New-York tribune., 1920-12-04


The first testimony that the minutes
of the two bodies had been changed
was given by Marvyn Scudder, expert
accountant for the committee. He
said the minutes OF the bureau, from
February 60 November OF this year, q
stretch Of nine months, we're written
uniformly and with fresh ribbon.
ihe last meeting noted in the min
utes was November
There was no doubt in Scuddcr s
mind that they had been writer. at
one time and must have been Suhsti-
tuted after November t. Similar
alleged evidences appeared in other
places of these minutes and In the
minute book of the Association of
Dealers in Masons' Building Materials.
Treat Admits Alterations
Miss Elizabeth Onea. the bureau
clerk upon whom Penny plasel the
responsibility for the Neeping of books.
regularly and had been placed in the
book after each meeting as soon as
she received the written transcript
from Penny
Sidney J. Treat. secretary OF the
Association of Dealers. testified that
'he pages had been substituted in the
minutes OF his organization by the
Stenographer at his direction because
she made some mistakcs.'
Scudder's testimony was corrobor-
ated by Henry u. Higginbc;hA,m and
George W Gaylor. two other typewrit-
ing experts
scudder testified chat the minute
oook OF the bureau furnished hin, Was
OF the ioose-leaIed type ard contained
record Of thirty-SiX meetings. ia ex-
rlanation of the alleged elpolations
ne said:
- notice that from December S to
the beginning Of March the typcwriting
is faint. For the following week the
sypewritng is heavy. ror the next
period the typewriting is again faint
from August & TO October . the writ
ing Is again faint. It is heavy from
January 10 to Arri g. From February
70 to November j. tho record of the
last nine months in the book the type
writing in the book is uniformly
neavy"
He was convinced that the heavy
writing was due to interpretations with
a typewriter using new ribbon The
fading writing indicated to him that
the minutes covered by them had re-
manned una.tered
81 have ITO doubt" ne said. "that all
the heavy writing was done at the same
time"
Mr.. Scudder presented memoran-
dunn Of eight instances in which pages
OF heavy typewriting, sometimes Gov
erlng the minutes Of three successive
months, were interpolated between lono
series on minutes with varying shades
OF taIntne>s. these shades showing he
said, normal gradatiors. No surh
gradations were noted in the neayy
writing.
Penny Recalled to Stand
Al this point Penny was suddenly
called from the side of Mr. Conboy and
interrogatcd on the minutes
Il think you said you had supervi-
sion of the minutes Of the Builders'
supply Bureau, did you not?" asked
tntermyer.
yes. J was supposed to have them,
but did not have them in my posses
sion at any time"
"Lsok at the minute hook from Feb
ruary TO November, 1920 Tell US
whether or not they were written at the
same time"
"To the best of my knowledge they
we're inserted on the day they we're
made, Immediately after each meeting"
DO you testify that these pages we're
not written at the same timc''
~ passed them over to the clerk,
Miss O'Dea"
80 the responsibility, ii anv. for
that you put upon Miss O'Dea, do you ec''
Conboy here objected to the oues-
non. but was told in decisive terms
he would have to consult with his eli
ents outside the hearing chamber
You also put upon her the RESPONSE
bi!lty for the destruction of the quota
ton cards of the bureau, didn't YOU %"
continued Untermyer.
NO. [ don't know anything about
the cards"
Miss O'Dea Explains
Where are the original notes Of the
meetings taken By YOU and given to
Miss O'Dea?"
az don't know"
I'VE believe that the minutes have
been substituted and you are entitled
70 know our claim
Miss ODea when on the stand tried
TO show that the different shades OF
the minutes prior 20 February were
due to the fact that she had outside
work to do that affected her ribbon in
time. In explanation Of the uniform
heayiness of the type Of the nine
month stretch between February and
November. she said that her outside
work had "petered out" by February
and that she did mot use her type
writer for any other work after that.
She made no adequate explanation how
ribbon would maintain it's uniform
heaviress at the end OF a period Of
nine months.
In connection with the books of the
association OF dealers, Scudder said:
THE pages of this book are numbered.
The numbers have been made with q
machine, but a different colored ink
was used 10 make the numbers of pages
which have apparently been inter
poated. The minutes on these appar-
emily nterpolated pages have not been
signed. All the other pages have been
signed"
Scuddcr testified that the minutes
chow that $4,000 or 20 per cent, OF the
associations income was spent every
year since 1916 up to the present time
as retainer for "a firm Of lawyers"
The finn was not named.
In protesting against this line Of in
terrogation BY Mr.. Cntermyer, Conboy
aad the following statement read into
the record
Counsel for the Association Of
Dealers in Mssons' Building Supplies
md the Builders Supply Bureau and
the members, officers, employees ard
agent thereof protests against any
further testimony in regard 10 the
same unless they be allowed to be
represented by counsel. on the ground
that tac present Investigation as con-
ducted is clearly not for the purpose
Of gaining Information TO be the basis
Of proposed remedial legi station, but