Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14
GRAND INQUEST
CLEARS H|GHER-UPS
Member of Auditing Firm
Says His Report Shows
Those Involved.
By WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
EtaH Horraspnp6ent IF Tho Ctar


STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Md,
February 14.-"Higher-ups" that have
been threatened with exposure in the
numerous Investigations of the pecula-
tons In the State Roads Commission
by those already under indictment or
have been convicted, in an effort to
make martyrs of themselves, were
given a clean bill of health by the audi
tors who examined the commissions
records in their testimony yesterday
before the grand inquest of Maryland
The fact that there were none higher
than the Office manager of the commits
sion, now in prison, was developed by
Mai. E. Brooke Lee of Silver Spring,
speaker of the House of Delegates. He
also developed the fact that the pecula-
tions all were in districts Nos. and Z,
the Glenburnie and Baltimore districts.
It was testified to by States Attorney
Herbert r. O'Conor at a previous near
ing that his investigations indicated
that some of the troubles were led into
the counties, but that they were mat
tiers for the grand juries in these dis
tricts to handle.
Mai. Lee told c. C. Croggan, Balti-
more partner of the auditing firm, OF
the allegations that "higher-upS" were
involved and asked him If his investi-
CATION showed who these might be. Mr..
Croggan responded that he had heard
that men higher up were involved, but
he said that any one familiar with fraud
could look a. the report Of the auditing
firm and could easily pick the higher
ups"
None Higher Up"
"Do YOU think that Butler and the
other men who got this money were the
men higher up?" Maj. Lee specifically
asked?
"Yes," Croggan replied.
"Were there any higher up?" Lee con-
&lnued.
None" was the answer
Both Croggan and Raymond E. North
of the same firm were on the stand at
the same time, and as questions were
asked. one or the other would answer.
Much of the examination, which was
conducted principally by Attorney How
lard of counsel for the grand inquest, was
for the purpose of bringing to the at
tention of the inquest the methods
which were used in disclosing the pecu-
lations, and whether they might have
been discovered by the State auditors
during the period Of eight years Wnicn
they covered.
Questioned as to the obtaining per-
sonal goods from vendors on vouchers
showing material for the commission,
Mr., Croggan said that it was found that
the vendors were not in collision In all
cases. He said that the auditors had
satisfied themselves by thorough in
veStigation that in most instances the
vendors were not criminally involved.
In a few cases they were.
Practically all of the purchases were
made on the approval of the purchas-
ing agents, H. C. McAvoy.. now dead.
and Thomas A. Butler, now in prison.
Much of the money, he said, was taken
by padding the pay rolls. In many
cases checks were made out to fictitious
employees, and they were intercepted
and used by the offenders.
Croggan disclosed that some OF the
vouchers were missing from the files.
because they were used twice. Those
et,raged In the practice would take a
rjaid voucher from the files, change the
date, and put it through the regu-
lar channels again.
Lee Delivers Report.
In supporting his statement that the
dealers In many cases were innocent IN
the transaction, he said that the voucn-
ers in many cases would provlQe 1or
material as selected"
Speaker Lee delivered to the grand
inquest the report OF the State Roads
Commission on the expenditures IN con-
nection with highway celebrations, IN
response to the Cobourn resolution. 1t
shows expenditures for the Grain High
way opening of SIG ,109.04: Severn
River Bridge, $7,537 g., and the Havre
de Grace Bridge, $3.50. The report
| added that in connection with the Grain
Highway celebration, which was at Up
per Marlboro, $l.297.7l had been re-
funded to the State. There Is no record
in the report as to who authorized the
expenditures.
The date also included letters from
John N: MackaIi, former chairman of
the commission; r.. Bennett Darnall and
w. w. Brown. former members of the
commission, that they had authorized
Edward M. Thomas, vice president OF
the Century Trust Co., and M. Hamp-
ton Magruder, Democratic leader IN
Prince Georges County, to spend jointly
$50 900, for the Grain Highway celebra-
ton.
The records of the commission, ac-
eording to the report. showed that
!1Iagruder obtained on three occasions
Ilotal of $7.613 and Thomas, $8,56898,
Tia connection with the Upper Marlboro
celebration. The Magruder fund was
reported to have been expended for
food, mule race prizes, building of
stands and for labor to prepare Upper
Marlboro fair grounds for the celebra-
ton. Vouchers on this account were
said to be missing. There could not be
found an itemized statement Of the ex-
penditures by Thomas. according to the
report.
The silver bill which was attached
totaled $2,760, but $500 was deducted
on December 9, 1927. The items in
cluded include a tea service, at a total
cost of $l,215. Other items include:
Vase, $35; five folding clocks, $40; pair
Of military brushes, $25; silver wrist
watch, $35; bowl, $3.50: waiter, $3.50;
pair of flower baskets, $3.50; pitcher and
tray. $50; making of special bowl and
waiter, $3.50. No explanation is given
as to the distribution of these.