The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-12

Kendan's Signatures to War
Surplus Sales Check Were
Genuine, He Testifies

William II. Smart, former mayor
Of Uniontown, Pa, was the first
witness to testify for the Govern
ment today ii. the trial Of Mrs.
Margaret B. Buchanan, formerly
secretary to Congressman Samuel
a. Kendall Of Pennsylvania, and
now employed BY Congressman
ManIoxe Of Missouri, charged with
forgery IN connection with the
sale Of surplus war material.
The trial is before = jury in
Criminal Court No. /. Justice
Hoehling presiding. the Govern
ment being represented By Al
sistant District Attorney Burnett:
Attorneys Lucien Vandoren and
Richard Wexford are appearing
for Mrs. Buchanan.
Smart Identities Check
Mrs. Buchanan Is charged with
Endorsing Congressman Kendall's
name to checks sent to him by
Pennsylvania constituents. with
whom he had dealings IN war ma
teriaI. The checks were IN pay
ment for this merchandise.
MrR Buchanan claims that she
was ia partnership with Kendall to
dispose Of the articles.
Mr.. Smart identified q check for
$5.5s7.25 he made payable % Ken
dali.
gaid. t.and also that Of Mrs Buch-
anan on the checks In my best
opinion were genuine.
The witness, who had been sum-
moned to bring his records con-
tanning his business transactions m
solar as they related to the sale OF
war material said that he was I'M
able TO produce the records as
they Hust have been destroyed. He
had, however. a number OF papers
which contained data regarding the
transactions In question.
His connections with Congress-
man Kendall in these deals, Smart
stated began in December. 1919 and
continued up to May, 1879.
Recalls His Transactions
Smart stated he had received a
letter from Kendall telling him that
the War Department was issuing
surplus blankets and that Il Smart
knew OF anybody who wished 10
purchase them to let him know.
Smart said he ordered 300 blank.
est, which reached him In Decenl-
Der, 1919. Smart added that the
first installment of war material he
received consisted of shoes, clotn-
ing, blankets, raincoats and under
wear, and that the goods came
from the Liberty Hut In this city
and the Quartermaster's Depart.
ment in Philadelphia.
Cross-examined by Attorney Van
doren as to whether he had kept q
record OF his orders, and OF what
he had received, then witness said
that Gin a way" he kept a record,
but that he didn't know what had
become Of the record. The witness
said he knew Mrs. Buchanan
through Mr.. Kenda8s, and that bis
ried on through Mr.. Kendalrs Of.
1ice.
Objection Is Sustained.
Assistant District Attorney Bur,
nett at this point objected 10 the
examination by counsel for Mrs
Buchanan, on the ground that II
had nothing to do with identifying
the signatures on the check Offered
by the Government. The court
sustained the objection.
Congressman Kendall followed
Mr.. Smart on the stand, and he
stated that he had known Mrs
Buchanan since August, 1921.
Other witnesses subpoenaed By
the Government are: Caroline Wal
tiers, 1901 Twenty-third street north
west; H. L. Selby. Of the Farmers
and Mechanics Bank; Major Charlie
III. Patterson and Major l.. H
Hedrick.
Those subpoenaed to appear Al
witnesses and bring records in con
nection with the transaction inciud
Major Charles e. Jones, Antoni
Bufano, Of ConnellsviIIe, Pa. an
Fred II. Bowers, Of. Huntington
Ind.