The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-27

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General Archibald took the position that
if it were a case of borrower and lender"
it would be different issue. Attorney
Stickney said the whole purpose was to
bring out all the facts and get at the
truth of the matter.
Isn't it true a payment of 500 was
made May 4, 1872"
"My memorandum shows there was a
payment of 81 900 made May 4, 1918"
During remark by Attorney Stickney
about half truths" when the state OBJ
jected to questions asked by the defense
of Mr. Gates about the assistance he re-
ceived from Mr.. Graham when he took
office, Attorney General Archibald Wig
orously protested against the repeated
assertion that the state is trying to sup
press the truth"
IF there is anything that warrants
such accusations | want it pointed out"
He declared that the charge has been
made by my brother, Stickney, repeat
edly in the presence of the jury by direct
words or inuendoes" A conference fol-
lowed at the bench.
Mr.. Gates testified on crosse -examma-
tion that he received no information from
Mr.. Graham on how to run the office.
When he took charge, however, he had
no impression that Mr.. Graham was I'M
willing to assist him. The witnesses at
tention was directed by the defense to
show the records were kept in the same
manner by Mr.. Gates after he took office
as before.
EnI 4l,a%
payments totalling upwards of $4,000
had been made ON. different dates to the
state treasurer by Mr.. Graham before
the Indictment was found.
Howard A. Skinner, former Craftsbury
partner of Mr. Graham in the lumber
business, testified that Mr.. Graham had
letter from Bank Commissioner Will
liams in 1918 saying it was a duty he
owed the state ito fix up this matter.
The letter did not show what matter was
referred to- Mr.. Skinner had no knowl-
edge of checking account in the Citi-
zen's bank at ST. Johnsbury in the name
of Graham and Skinner.
A grand total of approximately $4,000
in overdrafts has thus far been shown
by the state, inclusive of the figures tes-
titled to yesterday by Benjamin Gates,
the present state auditor and supposed
discoverer of the shortage According to
Mr.. Gates figures there was a total short
age or overdraft between 1902 and 1918
when the indictment begins of SIS, ,495.58
] The state has already introduced the fig
ures which showed an overdraft of about
/ $4,000, these figures including two
months which Tapped over
| Tho 1raf Re ad tod in
yesterday were as follows, the fiscal yeal
in each instance ending on June Both
1908, $2lS.2O; 1904, 1921 so; 1905, ac
count balanced; 1906, 5000; 1907, 81 800;
1908, $4,305; 1909, S2,l3s.s6; 1910, S4
5I6.44; 1911, $205.7I; 1912, $3,SS7,4l
lob, Sl,643.l6, making a total of $40,
1868.
When former Attorney General II. 6
Barber first suggested the introduction
of this line of evidence, objections were
raised by attorneys for the defense VIII
claimed that the dates preceded the dat
of the Indictment, that it was beyond
the statute of limitations and thus to-
far removed. Judge Butler, however, ad
mitted the testimony and the defens
was allowed an exception.
Mr.. Gates was asked as to whether o
not he was informed by Mr.. Graham o
the overdraft when the latter left tn
office of auditor. Mr.. Gates answered il
the negative. He said he first learned o
the orders several months later in tn
summer of 1917.