Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-09
STATE AGAIN SCORES
POINT IN CLAY TRIAL
Court Admits as Evidence Pro-
posals for Work Done by
Wiggins.

! The second victory Of the Common
| wealth in the trial OF Henry Clay former
Director OF Public Safety, and John r..
| Virgins and Willard II. Walls, con-
! tractors, was scored today when Judge
Ferguson overruled objections of counsel
for the defense and admitted as evidence
proposals for the work done by Virgins
in the office of the city Treasurer. A
long technical argument on the point be-
tween Joseph A. Tnulanc Assistant Dis
| triCt Attorney, and Congressman George
s. Graham, for tho defense, preceded the
ruling,
Prior to tho opening OF court today Mr.
Graham asserted that Walter Hopper.
former chief clerk in the office of the
Director of Public Safety. did not stultify
himself by his testimony yesterday, as
had been declared Hopper yesterday
failed TO identify the signature to letter
as that Of former Director Clay.
Mr Taulane read the record of the first
trial, purporting to show that Hopper
Identified the signature then. According
to Mr.. Graham this was a mistake on the
part of the Assistant District Attorney,
as the letter offered yesterday was NOT
the same as that produced at the first
trial.
HOPPER ON STAND AGAIN.
Hopper was on the witness stand again
today He identified the papers produced
by Taulane referring to the work in the
City Treasurer's office and in the cor
ridor outside Councils Chambers on the
fourth floor of City Hall. No reference
to this work was made at the first trial
Two days ago Mr. Taulane scored his
first victory of the second trial, by hav-
ing admitted as evidence the contract
for this work. despite objections by Mr..
Graham. II was not clear at that time, |
however, that full details of the work |
would be admitted.
Judge Ferguson showed solicitude for |
the jury when court opened today
Did you gentlemen spend comfortable |
night" he asked
The foreman replied In the affirmative
The new contract brought into the case
by Mr. Taulane may serve to offset the
undoubted advantage gained by the de-
Tense, when the court ruled out evidence
relating to former City Architect Carl b.
Zilenziser. The latter again was in court
today.
GIDFILLAN ADVISES CLAY.
Mr.. Clay beckoned for Joseph GilhIan,
former Sheriff. one of the three attorneys
for the defense, today. and held a short
but animated conference with him. This
Is the first time the former Director has
sought to confer with his attorneys in the
Mr. Zilenziger also took occasion today
FOR the first time to confer with the at
orneys for the defense. He left his seat
we'll back in the courtroom and walked up
20 the counsel table.
Much of the testimony of Hopper again
oday was of a nature to absolve Clay
rom connection with letters sent out
rom the Directors office He again
allied in several instances to identify sig
latures OF Clay as genuine. Under cross
the witness said the sigma
ures might have been made with a rub
yer stamp. The contention of the de-
ense is that Clay passed many letters in
his way in the ordinary course of the |
ftice routine, and thus had no knowledge !
4 their contents, )
Mr.. Taulare scored in a quick passage ,
With Mr.. Graham just before adjourn }
1ent. Hopper. the witness, was being
uestioned by the Assistant District At
orney as to when he first knew of bulle-
ms attached to specifications for one of
he buildings. Mr.. Graham suddenly OBJ 1
scted
This is just a tumble of words" he
aid, put together without meaning or
I
well, II it is just a tumble of words" I
aid Mr. Taulane, "it cannot do you any c
arm, and why do you object to it?" 4
Everybody chuckled. c