The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-29
MISS INA S. UEBHARDT
THE FIRST WITNESS FOR
A.W. MACHEN AND OTHERS
Chief Clerk of the Rural Free De
livery Division Testihes at the
Fraud Trial.
MRS. LORENZ IN TEARS
Weeps When Counsel for Defense
Says She Has Been Scandalized
by the Government.
MRS. LORENZ IN TEAR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The defense in
the postal trial opened to-day. Mr.. Mad
dox. on behalf of the Groffs. said he would
prove that George Z. Lorenz in 1895 had
purchased for $500 a one-half interest in
the Croft fastener. He was followed by
Mr.. Kumler for the Lorenzes who asserted
that as far back as 1883 Machen, George +.
Lorenz and his brother engaged in the oil
business in Ohio, and that as a result of
their various transactions George +. Lor-
enz owed Machen So. 900. and that whatever
money Lorenz paid to Machen was in set
Element of an honest debt Conrad Syme,
on behalf of Machen. agreed with what
Mr.. Maddox and Mr.. Kumler had said. and
added that he would prove there was no
conspiracy.
When Mr.. Kumler. in the course of his
opening remarks, said that Mrs 1orenz
had been scandalized by the government,
which had treated her with cruelty, Mrs.
Lorenz broke down and wept bitterly She
was led from the room by Mrs. Machen
and Mrs. Phillips. Mr.. Machens sister She
recovered her composure during the recess
and occupied her accustomed place in
court.
The first witness for the defense was Miss
Ina s. Liebhardt, chief clerk of the rural
free delivery division, who had testified for
the government She gave in great detail
a statement of the administrative duties of
the superintendent or the Tree delivery Ill
vision, and said that since 1901 she had
placed Machen's name and initials on nearly
every paper going out OF the free delivery
division, and that prior to that date she
had taken similar action with respect to at
least half the mail. She said that she
signed Machen's initials or name to at
least three hundred papers a day, and that
many of them related to Gron fasteners.
This, she testified, was done in a routine
manner because the Croft fastener had be-
come fixed supply. She also testified that
various officials of the Postofice Depart
ment were aware that she placed MachenS
initials and signature on official papers.
Miss Liebhardt said that a great deal OF
congressman and postmasters regarding the
extension of the rural free delivery. She
said that frequently while engaged in such
conversations Machen would sign or initial
letters. Asked specifically about Croft
fasteners, Miss Liebhardt said that several
tentton because the fastener was fixed
supply" In cases involving a new article,
however, she said she would speak to the
superintendent about it.
1t was brought out that the order given
the Groffs for the fasteners at the reduced
price of $.25 each was dated July Is, 1899.
and was signed by Machen himself.
Miss Liebhardt was then called on TO iden-
tify various initials and signatures of
Machen to certain vouchers and warrants
for Gron fasteners, some of which she said
were placed thereon by herself and others by
Machen personally. Miss Liebhardt said
that in all these transactions Machen never
in any way had indicated to her to increase
the number of fasteners and never had di-
rected her to take any steps to hurry for
ward the approval of bills She further tes-
titled that Machen never had talked with her
on the subject of Croft fasteners except in
connection with the trial Of this case.
The witness had not concluded when court
adjourned until tomorrow