Arizona republican., 1922-01-06

run 6UVEhIvIvlEWI IN
PETERS HAY TRIAL
Descriptions of the methods used
by the government in inspecting hay
shipments at Fort Sill, Okla, with
particular reference to shipments
made in 1919 by the A. ]. Peters Hay
and Grain company of Tempe and
Phoenix, were the outstanding fea-
lures yesterday in the case of A. J.
Peters, president of the company,
Paul Aepli, and j. N. Jaggers, former
secretary of the Salt River Valley
Hay Dealers association, who are
charged in the United Staes district
court with attempting to defraud the
government in connection with hay
contracts entered into in that year,
These descriptions were made by
Capt. H. II. Brayman, who in 1919
was in charge of the hay inspections
at Fort Sill, and Lieut.. Gilbert S.
Frazier. who was a sergeant and
inspector under Captain Brayman.-
Captain Brayman Unidentified GER
tain notices of shipment from the A.
J. Peters company as well as a num-
ber of receiving reports. The gist
of his testimony lay in statements
that the government endeavored to
keep the grades noted at Fort Sill
as close as possible to those entered
by the shipper, and that payment
for the hay was made on the grade
ascertained by the inspection at Fort
sill. In connection with the grading,
Captain Brayman said If hay came to
Fort Sill as No. /, inspectors were
instructed to keep it No. If pos
sible, and to maintain the grade in
any event as high as possible. The
decision Of the inspectors, however,
was final.
Lieutenant Frazier followed this
testimony with other statements in
which he elaborated upon the de-
scription of inspection given by Cap
tain Brayman. He said that it was
his custom to give the hay a car
door" inspection when the car was
first opened. If it appeared to be of
the grade carried in the shipping re-
port the car was switched to the
fort sidetrack, where it would be in
spected as 1t came out of the car. II
the second inspection confirmed the
first, the hay would be passed. If
the hay did not grade according to
the first inspection but was still ac-
ceptable at lower grade and price.
zone headquarters at Chicago were
notified by wire and headquarters in
turn notified the shipper, offering to
take the hay at the lower grade as
certained by the inspectors. If. how
ever, the inspector rejected the ship
'ment the hay was returned to the
railroad yards and the shipped noti-
fled.
Lieutenant Frazier testified that
much of the Peters hay was reduced
in grade from No. / to No. 2, which
was a reduction of two grades. as
standard" comes between No. / and
No. 2. He also testified that about
80 or so per cent of the Peters hay
was rejected, qualifying this state
ment, however by saying that the
Peters company shipped more hay
than other concerns.
W. P. Smith, deputy hay grader in
1919 under Jaggers. testified that he
had made car reports in triplicate
and that copies of these were given
to Jaggers. to the shipper. and to
Vernon Peters. son of A. ]. Peters.
He also testified concerning certain
certificates in duplicate of weights
and number of bales.
Herman Russell, hay dealer who
was buying hay for the Peters COM
pany on commission, identified a
number of hay grade certificates
made out by J. w Milton, who was
a deputy hay inspector at that time
but who could not be present at the
trial yesterday. He also identified a
number of car reports made out by
Leon NOVEL;, weighmaster at Gilbert.
Miss Ruth Cole of Miami, who was
stenographer and clerk in the Peters
offices in 1919 testified that she and
Aepli made out the invoices for the
hay shipments. She said that she
and Miss Hackett, another clerk
used Underwood typewriters and
Aepli used a Remington. They made
the invoices, she said. sometimes
from the loading slips. sometimes
from the car reports. sometimes from
slips Of paper handed to her, and
sometimes from the bills of lading.
Miss Cole testified further that
Aepli gave her written instructions
as to putting the grade on the in
voices, and that in pursuance of these
the order cards as directed by Aepli
and not from the grade certificates,
and that if the grade on the order
card did not correspond with that on
the car report she would use the
order card.
Miss Rose Wilson identified a
number of entries in the records kept
by Jaggers as secretary of the Hay
Dealers. association. These entries
were identified also by Mrs. Emily
| Brown.
Lieutenant Frazier had not COM
pleted his testimony when court was
adjourned at $3.50 o'clock. and he will
take the stand again this morning.
Court will convene at $3.50 o'clock.
-O-
CoLoRED CHARITY CLUB-The
| Colored Charity club will meet with
Mrs. Jessie James. IL North Eleventh
street, at 4:30 O'Clock this afternoon.
All members of the club are urged to
attend.
C. OF. C. COMMITTEE - The
chamber of commerce has appointed
the following committee to cooper
ate with the Welfare league on their
coming drive: Perry williams, Cor
don Tweed, Dr. Tuttle. L. w. Cog
gins, B. E. Marks, and Col. w. z.
Glassford
THESE WILL Licenses
to marry were issued yesterday to
Francisco Crinfeugos. 20. and Sala-
dad Pasos, 2S, both of Gilbert: Hans
Peterson, 80, of Phoenix, and Mar
tha Olson, 25. of Lakota, N. D.;
George Mcknight, As. and Anna NJ.
Simmons. "a. both of Phoenix; James
Hayton, az, and Hannah S. Ballinger.
49, both of Mesa; Frank NJ. Poole, 3S,
and Susie Fowler. 10. both of Scotts-
dale; Albert NJ Smith, %, Phoenix,