, saying that RhOades wanted him to pad the bill. Atkins said that he did not care to get mixed up in any such game, but Rhoades told him that everyone connected with the job had their hands out for $100 and he lRhOades) knew that they were get ting it. This story was stuck to by Mir. Atkins during the cross examina- ton by Attorney Samuel B. Harvey. The court took recess at one o'clock for lunch and at two o'clock Atkins was again recalled to the stand for a still further cross examination. The case consumed the remainder of the days session. It is expected that after the short calendar session this (Fri- day) morning that the arguments in the case will be made and then the case given to the jury.