The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-02
Justice Pritchard in Criminal
Court No. ] Names the
Date, Upon Request Of
Counsel.
THE CROFT BROTHERS,
Mr.. AND MRS. L0RENZ
UNDER THE INDICTMENT
nl-Health Of District Attorney
Beach the Con ingency
Which May Delay the
Proceedings.

Judge Pritchard has set November .
as the date for beginning hearings n
the Postofiice fraud cases The first case
to be taken up viii be that OF the
Government against A. " Machsn. for
mer chief OF the free delivery service,
the Gron Brothers Of Washington. anI
George f. Lorenz, former postmaster of
Toledo. Ohio and his wife. Attorneys
for the defense declare that they in
tend TO fight 10 the last. and intimate
that the trial OF the first case win con-
sumo several weeks.
Machen Is indicted jointly with DHler
=. and Samuel A. Croft. George r. LOr-
enz and his wife. Martha Lorenz. on
~Aarge Of having cefrauded the United
States Government
Indictments Against Machen.
Fifteen indictments have been r--
turned against Machen alone. and the
Government viii make every effort 10
convict on this first trial as il is feared
that an acQuittal CT a hung jury would
have bad effect uDon the subsequent
trials. The proceedings at the trial viii
be OF the greatest interest, as one OF the
bitterest legal battles in the criminal
annals of the Government Is expected.
A brilliant array Of legal talent has been
engaged by both the Government and
the defense. and every inch Of ground
VIII be hotly confessed.
Daniel Y. Miller, formerly assistant IN
the Office OF Judge James y. Tyncr. ex-
Assistant Attorney General for the
PostOffice Department, and Joseph n
Johns were tried at Cincinnati two
weeks ago on the charge Of conspiring
70 render favorable decisions in the
Trlf1r
). Ryan. the get-rich-quick promoter
but the jury could not agree and they
viii be tried again That was the first
case IN the PostofIice scandals 10 reach
petit jury. but IL had nothing 10 DO
with the illegal contracts. and the postal
officials say that failure OF the jury
TO agree viii not damage the cases
against AIachen and others
The question OF the petition Of Ma
chen and the Grons 10 be permitted 10
inspect certain books and records in the
POstofice and other Governmental de-
partments. was Incidentally referred 10.
and Assistant District Attorney Hugh
T Taggart fntimated that II viii be
/ strongly opposed. BY saying that the
motion is utterly inadmissible.
Proceedings in Court.
According to an agreement between
counsel made last Friday. the question
of setting a date for the trial Of Maehen
and those indicted jointly with him. was
postponed until this morning. This &C
ton was taken on account OF the ab-
sence Of District Attorney Beach. who
was absent on account Of Illness. Be-
I cause OF his health. Mr.. Beach was alb
| sent again today. having left Washing
ton under advice Of his physician. Mr..
! Taggart was in court and represented
the office
When the matter was called up Samuel
Maddox. counsel for the Grons. said to
Justice Pritchard that counsel for the
{ defendants had been negotiating with
the District Attorney for some time
with view Of fixing a date for the trial.
but without success In view OF the
fact that his clients are highly respect
able citizens and never before having
been charged with wrongdoing he asked
that they be given an early trial About
this time Charles A Douglass. OF the
firm of Douglass & Douglass. entered
the court and also asked for speedy
trial for Machen and the Lorenzes. he
informed the court the counsel for some
of the defendants. not residents OF
Washington, had arranged their legal
engagements with the understanding
Z
the early part Of November.
Early Date fer Trial
Mr. Taggart said that it was the vish
OF District Attorney Beach TO accord
the defendants an early trial II is a
fact, however. as everyone knows. that
the investigation OF the Postofice cases
has taken up a great deal OF the time
OF the District Attorney. and It is only
recently that he has had opportunity TO
give particular attention TO any one
case Under the circumstance. Mr.. Tag
CART said he would ask the court 70
fix the date for the trial OF the first Of
the Postofflce cases in the first week IA
I December. Justice Pritchard said he
would fix the date for November %
Mr.. Douglass said that every effort
would be made 10 90 on with the trial
on that date. and said the only Gauss
which he could see at this time woald
be the inability OF Mr.. Beach TO go on
because of his health. Hearing on the
petition OF the defendants 10 inspect
certain records in Governmental depart