Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-23
RANKIN MAYEND
STATEEv|DENCE
NIGHT
johnson Says Most Meat
Sold to State Was His
and Not Ex-Warden' s..
{Tribune's Helena Bureau)

Helena, May 22.-Purchase by the
state for use at the prison of beef fur
nished by George johnson, Jr., and by
Conley & McTague, but paid for by
warrants issued to the former, was a
subject of further inquiry Monday in
the trial of the suit in accounting Of
the state against Frank Conley in the
district court. In connection with this
subject, s. V. Stewart, former COVER
nor. was called by the state to testify
as to his knowledge of the transactions,
while George johnson, Jr, testified
that nearly all of the beef sold the
state under this arrangement was fur
nished by himself.
Costs of buildings erected on the
Lake and Silo ranches, owned by Con-
ley and McTague, were testified to by
X. c. Hugenin, state building super
visor. who was on the stand large
portion of the day. under cross exami-
nation during which the defense brought
out his figures upon the separate costs
of materials and labor.
May End Thursday
Attorney General ". d. Rankin in
formed the court that he expected to
close the states case by the end of the
week and that he possibly might be
through by Thursday night. Counsel
for the defense afterwards stated in
formally that they expected to finish
their case in three weeks time.
Attorney General Rankin asked that
tie records be made to show an agree
ment between the state and the defense
that 1,S00 pounds of hay were con-
sumed per month per team by the
horses at the prison.
In connection with the fifteenth
cause of action the state called George
] Johnson. Jr., in whose name the claims
for beef and pork were filed with the
state. On direct examination he testi-
fled that he furnished the state with
beef belonging to Mr.. Conley and then
Identified his signatures upon claims
against the state for beef furnished the
state prison between the years 1912 and
1920. ranging in price from g cents
70 15 cents per pound He said that
some of the beef belonged to himself
Dut it all went through with Conley's
beef.
Says He Furnished Most
Upon cross-examination the witness
estified that nearly all the beef sold
inder these claims was furnished by
himself and that he thought he alone
lad furnished more beef than was
hown by the claims read in court.
". \. Swarthout, clerk of the prison
'oard, was called TO testify as to rec
'rds of the board. He said that in
ooking over the minutes he had been
inable to find entries to the effect that
had been given for the pur-
hase of beef from Conley or any other
erson.
raIoraI "a, Al
asked the witness II
e had ever discovered any authority
or the purchase by Warden W. NJ.
'otter of an automobile. to which hs
eplied:
mo. sir"
"Still. of course you do know that
uch purchase was made?" asked
'olonel Nolan. whereupon Mr. Rankin
bjected and Colonel Nolan said he
,erely wanted to call attention to the
Id adage that "those who lived in
lass houses should not throw stones"
Former Governor Stewart was call
by the state and in reply to aucs-
on as to whether, during his period
S chairman of the prison commission
rom January I. 1913, until January !.
921. any authority had been given for
ne purchase through George johnson,
T., OF peer pelonElng 10 Mt, tpuley.
hid that he had no recollection of such
n order
Deal New TO Stewart
VI was asked if the making of claims
IT meat through George Johnson, Jr..
nd been authorized by himself or the
,ard and he replied he had no recol-
elton of having ever known Of this
ethod of filing the claims until it was
fought to his attention during the trial
this case.
Under ross-examination by Col.
olan the former governor testified
at he had known Conley was fur
shing pork and small amount ok
.ef to the prison and that he UNDER
God the beef furnished by Conley was ,
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