Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-08
JUDGE STOPS GRAHAM
IN ATTACK ON MOTIVE
OF CLAY PROSECUTOR
Lawyer Accuses Taulane
of "Ambition to Secure
Conviction of Innocent
Men, and Says He Lacks
Conscience.

The most bitter controversy of the Clay
trial SO far occurred today when Con-
eressman George S. Graham accused AS
nlstant District Attorney Joseph \. TAU
lane OF IAN ambition to secure the con-
yiction OF Innocent men"
A rigorous protest to the court was
made by MIR. Taulane, and Judge Fergu-
son told the chief counsel for the defense
+ that he could not have "such accusa-
tons made. The Court explained that
the case was severe tax on Mr.. Tau-
lanes memory.
'I'm not talking of his memory"
snapped Mr.. Graham, I'm referring to
his conscience"
Don't you talk to me of conscience"
replied Mr.. Taulane
Mr.. Graham accused Mr. Taulane of
wanting his own way" He said the
trial could be finished in two weeks If Mr..
Taulane would expediate matters The
Assistant District Attorney then declared
the case would go much more rapidly II
II were not for Mr. Grahams 'obstruc-
tions"
\ moment later Mr. Graham told Mr..
Taulane to cease his pretensions,"
"Thank you" said Mr.. Taulane, with
elaborate sarcasm.
"You are entirely welcome was the
rctort I'm going TO give you the truth
in the future
TWO LETTERS RULED OUT.
Carl G. Fleischman. model maker, was
called TO the stand today. He is the NTH
witness in the trial of former Director of
Public Safety Clay, John II. Virgins and
Willard II. Walls, contractors. on the
charge of conspiracy to defraud the city
In contract jugglery.
Two letters written by Carl b. Ellen
ziger when he was city architect were
ruled out for the present by Judge Fer
puson. There was somewhat of sensa-
ton when the court asked MIR. Taulane
n City Controller Walton was party to
the defense. The letters written By Iilen-
ziger were to Walton, and before ruling
upon their admssibility as evidence Judge
Ferguson said:
DO you charge Controller John NJ. Wal
ton with being a party to the conspir-
acy?"
no" said Mr. Taulane.
III he were party to the Defense,
continued the court, these letters might
be accepted. But in view of the fact that
Carl b. zilenzigcr, who wrote the letters,
Is The only man in the world who cannot
bn drawn into this case as a co-conspira-
tor. because he has been acquitted. and
as MIR. Walton is not accused by the Com
monwealth. will sustain the objection of
Mr.. Graham and the letters may not be
received
The court added that circumstances
might arise later in the trial that would
permit of the letters being accepted as
evidence. The letters in question were
Written to inform the City Controller that
work ut the truckhouse, 18th and Cath
arine streets, was TO be done in accord
ance with plans on file at the office of
ehn cit a arniNtt
by the lack of a set OF specifications with
the first supplementary contract for the
firehodse.
DEFENSE WINS POINT.
The decision of Judge Ferguson was the
FIRST important victory OF the trial for
either side BY II the defense drew first
blood" Mr.. Taulane, however. has not
YET given up hope of getting the letters
into evidence,
From the viewpoint of the defense the
decision is important as indicating that
other matters In which Zilenzinger fiG-
ured, and which were brought out at the
hrst trial. may be barred out this time
because OF ZilenzinEers acquittal.
4 half hour was consumed at the open |
ing OF the fourth day of the trial today |
examining plans and tracings OF the var- |
Gus Jobs under fire.
The prosecution contends that Virgins !
q 20 got almost monopoly OF contracts J
under Clay because bulletins, proposing |
certain changes from the original con-
tract and specifications, we're not given
to other bidders. William c. Wolfers-
berger, formerly craftsman in the !
office OF the City Architect, testified to-
day he had only general" recollection
OF having given these bulletins with
plans and specifications to bidders other
than Virgins. The particular jobs under
discussion were the lighthouses at 32d
and Lombard Streets and at Montrose and
Darien streets
Bitter arguments between Mr.. Graham
and Mr.. Taulane interrupted the exam
nation of Wolfersberger Mr. Graham
time and again accused Mr. Taulane of
his own witness Numerous
objections made to the questions of the
Assistant District Attorney, on the
ground that they were. In the nature of
cross examination, were sustained.