Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-22
FIVE ARE INDICTED
The Letter Box Fasteners
Conspiracy.
GRAND JURY'S ACTION
PROFITS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN
DIVIDED.
Charges Against George and MRS.
Lorenz, A. w. Machen, Diller b.
and Samuel A. Croft.

TIE grand jury this afternoon reported an
indictment for conspiracy to defraud the
Post Office Department based on secuon
54f4O of the Revised Statutes OF the unlteo
States, against George E. Lorenz Marina
]. Lorenz August w. Machen, Diller y.
Croft and Samuel A. Croft.
The statute provides a penalty of S1oooo
or two years Imprisonment, or both, In the
discretion of the court.
The witnesses who appeared before the
grand jury in connection with this case
were Theodore w. Warner, Waiter s.
Mayer, Paul E. Williams, Joseph F. Farrell
and VIM. r. Lewis.
The indictment is an exhaustive docu-
ment. covering ten legal cap size pages of
print There are twelve counts. The first
count. after detailing the duties of the su-
perintendent of the free delivery division
his powers and his functions, proceeds TO
indicate that the parties mentioned In the
indictment conSpired to defraud the gov
ernment in the purchase of the letter box
fasteners manufactured by Diller b. and
Samuel a. Croft. The fasteners cost for
their manufacture % cents for each com
plete fastener, and % cents for each OF two
half fasteners. The Croft brothers could
have sold with. great profit the fasteners
for 10 cents each. and in fact were willing
and desired to sell them at such rate. These
1aCtS, IL is nelQ, were KNOWN u pdIlicS
under indictment.
The Alleged Conspiracy.
The first count proceeds:
That on the Doth day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1900, and at the District afore-
said. the said George E. Lorenz, Martha J.
Lorenz August W. Machen, Diller B. Gron
and Samuel A. Croft. unlawfuly did con-
spire combine, confederate and agree to-
gether to defraud the said United States of
it's moneys. in the dishonest manner and
through and by means of the dishonest
scheme and arrangement following, that Is
to say, that he, the said August w.
Machen. should by and through advice to
be given and recommendation to be made
in that behalf to the said first assistant
postmaster general by him, the said Au-
gust w. Machen as such superintendent
procure and be instrumental in procuring,
so far as in him the power lay, the pur-
chase by the said Post Office Department
from the said Diller B. Croft and Samuel
A. Croft, partners as aforesaid, of a large
number of such complete fasteners and half
fasteners, of the kind so known as Gron
fasteners, for the use aforesaid, at the
price of s1.2J for each of such com
plete fasteners and at the price or
s125 for each two OF such halr
fasteners; and should in like manner as
such superintendent procure and be instru-
mental In procuring payment by. the said
United States to them the said Diller b.
Croft and Samuel A. Croft, partners as
half fasteners last aforesaid at the prices
respectively. last aforesaid; and that upon
such procuring by him, the said August
w. Machen, as last aforesaid. of such pur-
chase last aforesaid. to be made, and upon
such procuring by him, the said August w.
Machen as last aforesaid, of such payment
last aforesaid to be made, and in consd-
GRAFTON thereof, they, the said Diller b.
Croft and Samuel A Croft, partners
aforesaid, should retain and keep for use
of them, the said Diler b. Croft and
Samuel A Croft, partners as aforesaid, a
certain proportion only of such payment
last aforesaid to wit: Sixty per centum
thereof, being at the rate of 10 cents for
each such complete fastener and at the
rate of 10 cents for each two of such half
fasteners last aforesaid, purchased by
the said United States, and should pay to
the said George e. Lorenz and Martha ].
Lorenz, or to one or other of them, to be
converted, appropriated and applied to the
use of them, the said George E. Lorenz,
Martha j. Lorenz and August w. Machen,
certain properties, to wit, forty per
centum of any such payment last afore-
said, made by the said United States and
being at the rate of 30 cents for each of
such complete fasteners and of 30 cents
for each two of such half fasteners last
aforesaid, so purchased by the said United
States
Carrying Out the Conspiracy.
And the grand jurors aforesaid, upon
their oath aforesaid, do further present:
That in pursuance of the said unlawful
conspiracy combination confederation and
agreement and to effect the object thereof
the said August w. Machen on the 18th
day of June, in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred, and at the District
aforesaid, such superintendent did ad.
wise and recommend to the first assistant
postmaster general that six thousand com
plete fasteners of the kind known as Croft
fasteners, be purchased by the said Post
once Department for the a
from the said Diller B. Croft and Samuel
A. Croft partners as aforesaid at the price
or sl2o Tor each of such complete fasteners.
And that In further pursuance OF the
said unlawful conspiracy, combination con-
federation and agreement and to further
effect the object thereof. the said Diller B.
Gron and Samuel A. Croft. partners as
aforesaid. did, on the day and year last
aforesaid and at the District aforesaid
present bill to the said Post Office De-
partment, for six thousand complete fast
eners of the kind known as Croft fast
eners at the rate of 81 - for each of such
complete fasteners last aforesaid.
And that in further pursuance of the
said unlawful conspiracy, combination con-
federation and agreement and to further
effect the object thereof the said August
w. Machen. on the thirteenth day of Sep
tember in the year last aforesaid and at the
District aforesaid, such superintendent
did advise, and recommend to, the said first
assistant postmaster general the payment
of the bill last aforesaid by the said United
States to the said Diller b. Golf and Sam
uel A. Gof, partners aforesaid.
Dividing the Spoils.
'And that the said Dlller B. Goff and
Samuel A, Goff, partners as aforesaid, hav-
ing thereafter and on the twenty-second
day of September in the year last aforesaid
received from the said United States 81 500
In payment of the bill last aforesaid he
the said Diler Il. uoff in further pursuance
of the said unlawful conspiracy combina-
tion confederation and agreement and to
further effect the object thereof did on the
twentieth day of October in the wear last
aforesaid, pay to the said George E. I.or-
enz and the said Martha j. Lorenz SO COO
Against the form of the statute in such
case made and provided. and against the
peace and government of the said United
States"
Other Payments.