New-York tribune., 1903-06-30
+" JURY FIXING" PLANNED
FOR POSTAL OFFENDERS.
Croot Obstacles Encountered by
Gorernment Prosecuting Them.
TrRon TIE rRrnuNE RrREAr.

Washington June 29.-Positive information
has reached the officials charged with the prose-
,,,tion of the criminal cases growing out of the
,,ostoffice investigation that systematic efforts
VIII be made TO influence the jures before which
the federal cases are TO be tried. Not only viii
there be a considerable fund at the disposal of
the men under Indictment. but powerful infiu-
ences with :ncalculable ramifications will be
brought to bear in their favor 1t is as a re-
snlt of this knowledge that the utmost precau-
1ons are being taken against such a mscar-
riare of Justice. The extent of the conspira-
cies against the government is far greater than
has ever appeared in print. but in the ma jority
Of instances it has been found impossible to
secure evidence which viii stand in court. re-
gardless of the moral evidence at hand. Under
most OF the statutes involved it is necessary
for the government to prove the actual pay
ment Of a bribe, and therein lies the chief diff
Guilty.
II is now learned that il was with this infor-
nation in view that the Attorney General Sc
cured such able counsel as Holmes Conrad and
Charles ]. Bonaparte to assist in the prosecu-
ton and TO watch every loophoe with view
10 prevent tampering with juries well as to
present the federal cases in the strongest posi-
bic light
The fear of Jury fixing" is also demonstrated
by the number of indictments which the prose-
cutting officials are securing in every case. by
requesting a trial under each indictment there
viii be just so many more juries TO try the
cases. Juries which have been rampered with
are always regarded as the greatest menace to
the securing Of justice in federal cases. and
in view Of the important and influential per-
sons whose intimacy if not implication, is like
ly TO be revealed by the trial of certain indi-
viduals under indictment, the gravest appre-
heuson is entertained at the present time.
Machen, the Groffs and the Lorenzes have all
been indicted several times. the District grand
Jury bringing in more indictments to-day. 1t is
probable that the same viii be pursued
with the cases outside of Washington, although.
so far as learned the greatest apprehension is
felt with regard to juries in the District Of
Columbia.
The failure up to this time to indict the man
regarded as more culpable than any one who
has vet been arrested is explained to-day as
being due 10 the fact that this individual dealt
almost exclusively with principals. These prin-
oipals are known, but cannot be induced to turn
States evidence assist the government in
the prosecution There being only two parties
to the actual transaction, proof Of the pay
1lleut OF a bribe is almost impossible TO secure.
At least il has thus far baffied the most expert
inspectors. Moreover, while there is every rea-
son TO believe that commissions were paid, 1t
would appear that they were paid in cash in
stead Of by check, which prevents the estab-
lishment Of positive proof
The belief that commissions were paid is based
on the discovery that in many instances pur-
chases were made at prices far greater than
the value warranted, when the same or equally
good articles could have been bought for less
money and that the purchases We're made from
men whose intimacy with the suspected per
son is well known
ever. and are still sitting every transaction or
the suspected Official with the hope that eventu-
ally some fragment Of unassailable evidence
which will warrant criminal prosecution may be
found.