Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-02-04
THE GRAHAM TRIAL
Case Affords Little Sensation, Elk
Governor Takes Stand

The trial of Ex-Gov. Horace F.
Graham of Craftsbury on the charge
of larceny and embezzlement of state
funds while he was state auditor, is
on its third week. Little sensation
is afforded by the testimony, which is
often of technical nature.
One of the principal state witness
es was the present auditor of ac-
counts, Benjamin Gates. He said
Mr.. Graham did not notify him of
overdrafts when he succeeded Gra-
ham as auditor. When the matter
was brought to Graham's attention,
Graham said he would fix it up. Ask
ed why he made these overdrafts,
Gates testified that Mr.. Graham said
he had to do it to save himself from
bankruptcy and that c. S. Page was
the man who was crowdlng HIM.
On the stand Mr.. Graham denied
to Mr.. Gates, there never having been
any cause for such a statement as he
did not owe Senator Page.
Reference has often been made
during the trial to matters connected
with the Greensboro Gulf road"
built during Mr.. Graham's admins
| tration as state auditor. Court adj
journed from Friday to Monday. in
order that Mr.. Graham might go to
his home in Craftsbury and pSoduce
cancelled checks in connection with
payments made on this road work.
These were personal checks given to
M. b. johnson of Craftsbury,. builder
of the road, who had testified that
the personal checks of Mr.. Graham
facilitated his banking and that he
preferred them to state orders. The
checks numbered 20 and were offered
in evidence. The checks drawn by
Mr.. Graham on the Newport and
Bethel banks were identified by him,
they being from April, 1915, to 1917
and representing orders of $39, 900,
paid out in the interests of the state.
The total so paid out was $33,
These checks include $4,000 to Mr..
Bates.
In cross examination Mr.. Graham
said he thought he had right to
draw orders regardless of salary and
Expenses on funds of departments.
Beyond salary and expenses of
office did you consider you had right
Ito draw beyond that amount?" he was
asked.
"Yes, provided I had calls from
lother departments"
what calls did you have you could
not give an order for?"
mot any, / suppose"
The oath of state auditor was in
ltroduced and read. The witness said
he knew he was owing a balance to
the state in 1906.
"You used the money to your own
personal advantage?" Graham was
asked.
Probably"
"Any doubt about it?"
"No, sir"
The witness then said he used the
money in personal accounts and the
account of Graham & Skinner, and
thought he had the right to use this
money until he made an accounting
and settlement.
why did you stop at $19 ,OOO!"
Attorney General Archibald demand
led.
81 thought / ought not to take any
Imore money than / could account
for" was Graham's reply.
"If you had right to take SIS, 900
would you not have the right to take
ten times that amount" asked Mr..
Archibald.
'That might be true" replied the
witness.
The witness said former Former
State Treasurer E. II. Deayitt, as his,
Graham's attorney, had gone about
the state seeking loan for him, Sc
lcured by mortgage on his real es-
tate. He did not suggest to Mr.
Deavitt, he said, whom he should
isee.