Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-15
LEOPOLD STERN HERE
Came Back from Canada with
Inspector Mayer.
IN POLICE STATION
INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY WITH
MACHEN AND OTHERS.
Warrant by Police Court Charges
False Pretenses-May Become a
Government Witness.

this time" he said to a Star reporter, but
1 may say something later"
He said he had been advised not to talk,
but did not say who had given him the
advice 1t is thought. however, that he
had been SO advised by Post Office Inspector
Mayer, who had brought him hele from
Toronto, Canada. in company with Deputy
Sheriff Arthur Sewers of Toronto. 1t was
about 10 o'clock when the officers reached
this city with the prisoner. They went
with him to police headquarters; where
they turned him over to Capt Boardman.
Detective Baur had charge Of him until he
was taken to the first precinct station on
18th street where the treatment accorded
him was the same as that given other pris-
OnerS. He was placed in cell No. s. and
Later in the day Attorneys D. w. Classic
and Conrad II. Syme saw him. He was also
seen there by representatives Of bonding
compa MES.
AS soon as he reached police Headquarters
he asked that his counsel, Attorney H. w.
Classic, be sent for. :Mr. Classic was not in
his office. and the post Office defendant then
asked that his father. Mr. D. w. Classic. DO
called. The latter was soon in consultation
with him. and he afterward went to the
office of District Attorney Beach to sec
about the matter of bond. Upon going to
the police station q little later he said that
nothing definite had been done in the matter
OF arranging the amount of bond. It was
intimated that the amount would be fixed
at about 5000.
What He Said.
When seen by Star reporter the de-
PENDANT said he was in business In Balti-
more, and that he had contract for sup
plying the post Office with mail bags and
straps. and it is now charged that he did
not give the department credit for straps
that We're returned. Some of the newspaper
stories concerning him he characterized as
absurd. and commenting upon the charge
against him. said There's nothing in 1t"
He then went on to tell that he had gone
to Toronto in May last before he knew Of
an attempt being made to 1ndict him, and
when he learned of the indictment having
been returned he surrendered voluntarily
and was ready to return. Later he CQnclud-
ed he would fight the extradition proceed
ings. and when the papers arrived he made
the fight. The indictment, as heretofore
stated, alleged that he conspired with post
Office officials to defraud the government. 1t
was found that such an offenss had not
been included in the treaty with England.
and then police court warrant alleging
that he had presented false claims against
the United States was presented. Upon this
warrant he was held and an appeal to a
higher court was taken. While tho appeal
was pending Stern experienced change Of
mind and concluded he would return. The
appeal was Withdrawn and Stern left To-
ronto last night for this city.
May Be a Government Witness.
His attention was called to statements
that he is to appear as a witness for the
prosecution and thereby escape trial, but
he declined to discuss the matter, al
though his manner indicated that the SUBJ
ject was by no means a new one TO him.
1t is generally understood that Stern was
seen by representatives of the post Office
while he wes under arrest in Toronto. and
that an understanding was reached. Post
Office Inspector Mayer said to Star re-
porter that he could not discuss the case
at this time. He said that Stern talked
with him on the trip here from Toronto,
but he was not at libery TO divulge the
nature OF the conversation.
The legal aspect of the case Is receiving
some attention at the hands Of counsel
on both sides. In the indictment returned
against him by the grand jury, it is al
legged that he conspired to defraud the
government. while the police court warrant
alleges that he obtained money from the
government under false pretenses. 1t is
said that under the terms OF the treaty
with England Stern can be tried only under
the charge stated in the warrant, as It was
upon that charge that the Canadian au-
thorites surrendered him. The charge in
the Indictment it is stated. is not COW
cred by the treaty.
Stern sent for Mr. H. w Classic, for the
reason that the attorney had represented
him several years ago in case involving
a contract with the United States for chew
rcns for the Marine Corps In that case"
said Mr.. Classic, stern was not justly
treated but the matter was finally adjusted
and he received the money that was just
~ his" Mr.. Classic is now representing the
government in civil cases connected with
the Post Office Department. and he says he
will probably not appear for Mr.. Stern,
merely a matter of sentiment as his
connection with the government has moth
ing to do with the criminal charges against
he W moi OF poyrt In fho
post office cases.
Information Against Him.
The information against Stern was filed
in the Police Court September IA last, on
complaint of Post Office Inspector Walter
8. Mayer. and alleges false pretenses. 1t
Is a lengthy document covering seven type
written pages, and has attached to 1t copies
Of the two warrants paid to Stern.
1t sets forth that December 8, 1901. Stern
obtained a warrant for 5000. payment for
1857 satchels. which were to have a speci-
fed strap attached to them, but on investi-
cation. 1t Is alleged. 1t was found that the
straps were already the property of the
government. On another occasion. Octo-
Der 10. 1902. he is accused of receiving q
for $S,272.s2, payment for 2.444
satchels. which were also to have strap
Of specified character attached to them
but which. 1t Is charged. had straps previ-
ouSiy purchased Dy the IOSt OulCo depart
meut
Indicted With Machen.
Stern Is under Indictment here Jointly
with August W. Machen and William c.
Long for conspiracy. 1t is explained that
Stern had a contract for furnishing the
Post Office Department with satchels to be
used by letter carriers. By the terms OF
the contract he vas required to supply with
the satchels a certain kind of shoulder |
strap. These straps it is charged, he did |
not furnish, but In lieu thereof he attached |
to the satchels strap called the Lamb |
strap" The Lamb straps. 1t Is asserted |
were purchased by the department at the |
instance of Machen and paid for by the |
government. The charge In this connection |
Is that Stern was to divide with Machen |
and ong the saving to him that resulted |
from the government paying for the shout |
der straps that the contract required him to |
supply.
AS conspiracy Is not an extraditable Of |
Tense under the treaty with Canada war
rant was secured from the local police |
court for the arrest Of Stern on a charge Of |
presenting false bills to the government. |
As he was surrendered by the Toronto Of
dcials to answer the charge in this warrant,
1t Is understood that he cannot be tried on |
the indictment for conspiracy. The pris-
oner will very likely be arraigned in the Po-
IT,, ro,,,% ovd ,,a1A - u,att 40 ootIo.