Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-17


BILE to Henry l.. Lorenz
Mr. Lorenz's Status.
Tho SECRET agents were paid from the
revenue of the particular Offices to which
they were detailed?" Senator Lodge asked
Yes. SIR" Mr.. Hill replied: but In Mr.
II orenz's case he was not in the service
at all until about the LIST Of November:
I know he was not in 1t prior to the LIST OF
November. 1894 and the date line OF his
apDotntment is the 1st I'd or Sd OF Novem-
ber 1894. Notwithstanding that tor the
first four months preceding that date he
was ordered TO be paid by the postmaster
at New York at the rate of SO a day for
every day, Sundays included. and that
money was sent by the postmaster at New
York, individually. to the superintendent
OF the free delivery division.
The Check.
I'm connection with that money" Mr..
Hill continued, II happened to be In New
York at the time the reQuisition was made.
and there was a slight error in the form
of the reouisition: in fact. there was a
slight error In computation. The auditor
OF the New York post office Mr.. Jardine.
called on me to know whether that could
be rectifed inside of the reuuisitton. or
whether 1t would have to be sent back.
stating that they seemed to be In very
much of hurry for the money. ! said
as it was clear clerical error in com.
putation he could rectify it on the face of
the reuuisition. l had nothing to do with
the merit of the payment.
THE money sent to Mr.. Machen. and
I afterward came back here and compli
mented Mr.. Lorenz, when 1 was with him
one day-no else was preSent-upon
having his pay antedated and getting such
an amount in bulk, he having been, as he
said. so hard UP previously To use his
own words. he said: The DEVIL I never got
cent. and haven't yet The inference Is
that he never got a cent of the money. /
heard him go into Mr.. Machen's room, and
heard a contention between him and Mr..
Machen about this sum. 1869.
The only way Mr.. Machen could get the
S5t9 was not only to forge the signature of
MIR. Lorenz to the voucher. which was sent
to New York. but afterward to forge the
Endorsement to the check which was sent
by the postmaster at New York I believe
that If the check were recovered from the
treasury today it would be found that the
Endorsement is In Mr.. Machen's handwrit-
ing base that upon the fact that MIR.
Lorenz told me. in all candor, that he never
got a cent of the money"
Mr.. Machen's Defense.
Two weeks later In the committees inves-
tgation Mr.. Machen made application to
be heard. The first part of Machen's ex-
animation related to his having placed his
brothers In the service and having them
borne on the rolls under other names
MIR. Machen became very indignant when
ne denied that he had collected any salary
for Lorenz. On this point he testified:
Judge Borenz was out in Indiana, and he
sent me blank voucher In which he said:
When this is determined. and hope it will
be shortly. have the money sent to me.
Fill 1t out and instruct the postmaster at
New York who was paying him. to send
IL to my address,
ION the Sd day of November, or there
aboutsI forget the exact date-as l said,
rf,nr, ,f0 Il 4.
Partment as being all right. 1 made out
the voucher for the entire amount which 1
agreed to pay the judge from the LIST of
July. making it out 100 days. and sent 1t
to New York
'Hill was In the cashiers Office and the
cashier called his attention to an error that
was made in the voucher. in that the judge
was entitled to 12} days instead of 122,
and the only irregular matter that
voucher is Mr.. HIS changing the figures
from 1856 to 1863 after it had been certified
to. without any authority whatever.
1.-THE draft, which was submitted to the
post office and post roads committee a year
and three months ago. went directly to
Judge Lorerz, was paid to him on the
identification of another party here in
Washington. and the draft never touched
my department my hands. Mr.. Lorenz.
who is now employed in Pennsylvania, and
can be brought here, will vouch or certify
to his signature. both on the voucher and
on the draft and the Gentleman who iden-
tilted him at the bank will also do So.
'You had nothing to do with the draft
that passed2" the chairman OF the COM
mittee asked
mo, SIR" Machen replied 81 never saw
It. The voucher. as / said, was sent to me
I'm blank. and when this question was deter
mined | sent il to the postmaster at New
York and told him to send 1t to the address
which Judge Lorenz gave me. and l never
saw the draft or money afterward MI
Hill knew of that draft. and he made that
story up out of whole cloth
Something Expected.
AZ minated yesterday in The Evening
Star. there Is every reason to believe that
at least two arrests in connection with the
post office scandals will be made within
short time.
This has been a day of conferences at the
Post Office Department
From the time that Postmaster General
Payne reached his office. about 10 clock.
he had one or more of his official family
with him.
First Assistant wynne and Fourth Assist
ant Bristow were called into conference
with the Postmaster General first. few
minutes later Mr.. Robb the assistant at
torney general for the Post Office Depart
ment left his Office, hurried up the CORR
dor and was ushered into the postmaster
Generals private room
Still later after Mr.. Robb had left the
conference. First Assistant Wynne went
over TO the formers Office and the two were
closeted for some time.
Mr. Bristow had hardly reached his Of
flee and sat down at his desk. when the
messenger from the Postmaster General
again summoned him in conference. Again
did Mr. Robb go to the Postmaster Cen
erals office.
Feeling of Ominous Expectancy.
Throughout the forenoon on the fifth floor
of the department building where are To-
Gated the offices of the Postmaster General
and his assistants there was a feeling of
ominous expectancy.
The rumors current yesterday that war
rants we're out for the arrest of two more
persons alleged to be involved in the Post
Once Department scandals had caused an
interest bordering on excitement among the
clerks who are employed on this floor.
There was a feeling manifest on every
hand that something important was In the
air and that before the day was over the
curiosity of all would be satisfied In the
meantime there was speculation, and p.enty
of it.
The inspectors who have their headquar
ters in room adjoining the office of Mr..
Bristow. where they may be in direct touch
were less In evidence today than any day in
weeks
Heretofore II has been easy to- reach Mr.
Fosnes, who succeeded Mr.. Beavers in an
acting capacity. and who Is known to be
thoroughly acquainted with the investiga-
tion I'm all its details thus far. Today he was