New Britain herald., 1928-05-25
MRS. KNAPP GOES
ON Stand AGAIN
TStifS in Own Behalf in
Albany Trial
DENIES ALL ALLEGATIONS
says She Does Not "Remembcr"
What Work Her Step-Daughter
Did on New York State Census But
Says She Did Some.

Albany, N. Y. May o5 Rl-Mrs
Florence f. s. Knapp, first woman
ever elected to political office in
New York state. took the stand to-
day to act as the chief defense wit
ness In her second trial within a
month for the larceny of 1926
state census pay check.
Has No knowledge
Mrs. Knapp testified she had no
knowledge before her election that
one of the duties of the Office would
be the decennial state enumeration
in June, 1925.
She was inexperienced In political
work. she said. and consulted vari-
GUS persons as to her powers and
duties Appointments were made
through regular political channels,
she said.
She made a direct denial of yes
terdays testimony OF her step
daughter, Clara Blanche Knapp.
payee of the $a,S75.06 census check
which is the basis of the present in
dictment.
She said that she talked with her
ep-daughter about doing census
work. This, she said, was during
the April recess In 1925 when Miss
Knapp admitted visiting Mrs. Knapp
at Albany but denied any census
talk. At that time. the witness said,
she asked her step-d daughter to keep
her vacation open SO as to be avail
able "for any work I might assign
to her to aid in this gigantic task"
The salary Miss Knapp was to re-
ceive was left to Mrs. Knapp's dis
cretion, she testified. Miss Knapp
knew what her salary would be in
the summer of 1925. the witness
said, and she worked at Mrs.
Knapp's house in Albany in No
vember, 1925.
The Judge asked II Mrs. Knapp
and the stepdaughter were friendly
when they were together at Bed
ford. Mass. one summer. as testi-
fed.
1--WE were"
"Have you always been friendly?"
Mr.. Dugan asked.
1--WE were friendly last summer"
Mrs Knapp answered.
Referring to the fact that Miss
Knapp had left . teaching position
at Syracuse for one at Middlebury
at q lower cash salary. Mrs. Dugan
asked:
Was there 4 reason why she
left Syracuse university"
There was" the witness answer
ed.
Talked During Summer
She and Miss Knapp talked dur
ing the summer of 1925 about es-
a new home, Mrs. Knapp
said, contrary to Miss Knapp's tes-
yesterday. The witness said
she told her stepdaughter they
were getting to an age when they
should establish a home and sug
gested Bedford, where they could
be among relatives.
Explaining the check in question,
Mrs. Knapp said her etepdaughter
definitely agreed to the use of her
lump sum" payment in payment
Of furniture which would be used
in the Bedford home and would
60 to the stepdaughter after Mrs.
knapp's death.
Presiding Justice Stephen Gala
CHAN asked what work Miss Knapp
did after her salary was raised from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year before the
lump sum check" was issued.
Whatever I assigned to her" the
witness answered.
THAT does not answer my ques-
tion." the Judge repeated.
What did she do?"
Il don't remember exactly"
The issuance of the lump sum
check the witness said she believed
to be right. after consulting with
persons. and the check
went through the payroll ''in the
regular way"
The reason that Miss Knapp nev-
er received directly more than the
first two Of her other pay checks.
Mrs. Knapp said. was because Miss
Knapp had said she wanted her
money to 60 to "the Bodkin girls"
(nieces Of Mrs. Knapp. and sug-
gested that the checks be sent di-
rectly to Mrs. Bodkin.
'Mcmory Failed Her"
When asked by Mr.. Dugan if she
had heard Miss Knapps testimony
Yesterday to the effect that she had
never done any census work, Mrs.
Knapp said: