Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-20
TRIALS POSTPONED
ACTION OF COURT IN CASE OF
MACHEN AND OTHERS.
Counsel Agree That the Cases Shall Go
Over Until Monday,
January IL.

BY agreement of counsel, Justice Pritch-
ard, in Criminal Court No 1, today post
poned the trial of August w. Machen. Dill
Ter b. Croft, Samuel A. Croft, George e.
Lorenz and Martha J. Lorenz, set for next
Monday. until Monday, January IL next.
The parties mentioned have been indicted
jointly for conspiracy to defraud the United
States by transactions relating to the Gron
letter-box fastener the case being an out
come of the Post Office Department inves-
tigation. Justice Pritchard several weeks
ago fixed upon next Monday, tentatively
as the day for the beginning of the hear
ing.
Mr. Morgan II. Beach, United States at
torney for the District of Columbia. today
suggested to the court that the hearing be
postponed until Monday, December Z. and
a spirited discussion followed. There were
present. in addition to United States At
torney Beach, Assistant United States At
tOrneyS Gordon and Adkins, and Attorneys
Charles A Douglass, Scott Douglass, Sam
uel Maddox, Conrad Syme and John kum-
Ter, the latter of Toledo, Ohio and all the
defendants with the exception of Mrs Lo-
REM.
United States Attorney Beach explained
that the government would not be prepared
to proceed with the hearing next Monday
for the reason that several of its important
witnesses would be absent then, in at
tendance upon hearings of post office cases
in other jurisdictions. Mr.. Beach further
pointed out that the term of service of the
jurors now impaneled will expire in a few
days and that, as Thursday of next week
will be holiday. but little, if any, progress
could be made by starting the case the
coming Monday. Mr.. Beach mentioned
Monday, December Z, as a suitable date.
A Protest Entered.
Attorneys c. A. Douglass, Maddox and
Kumler protested against a postponement
being ordered. They contended that the
reasons advanced by Mr.. Beach were not
sufficient to warrant the hearing being de-
layed. In substance. counsel took the posi-
ton that the defendants would be put to
unnecessary expense. delay and inconvent-
ence in the event of a postponement
Mr.. Beach, in reply. called attention to
the fact that the grand jury had been in
session all summer: that his Office had to
give consideration to a great many cases,
including business of an unusual nature.
such as land concentrations and the like.
He has had no assistance from special
counsel, he added, the entire work falling
upon himself and the regular Office force.
Because of the rush of business. and for
other excellent reasons, the United States
attorney said, he could not properly present
the case against Machen. the Groffs and Mr..
and Mrs. Lorenz next Monday.
Justice Pritchard remarked that the de-
PENDANTS are entitled to speedy trial, but
he did not feel that he should compel the
government to go to trial Monday in view
of the statement by Mr.. Beach that the
latter could not properly present the case
at that time. Saying that he desired to be
absolutely fair to both sides. Justice Pritch-
ard suggested that counsel confer and en-
deavor to agree on date for the beginning
of the trial.
Those in attendance upon court were sur
prised when, after brief converse ton with
Mr.. Beach, Attorney c. A. Douglass re-
ported to the court that counsel agreed that
the trial should be set for the second Mon
day of next January. Mr. Beach signifed
that he was willing that the matter should
be allowed to go over until that day.