Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-16
Mr.. Purdy Opens for Govern
ment on Postal Trial.
INTEREST REVIVED
GENERAL ASSAULT ON THE POSI-
TON OF DEFENSE.
Will Spend All Day and Will Be Fol
lowed by Mr.. Doug
lass, Jr.

The opening argument in the trial of
August W. Machen, George e. Lorenz,
Dlier II. Croft and Samuel A. Croft for
coHspiring to defraud the government in
the purchase of the now notorious Gron
fasteners was begun this morning by AS
sistaut Attorney General Purdy. who is as
sisting in the prosecution. He occupied the
eutire forenoon in an eloquent endeavor TO
show to the jury that conspiracy had been
proven by the testimony produced by the
government. He win be followed by e. 8.
Douglass for the defendants. All the at
torneys Interested in the case will be given
opportunity to address the jury, the
prosecution and defense alternating as fol-
lows: Samuel Maddox. District Attorney
Beach. Judge Kum,er, Chester A. Douglass
ard Holmes Conrad. who will close. 1t is
probable that the arguments will be con-
Guided and the case go to the jury by Fri
day afternoon.
General Interest.
Not as many spectators were present at
the trial this morning as had been antici-
psted, but. as usual, it was of a hetero-
geneous character. composed of men and
women of high and low degree, some inter-
eSted, others curious. all of them attentive.
The defendants We're all in court, and fol-
lowed Mi. Purdy's argument closely. Mrs.
t.ofenz was present for the first time since
her acquittai few days ago Machen' $
wife and sister occupied seats immediately
behind the attorneys for the defense and
seemed to derive from the statements of
Mr.. Purdy more pleasure than embarrass-
ments. Machen sat back comfortably in
his chair. his thumbs in the armholes of
his vest. but his face was a stranger TO a
smile lie. showed by his every move that
his interest is increasing his trial draws
To ff- n,,I
soiemniy over his glasses International
Holmes Conrad special counsel for the
government, furnished perfect picture of
mental concentration. He sat on the right
= or the jury. his brows knit his hands
claSped, his eyes now on the sneaker now
on the floor and now closed. as IL weighing
the Importance of points brought out by Mr.
Pardy Occasionally his face would tighten
up as IL he had discovered some vulnera BILE
pont of attack. for he would lean over jOt
something down in his note book, and lean
back apparently content.
Mr.. Purdy resorted TO every art OF the
clever speaker. When he dwelt on the al
legged conspiracy. his voice fell. he adj
dressed the jury in weird whispers, and
stepped around on tiptoe. until the cold
shiyers must have run up and down the
had occasion to refer to Lorenz he summed
APP all his irony and called the Toledo de-
PENDANT the 'perfumertory man.
During Mr. Purdy'S argument it was nee
essary to rap for order several times, be-
cause Of the apparent attempt of the speak
cr TO hold the various defendants up tn
ridicuie. Ferdinand Machen was referred
To as Uncle Ferd' whenever il beca me
necessary TO mention his name.
Mrs. Lorerz was known in the argument
AS Martha" Mr.. Lorenz as George" Ma
chen as Dear August and the younger
Croft Just plain Sam" These illusions
usually caused laughter, with the possible
exception OF Mrs. Lorenz. who moved UNI
comfortably in her chair.
After the noon recess the defendants oc-
cupied practically TIE same positions Mrs.
i,Srcnz removed her wraps and proceeded
10 make lie! self al home.