New Britain herald., 1924-12-17
FORBES TELEGRAMS .
 READ AT HEARING
Govt. Prosecutor Seeks to Show
 Up CrOokedness
By The Assoeiated PEsas.

By The Associated Press.
 Chicago, Dec. 17.-1elegrams from former Director Charles R. Forbes of the United States Veterans bu- reau to members of his staff and va rious contractors in June and July, 1922, were read to the jury today in the trial of Forbes and J, W. Thomp' son, contractor. charged with con spiracy to defraud the government through hospital contracts
 Wardner s. Benamln. a clerk in the general accounting office, Wash ington, summoned by both the prose cution and defense. presented the Veterans bureau telegraphic files for the period of the western inspection tour in the summer of 1922, claimed by the government to be the basis of the alleged conspiracy.
 In response to the defense subpoe- na, Benjamin produced copies of the expense accounts of Forbes and his secretary, Merle l.. Sweet, for 1922.
 The telegrams we're read by John ". II. Grim, in charge of the gov ernment's case. They related prin- cipaly to the movements of the in spection party from city to city, 10 hotel reservations and to routine matters of the bureau
 Marion Edwards. 8 fire clerk in the Veterans bureau, identified a telegram from Charles F.. Cramer, counsel of the bureau, to Forbes, in Boston on August 3, 1922, urging him to return to the capital by Aug ust to open bids for the Tupper Lake. N. r, hospital.
 Unless you are here we will have no argument against allowing other departments to open bids in the fu- ture," the message concluded.
 The government introduced over defense objections carbon copy of 4 letter dictated by Cramer in the Veterans bureau offices for the sig nature of John J. Brennan, president of the Pontiac Construction com pany, which had entered a bid fo1 ths foundation contract for the Northampton hospital.
 The letter, dated July Fl, 1a2? three days before the awarding ot the contract, treasured the bureau the job could be completed in s1 days. the time specified In the Pon. tiac bid.
 Brennan's name wss typewriter at the bottom of the copy, together with the dictation marks "C. F. C.
 Ruby Birch, the stenographer fc whom Cramer dictated the letter testified she had been instructed tc write in BSennan's name.
 The letter, addressed to Forbes. fir charge of the contract letting. read;
 Tn accordance with our conver. @tlon at your office of even date and In order 10 further assure you of th. good faith of my company 1T carrying out the proposed contract for the excavation and foundation construction work at Northampton Mass, would advise az follows:
 "G) To satisfy and further ns sure you of our ability to complete tlis work within the So days speci. fled. ws will be willing to increase our penalty and pay s45o,ooo pel day as liquidated damages for eact day required 10 complete the work ir excess of the sD day agreement.
 "(2 Should 1t become necessary to complete this work, we will en, deavor to put on enough men snt have q sufficient equipment and ma. terial necessary for the work.
 "(5) There shall be no blasting and we uill take care of all rockI and boulders under the general con tract"
 The witness said she did not knou if the original letter ever had beer signed by Brennan.