Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-02
DATE SET FOR TRIAL
JUSTICE PRITCHARD FIXES IT
FOR NOVEMBER 80.
Case of Machen, the Groffs and the
Lorenzes for Conspiracy to
Begin Then.

Justice Prtchard, in Criminal Court No.
l. today decided upon Monday, November
%, as the date for commencing the trial
of August w. Machen, Samuel A. Croft,
Diller B. Croft. George e. Lorenz and Mar
tha ]. Lorenz, Jointly indicted for con-
spring to defraud the United States.
Counsel for the defendants insisted that
the trial be had at an early date, and
suggested the 18th instant. The represen-
tative of the government urged that the
hearing not begin until after the first week
in December. Justice Pritchard as COM
promise selected the ODD instant.
The matter was called to the attention
of the court today by Mr.. Samuel Mad
dox. counsel for the Croft brothers. He
asked that the trial be started without
further delay, explaining that his clients
have always borne the best OF reputauons
and are anxious that the charge against
them shall be disposed of at the earnest
possible moment. Mr.. Maddox added that
his negotiations with the office or the
United States attorney for the DlStrlct OF
Columbia to the end that the case should
be set for trial in the near future had not
been fruitful.
Mr.. Beach's Illness.
Mr.. Hugh T. Taggart, assistant United
States attorney for the District or Coium-
bia, speaking for the government. pointed
Attorney Beach was unable to be present
in court today. Mr.. Beach. so Mr.. Tag
CART said, is very anxious for speedy trials
of the Post Office Department 1nVesuSa-
ton cases, but. unfortunately, he is In very
bad health at present and Dy commanu
of his physician left this city YESTERDAY ia
order to obtain much-needed rest MI.
Taggart went on to say that although the
indictment against Machen, the Grons ana
Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz had been reported q
several months ago, the grand Jury ,,4t1a Hao
been in session all summer, and but httle
time had been available for the prepara,
ton of the cases for trial 1T was pointed
out that there are now at least nfty ac-
cused persons In 3ali aWaltins Ia .,,at Nv
charged with capital offenses and that
at least a month would be required to re-
duce the number of such cases; Ihere-
fore it was asked that the post off1ce trlais
be not started until after the first week
in December. 1t was added by Mr.. rag
CART that United States Attorney Beach
has been devoting himself with great diil.
gence to the post office cases, ana lhat
his unceasing efforts in that direction were
responsible for his present regrettabie phys-
ical condition.
Machen's Attorney.
Inst nr;or to the time Mr.. Taggart finish
ed speaking Mr. Charles A. Douglass or
counsel for Mr.. Machen entered the court
room. Addressing the court Mr. Douglass
said that he was very anxious to accom-
modate Mr.. Beach, as the latter had been
very nice to counsel, but that it was I'M
portant that the trial of the case in ques-
ton should be started during the present
month. Mr. Douglass remarked that the
Toledo attorneys who represent Mr. and
Mrs Lorenz had asked him to say to the
court that they had arranged their en-
gagements with the understanding that the
case would be tried during November, ana
i,,nn an IN
result if that understanding was not car
ried out. Mr.. Douglass thereupon sug-
gested Monday, the 10th instant, as the
date.
Douglass further stated, "it would be the
last thing we would do to insist that the
trial proceed until he should be able to
appear"
trial the 23d instant, expressed the hope
that everybody would be ready to go ahead
that day.
The Question Of Papers.
Justice Pritchard next Friday morning
will consider the motion of counsel for the
defendants that the court pass an order
directing the representative of the govern
ment to permit the defendants and their
counsel to inspect certain papers and rec
ords that relate to the case. The granting
of the motion will be vigorously opposed by
the government
At the conclusion of the hearing today
relating to the Post Office Department in
vestigation matter Justice Pritchard di-
rected the United States attorneys office
to call for trial in the Criminal Court only
those cases in which the defendants are
confined in Jail. and allow the cases In
which the defendants have been adm tied
to bail to wait until the Jail cases have
received attention.