New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-19
A HITCH IN THE INQUIRY.
FIFTY CASES PENDING.
President Roosevelt Orders Postal
Prosecutions Expedited.
lrRox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU-J

Washington. June 1S.-President Roosevelt to-
day summoned to the White House the law ON
GERS in charge Of the pOstoftce prosecutions. m
Guiding United States District Attorney Taggart.
Assistant District Attorney Beach and Assistant
Attorney General Robb. and enjoined on them
the imperative necessity Of sxpeditins the postal
cases now pending before the grand jury
This action was taken at the instance OF Post
master General Payne who complained bitterly
to the President yesterday that the work OF the
inspectors not being duly seconded BY the
officials Of the Department Of Justice
The startling information was revealed to-day
at the District Courthouse that there are now
fifty cases pending before the grand jury grow
ing out Of the postofice investigation, and Post
master General Payne expressed fear to the
President that further delay might result In the
flight of some of the persons against whom ac-
ton is to be taken.
The Postoffice Department has prepared and
submitted the evidence on which it was expect
ed that six indictments would be secured. anu
there was every reason to believe that the IN
dictments would be brought in today. but at
the last minute it was discovered that ths Dis
trict Attorneys Office had not prepared the war
rants which must be signed a session OF the
jury but had adjourned the grand jury over
until Monday without having taken action
This delay is the occasion OF the greatest an
noyance to the postal officials. who say that
they have fully expected the indictments TO bs
returned and the arrests TO be made for over
a week and that they had counted on them TO
have beneficial effect on the investigation
The expectation has been that true bills would
be returned against Machen the charge OF
forgery. and against the two Groffs and Mr.. and
Mrs. George E Lorenz. Mrs Lorenz is under
stood to have acted as go between The ad-
make the arrest of any Of these persons impossi-
bic until next week sti- other indictments were
confidently expected. but the identity OF the
suspected persons is not disclosed
Another important obstacle presented by the
delay rests in the fact that Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow and his associates
have been confident that tie a rest OF the per-
sons named would have d powerful NORA effect
on others who have violated the law, and one
individual in particular expected to turn
States evidence when confronted with such
tangible demonstration of the determination to
punish every guilty person. This information.
if so secured. would be of the greatest value to
the inspectors and would probably establish ths
missing links in several other chains OF evidence
needed for further prosecution Of the criminals
against whom the department. has already se-
cured damaging evidence
In addition to the annoyance occasioned by
tl.is blocking Of the game" as It is described
by a prominent postal official. there is the
further inconvenience of having several OF the
best inspectors in Bristow's force held in
Washington and engaged in cooling their heels
in the District Attorneys office" Some OF these
inspectors have been waiting the pleasure OF
the District Attorney ever since the first Ma
chen Indictment vas secured, although their SER
vices are sorely needed elsewhere.
At the District Attorneys office IL ts said that
v-if
the wheels Of justice cannot move fast enough
to satisfy the postoff1ce officials, who expect the
District Attorney and his entire force to lay
aside every other matter. regardless OF its i'm
portance and deal exclusively with the post
office cases. but there numerous matters OF
equal consequence which fmperatfvely demand
the attention of the District Attorneys force
The District has a $4,000 defaulter OF its own
among other important matters