Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-20
L. ]. STERN IN COURT
PLEADED NOT GUILTY By CoUN-
Sells ADVICE.
Contract and Information Read in Full
Objection by Prisoners Counsel
Inspector Mayors Testimony.

Thursday last from Canada, where he was
arrested by Post Office Inspector Mayer,
to answer to a charge Of false pretenses
in this city, in connection with the post Of
flee investigation, was brought to the Po-
lice Court today from Jail for prelfmi-
nary hearing
The hearing began shortly before 1:3O
o'clock, when Stern, after listening TO the
charge, extending over seven typewriter
pages, read to him by Clerk Sebring, plead
ed not guilty, by advice of his counsel AT
torney w. d. Classic.
The government was represented by Hugh
Taggart. assistant to the United states ols-
trict attorney.
Charges in the Information.
In brief. the two charges contained IN the
one information against Stern accuse MIN
of attempting to defraud the unlteu states
government in connection with contract
for mrs satchels for letter carr.'fs OF the
Post Office Department.
The information recites that June II,
1898 the defendant contracted to supply the
United States government with TOUR ainer-
ent kinds of specified mail SatchelS, with a
particular style of shoulder strap attached.
According to the charge he supplied the
satcheIs and during December of the same
wear he presented a bill for $5,O29.11, &C
companied by certificate from L. W. NC
Oregon of the Post Office department, that
the Satchels had been delivered, ana as
result he received a warrant for the amount
of his bill. According to the information
the straps on the satchels We're not of the
kind that had been contracted for, but were
already the property of the government
having been purchased by the POST ohice
Department at an earlier date.
The other charge contained in the 1nfor-
nation is similar in character, the amount
involved being SS,2t2S2.
Inspector Mayors Testimony.
The first witness called was Inspector
Mayer, who said that he was instructed TO
make the investigation of the Stern case.
He identified the contract made by Stern
with the Post Office Department, which Mr.
Taggert offered in evidence.
The defense offered an objection, but
Stern, so the witness stated. had admitted
to him that the copy offered IN EVIDENCE
was the original one.
Judge Scott permitted the contract to go
in evidence, and the prosecuting attorney
read the paper to the court.
The contract, which covered several type
written pages. was made with Postmaster
Charles Emory Smith The attorney for
the government, after reading portion or
the paper, wanted to waive further read
ing, but that was objected to by the de-
Tense and the reading was continued Inc
paper described the character of material
which was to be used for the satchels ana
the mode of making them.
After the reading was concluded Attorney
Classic called the courts attention to the
fact that no mention was made in the con-
tract of straps. although 1t was mentioned
in "A newspaper advertisement which was
attached to the contract The prosecuting
attorney disagreed with the attorney for
the defense and referred to exhibits which
were attached to and a part of the con-
tract.
When Inspector Mayer resumed the
stand he identified the warrants paid to
Stern after which the prosecuting attor-
ney offered them in evidence.
The defense, however. offered an objec-
ton claiming that the witness had no per-
sonal knowledge that the defendant re-
ceived the warrants Some time was spent
in discussing the matter. and Judge Scott
finally allowed them to go In.
Vouchers Admitted.
number of vouchers were filed from
postmasters in different sections of the
United States to the effect that they had
received satchels from Stern's place Oh
business at Baltimore. Again the defense
noted an objection. declaring that there
was nothing the vouchers to indicate
whether or not straps were attached to the
satchels received.
Another discussion of considerable length
ensued between the attorneys, but the
vouchers We're finally permitted by the
court to go in evidence.
Mr.. Mayer was still the stand when
this report closed at o'clock. 1t Is not
likely that the hearing will be concluded
today.