The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-30
|CRAHAMS LETTER VAS
ADMITTED TO REVEAL
HIS "STATE OF MIND"
Continued from first page)

4
ply case of the accounts being pre-
sented and paid. He explained the
drawing of orders and how these were
made, some directly to the person and
some to himself, where advances were
made to departments on where the ac-
counting had to be delayed. He ex-
planned that this custom was usual to
the different departments. He stated
he did not overdraw an order that he
did not expect the proceeds to be used
There was no change in the manner
of conducting the Office between l0l3
and 1917. The business was done at
1 Montpelier except when he had to visit
county clerks, probate courts, the state
/, fair and the like He testified relative
to his salary depending on legislation
in the different years.
| He stated that the laws provided
| that he should attend the legislature
and that it was his purpose to appear
before the committee ON claims to re-
sist any claim that he did not think q
| just one for the state to pay. Relative
to the bookkeeping he stated that he
never made any entries. That was
always done by the bookkeepcr. The
accounts were correct as far as he knew
and they were intended to be that way.
| He made his reports to the legislature,
he said, and did not at any time sup
press or conceal any transactions done
in his office.
He stated that during the years 1913
and 1917 the books did not have any
entries that We're not actual tTansac-
tions and that he intended to draw
order and check but in no way to de-
fraud the state.
Never ANY Intent to Steal
In reply TO Mr.. Stickney, he stated
that he never had any intent OF steal
ing from the state.
Are you sure Of THAR asked Mr.
Stickney.
II think ! am" said Mr.. Graham,
with a smile on his face.
He then testified that he had ac-
counts in the banks in Bethel, New
port and ST. Johnsbury and that he
drew cheeks on them. both for his per.
sonal use and for the benefit of the
state, but with no intention OF injury
to the state and that it was his inten-
ton that the state have an accounting
of all the moneys due ii.
Mr.. Graham was then shown some
orders and the distribution ledger which
he explained TO the jury. He stated
that he had not seen the books since
he left the Office in 1917 and that he
had to testify by recollection as 10
these matters, that the books were 80
kept that any person could tell whether
the vouchers and orders balanced. He
did not intend there should be any en-
tries on the books that could not be
seen by anybody.
Relative to the Greensboro road, he
told of bis drawing checks to help Mr.
johnson out, and that he did not intend
to do anything wrong in helping his
lneiqhbors. Objection was made. but
the defense claimed il was evidence
| tending to show that there was no com
bination between Mr.. johnson and Mr.
Graham, as the state had, from its EVIL
dence, made il appear.
He stated that the first he knew
there was any claim Of alleged criminal
action was when il came to his atten'
ton that the grand jury was investi'
eating his. conduct as auditor and that
he had no suspicion of the crime being
laid at his door until that time. Hi
testified that it had been his purpose
to settle all accounts.
He demonstrated TO the jury that
when going about the state auditing
ii was impossible to draw an order fol-
his expenses in advance that would eA'
lactly match the vouchers. Later the
order for expenses would be filed in
lump sum.
Mr.. Graham was asked If he had any
business aside from being auditor dur
ing the time covered by the indictment
He stated that he did, and that he had
IA farm and timber land.
He was then asked If he was in fear
of Carroll S. Page in any manner. The
state made objection which did not pre-
vail. and Mr.. Stickney asked again:
Ibid you at any time fear bankrupt
cyl"
mo" replied the witness.
Mr.. Stickney tried to go into the
witness financial condition, but the
state objected and was sustained, "a
which Mr.. Stickney took exceptions
Ibid you pay any moneys to Carroll
S. Page or to any one representing him
or any corporation with which he i
connected Z" asked the attorney.
Mr.. Graham replied he did not. He
then testified that he asked for an in.
vestigation Of his office which, il devel'
oped, was made by Young 6 Company