Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-29

II
Montpelier, Jan. FIT was brought
out in the testimony of Benjamin Gates
state auditor, to-day in the trial Of ex-
GOV. ii. IF. Graham, charged with larceny
and embezzlement from the State of Yer
mont, that Senator Carroll s. Page tried.
| according to Mr.. Gates, to force Mr..
Graham into bankruptcy and that the
money which, it Is alleged he Overdue W
was taken TO prevent this action taking
place. 1t further developed during the
course of the day that there were some
items in money which the State has omit
ted. but which the defense will endeavor
to include. for instance. the sum of
IS, 34S.35 and one for s1,1OO The defense
asked Mr.. Gates If these sums had been
taken into consideration in connection
with the alleged shortage of Mr.. Graham
The State claims the shortage covering
all alleged overdrafts is $27,OO1.46. Mr.
Gates admitted s19,sS04s was paid to the
treasurer. The matter of s5,34S.35 and
Sl.l00 when taken into consideration and
added makes the total of s26,33sS1. while
there may be other figures yet to be con-
sidered.
The Greensboro road was the subject
of consideration to-day while Howard A
SINNERS testimony did not develop the
startling information expected.
j. F. Joslyn. deputy auditor of accounts
on the stand this afternoon explained
relative to the Greensboro road account
and then was stopped by the State while
Mr.. Stickney was examining him
He was about to explain how the s1,SO(
happened to appear on the ledger twice.
In he
Howard case, was also a part of the state
ment made by Mr. Stickney to-day show
ing that the State cannot go back to the
audit of the auditor in a matter of OPP
ening up q question when an act has been
allowed on his judgment relative to its
payment
Mr.. Gates was recalled this afternoon
and testified more in detail as to whetn-
er S. 3. Bates came to his office relative
to accounts. The defense conceded 10,
more items this afternoon resulting in
pushing along the case to considerable
extent. but the State wanted Frank S.
Pratt to read them and after some talk
they were left with the court reporter
and the adjournment took place.
Mr.. Joslyn identified papers in file 4.50l
which relate to the Greensboro road
He testified that in 1916 papers were ad.
proved vouchers for work done in 49,
and the amounts were added. This chang.
ed the figures from SO, 442 to 81, 1904 and
the total to $22547.72. paid according to
the State figures. There was a lengthy
argument as to whether the advances to
the highway department concerning 81, S0(
and $500 were permissible. as well As
the Greensboro road problem, but the
State objected and the matter was pass
+ ed up for a time. However two vouchers
were explained by Mr.. Joslyn in another
way. signed by NJ B. Johnson amounting
! to 1886.
| DIFFERENCE AS TO OVERDRAFT
Mr.. Gates was recalled and he gave
the total overdraft according to his fig
ures as s26429.1S while Mr.. Pratt finds
| it to be $27.00l.46 Mr.. Gates was further
asked about the time when he commenc-
ed his investigation and when he talked
with Mr.. Graham about the matter, also
that he called Mr.. Wiliams's attention
to the matter
Mr.. Pratt gave the alleged overdrafts
or vouchers in excess of orders, between
April 80, 1918, and 10, January I, 1917.
There were times that the vouchers ex.
ceeded the orders and IS overdrafts max
! ing a total of $50, 100 in orders filed in the
period covered by the indictment anc
1872 07l.71 in vouchers for the same period
or s7.02s29 in excess of the amount
vouchered Papers were then filed witt
the reporter to be inserted in the records
charging the totals given l9,4OS.@. over
drafts between 1902 and April 80. 1913, and
making the total of $26, 1876 IS alleged short
age to which the State adds $564,Ss alleged
overdraft on the Greensboro road, max.
ing the grand total of s27,0o146
THE MORNING SESSION
Benjamin Gates, State auditor, testi
fled this morning that he had a con
ference with Mr. Graham relative tt
the alleged shortages. 1t took place il
the executive chambers where Graham
| told Gates that he took the money to
keep Carroll s, Page from putting hin
through bankruptcy. The witness coult
not recall the exact language. Wher
asked if the language was not thus and
so the witness could not testify &c
that fact
OFFERED WHOLE SALARY
Mr. Gates wrote to Mr.. Graham in
April /. 1918 calling his attention to
the alleged overdrafts and received nc
reply. Later at a meeting at the In
dustrial school he had an interview
with him and Mr.. Graham said he re-
ceived the letter and would arrange
to fix up the matter. There was testi-
mony relative to another conference
and Mr.. Graham stated he would apply
his whole salary on the matter. The
witness stated he told Mr.. Graham he
did not believe he should do that, but
should retain enough to live on and
Mr.. Graham agreed to do so, No per-
sons were present excepting Gates and
Graham. The witness again referred
to Senator Page by stating that Mr.
Graham told him he was obliged to
take the money to keep him out OF
bankruptcy and he referred to c. s
| Page as trying to force him and he
did IL to save himself,
Against the objection OF the State the
court admitted evidence that Mr.. Graham
has paid the money to the State treas
urer. The State took the position that
| it was borrower and lender. II that
was the case then the conditions would
be difficult, Mr.. Stickney referred ia
half truths being told about the case
and so often was this referred to that
obi .,r,it