Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-03
DENY ALL.
The Croft Brothers Testify in
Postohice Trial.
Claim They Are Not Implicated in
Fraudulent Transactions.
.,..r, That They Never Had Dealings
With Maehen.

xr,bin~tou Feb. 2.-IeStlfylnS IN
-; own behalf in the postal trial, to-
in,. uller r. Croft. Il brother of Sam
Croft. declared that when he
rh, IN introduce the letter box
[,,n,e, into the postal service, he
Ia, No idea of reaching" Machen
. .,'1 Mr.. Lorenz or anybody else,
I'-oo,Iv or indirectly. He denied that
uacb.r.s name ever was mentioned to
III, Al The time Mr.. Lorenz made the
ara.r..ut III 1873. with the Croft
Dr,,b.rs and said that had Mr. Lor-
iu,i,r2tcd i'll any way That he
a,,rJ ueo his influence with Machen
,,,,,t,atiolis would have been at
~, .nd. Whoa he sent cheeks 20 MI
,,,, il. Toledo. he said he knew
'''.,,n,, If any rcmttanccs being for
-. Mr. LorellZ to Machen.
samu. \. Croft, VINO pfece"e" MS
h,othcr told II tn" various steps LIZ
an b,. him 10 interest postal c!hploEes
ond ottiriqls to the invention before ana
ae,ar II was patented and testified that
at.horr, he had been II So" MI
uarche Machen's chief CLERK ABOUT
tho matter. he vas never ape 70 sce
u,chnp who always seemed busy. he
VOC surpised he said. when the post
ot,ice inspectors called on him, ana
added that to be implicated III any II
legged fraudulent transactions Wis tic
last thing he expected.
Samuel A. Croft continued his
testimony regarding the trans
actions of the Croft brothers
with August W. Machen ana
George T.. Lorcnz in connection WIN
lin. sale Of letter Lox fasteners t" the
government At the outset counsel loi
the defence attacked the integrity OF
the declaration prepared by the post
office inspectors and signed by the VIZ
ness before his arrest.
Counsel FOR the government objected
10 a question put by Nj. douglass, as
to whether or not Inspector to:nes.
who signed the declaration had not
been rewarded by being promoted to
MIR. Machen's place The court ruled
that the evidence vas not competent
unless Fcrnes waS on the stand. On
cross-examnation Mr.. Croft said Ma
chen hai informed him that Machcn
vas in charge. He called several!
He called several times. he testified,
but never got an opportunity to tax
II with Ma.'hcn. \; the time Lorttz
made the agreement or . half interest
il, the fasteners ne said he did no:
hear Mlch"H's name mentioned ~
lid know that Machen was in all oil
rM pnitiun 10 influence the purchase
Of thu fastener. Every order he said
was signed by the first assistant post
master general. Asked why he HAD
not called on the first assistant post
/ master general, Mr.. Croft said the,
We're 50 many people introducing in
r,ntiona aouud the department it WIS
| impossible 20 So" anybody.
Mr. Croft said he vas surprised whcr
post olUr,, inspectors called upon him
When ;0l,l by the inspectors to sign thu
declaration he said he was commanded
To do 81. "The command" he said
was 50 sudden cbeyed to get rid o
| them. @
He said that hal the inspectors pu
TITO the declaration all he said at th'
time Of their visit this would have
cleared the matter with respect t
Lorrnzs share in the profits derive,
from the sale of The fasteners.
Dillcrt &. Gref : corroborated tn
Statem"n. of his brother concerning til
liking Of the original price of $3.50 fo
tile fastener, and testified that Nj
Machcn regarded 1T as satsfactor
aud said he would recommend tina
figure After receiving the first il
i n lSS, but before it was filled. Mr.. t;r"i
SALT he tried to interest Mr.. Maddos
but that AIR. Machen declined
Replying to Question by Mr.. Doug
lass. MI. Croft said that when tn
Mict of the fastener was reduced fr"i
$50 to si.e5. he told his brother
sWe'wiil stand it this time, but
theie is any more reduction We vi
Sc quay and put him on to Ma, hen.
.sts characterized as base false
HATS some Of the statements of III
wv office Inspectors. and said l.
~ dcnied sending Of checks I
"a srsnz.' cor that he knew him.
"a VII tross-eNamination. Mr.. Croft sal
u0at Lorenz received his share Of til
prohts on the Philadelphia order, bu
Ho'h'!g on account of the Wa'hincto
""'r' az it MIS- placed before til
agreement With Lorcnz was mace.
III r"Si"us" t. Il question by NJ
rudy, Mr.. tiro;, said that had Lnrrl
sl"krn % his acquaintance with Nj
'"'h and said that hc would use II
influence with him, it would have ;