Evening Journal

MADE MISTAKES

Denies That His Part in

Capitol Scandal Was

Wilfully Wrong

By THE JOURNAL'S Special Wire.

HARRISBURG, Feb. 25—Former Auditor Snyder was to-day submitted to a grilling cross-examination by Prosecutor Scarlet who tried to show the witness was not entirely candid when he declared under oath that he had been compelled to a great extent on the advice of Architect Huston. He was asked if he had not had great experience while a member with the construction of many institutions. He admitted serving on boards which erected hospitals at Allentown and Spring City as well as the State building at the Pan American Exposition, but insisted that this did not qualify him on a job on the magnitude of the capitol.

Snyder finally admitted under pressure that his duties as laid down by the public building commission compelled him to see that the State got everything for which it paid.

The prosecution is doing all in his power to make damaging admissions and he will be on the stand all day.

Snyder admitted the payment of $478.70 to Sanderson and the advancement of $125,000 to him before furniture contracted for had been delivered was without the knowledge of former Governor Pennypacker, president of the board. "But," witness continued, "everything we did was by the advice of Architect Huston."

"But you, as a member of this board, committed the State to contracts to pay for $500,000 worth of furnishings from Sanderson, when you knew Huston's original estimates called for but between $500,000 and $600,000, did you not?" demanded Scarlet.

"Well," was the reply. "If I had known then what I learned afterward I might have done differently."

"And the board besides other advances and wrong payments loaned $25,000 to Sanderson to be accounted for as best suited him and you did not actually audit the bills for a year, did you not?"

"I made the motion before the board which was adopted that we pay on architects certificates and that was done."

Just before the noon recess Snyder said: "I was not guilty of wrong. I had no suspicion of wrong. I may have made mistakes, but they were only mistakes."