The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-01-26
GRAHAM WILL
TAKE STAND IN
OWN Defense
Will Testify Concerning Tran
sactions Between 1897
STATE MAY CLOSE sooN
Expected Prosecution May Finish In
PRODUCTION of Evidence Today or
Tomorrow

Montpelier, Jan. 26.-One week OF
the much heralded tr al of the case of
State against ex-Gov. Horace f. Gra-
ham, for many years stale auditor OF
Vermont, has closed and the state
has yet to fin III its side Of the d rect
evidence although II is understood
that, W tn the introduction OF the ex-
pc is who exam ned the books show
ing the alleged larceny and embezzle-
mem, the prosecution W II close, poss
IDLY not later than this afternoon or
Tuesday noon.
The respondent W II, without doubt,
move for the di missal OF the indict-
m mt, to prove or substant ate facts
VIII CHI by law would allow the case to
90 to the jury, but no hint of tn has
been dropped. 1t is understood that
az part Of the defense Mr. Graham
will take the stand for the purpose of
telling OF the transaction II hi3 d.
parment the period between April
1918, and Janua y Z, 1917, the date Of
his res gnat on as aud tor and the
time when he assumed the Office of
The states chief executive.
Concess on was made by the prose
cution in the case of State vs.. Horace
F. Graham alleged embezzlement and
arceny Ct state funds, in Washing
ton county court Saturday that two
items in one of our counts charging
ihef could not be substantiated.
There were $500 which went to Dew
ey T. Hanley, former purchasing
agent. and $245 to the state educa-
tic nal department Accord ngly, the
two items were deducted from the
theft count of 81 2i5 80 which was
set up In the Indictment
According to the state, these two
items looked wrong but when they
came to examine the accounts closer
they found that the payments had
been made to Hanley and to the edu<
cauonal department However, the
prosecution claims that the manner
In which the order wis drawn was
not right.
Only short session Of the trial
was held Saturday, recess being de
clared at 1880 O'Clock. and the tria
viii be resumed Monday During this
morning the time was given UP to
presen alton of more vouchers from
the state auditors office.
Il was brought out In evidence
Friday afternoon that Graham had
net always taken up all his salary al
the end of the year, for there were
more vouchers on hand than the
amount of orders drawn against
them. Several sets Of vouchers were
shown TO the jury for the purpose OF
giving the jury a definite idea of how
business was generally conducted IN
the auditors office. Benjamin Gates
the present state-auditor. being ION
the stand
Order No. .S22 was introduced
showing nc voucher covering the ex
pense and salary. This is one of the
so-cal'ed lost vouchers, which later
was found in drawer IN one of The
desks Mr. Gates stated there were
several vouchers missing.
Mr.. Gates testified that for the year
ending June30, 1913, the orders
drawn by Mr.. Graham amounted t
$10,9S7.49, while the vouchers amount
ed to $9344.33, or, in other words
Mr.. Graham drew S164316 more than
the vouchers accounted for The &C
count for that fiscal year was offered
and Mr. Gates testified there were
no receipts for all the orders drawn
For the account ending June 80
1914, Mr. Gates testified that Gra.
hams salary and expenses connected
with his Office amounted to S9,209.65
and his vouchers were for the same
sum; but Graham did not take
all the money due him, the total or
ders amounting to SS,S0791 There
fore, said the witness. the state owed
him S40174, or Graham had under
drawn his account that amount