Evening star., 1925-02-17
DECLARES KENDALL
APPROVED CHECK:
Former Secretary Says Rep
rese1tative Knew All About
Altered Reading.

besplte a searching cross-examina-
ton by Assistant United States At
torney Burnett, Mrs. Margaret B.
Buchanan. former secretary for
Samuel A. Kendall, Representative
from Pennsylvania. who Is on trial
before Justice Hoehling and a jury
In Criminal Division / on a charge
OF forgery. maintained that she made
the fnterlineation on a check for
s5,56724 at the direction Of Repre-
sentative Kendall.
The defendant asserted that she
indorsed the check in question: PAY
to the order OF depot quartermaster
sub-depot, Philadelphia. Pa" AMI
laid 1t on the desk Of Kendall for his
signature. He refused to sign the
Endorsement. she said, telling her he
did not want to appear in the trans
action. Mrs. Buchanan then inter-
depot" reading m. B. Buchanan,
secretary for When the indorse-
ment had been amended she returned
the check to Mr.. Kendall. she said.
and he placed his signature on the
Endorsement. The witness declared
she followed instructions from Ken
dali and used the check as she had
others received from the disposal of
war material.
Visits From Kendall.
Before closing her direct examination
under questioning by Attorneys Lu-
Glen H Eandoren and Richard Well
ford. Mrs. buchanan stated that while
she resided at 1901 Twenty-third street
Representative Kendall was fire.
quent visitor at her home, often TAX
Ing dinner there. Counsel sought to
show that Mr.. Kendall also received
his constituents at the home Of Mrs.
Buchanan, but on objection by As
sistant United States Attorney Bur-
nett the court ruled the question ir-
relevant.
The prosecution scored point dur
ing the cross examination of the ac-
cused when Justice Hoehling ruled
that the Government might go into
the question of whether or not Mrs.
Buchanan had used any of the pro-
ceeds Of the $5,567 check for herself.
Counsel for the defense claimed that
as the charge Is merely one of
forgery and not Of misapplication of
the proceeds the Government was
limited to sh owing that the indorse-
ment was unauthorized and could not
trace the proceeds. After the court
had ruled in his favor Mr.. Burnett
did not press for an answer. but will
probably return to 1t later in his ex-
animation.
Mrs. Buchanan yesterday contradicted
the testimony of Representative Ken
dali, who had declared he knew nothing
of the purchase OF 100000 worth Of
shoes from the Huntington Shoe and
Leather Co. until several months
after the transaction when an at
torney for the company sought to
collect a balance of $4,000 due the
company. Mrs. Buchanan said she
talked over the matter with him be-
fore the shoes were bought and he
told her any arrangement made by
her would be satisfactory to him.
Alleges Political Factor.
Kendall told her, the witness said.
that he was especially anxious to
help Mayor Smart of Uniontown and
Antonio Buffano of Connellsville.
who were interested in the shoe
transaction. as they had large
political following and the elections
were close at hand. In accordance
with that instruction, Mrs. Buchanan
said, she signed the name of Kendall
to guarantee for the shipment of
100000 worth of shoes to Mayor
Smart.
Mrs. Buchanan told of the inception
of the sale Of war material to the
constituents Of Mr.. Kendall IN Penn
sylvania and declared he told her he
would benefit greatly in political
way by reducing the cost Of living
to, his constituents through the dis
tribution Of these war goods and that
she would make a good deal OF
money. When she asked why he kept
his account in Pennsylvania he told
her, she said, that 1t made. great
showing to have $4,000 or $4,000
deposited in a little country bank
All the checks were drawn by Ken
dali to her order, the witness stated,
and endorsed by her. She paid over
to Maj. Graham, In charge Of Liberty
Hut here, nearly $4,000 in payment
of the account of Kendall.
The witness declared Kendall had
told her he did not want to appear
in the distribution, and asked her to
take charge of 1t.