The Washington times., 1904-01-11

GDZf Martina =. LoTelZ, his VII G ALtltI
B. Croft. and Samuel A G.Off We're
asked to plead before Justice ]. G.
Fritchard, in Criminal Court 10. /. in
answer to the indictment charging them
with having cOnspired to defraud the
Government in the sale of GrOn letter
box fasteners TO the Postofice Depart
ment at 81 each. when they were worth
but . cents.
Selecting the jury was the only work
accomplished this morning. and court
adjourned at noon in order to allow
sixty more talcsmen to be summoned
for the opening of the court at 10 a. m
tomorrow. Ten peremptory challenges
" ere allowed to each side. and when
&C turt adjourned the Government had
three and the defense four challenges
unused. There were eleven men in the
| il ry box at adjournment. and there is
NJ telling which of them will be allowed
TO remain.
Those in jury Box.
The eleven men now in the box are:
Douglas Markham, w. o. Bergman.
Emil Burgdorf, Charles f. West, Clar-
ence Bradburn. William p Cannon,
Samuel II. Stidham. Honey L. HerreI
John F. Gerhold, Roach Abel, !. E.
Clements.
Macncf. the Central uBuEt u the x AeAAs
was the first to plead and answered
Not guilty. in a voice absolutely calm
Dressed in a sober business suit, with a
turned down collar and black neckte, he
resembled the business man at mis- desk
and in no way suggested the man ac-
cused of having defrauded the Govern
ment of thousands Of dollars by gross
abuse of his official power
All Eyes on Machen-
Every eye in the courtroom sought the
portIy figure OF the ex-superintendent,
out he was in no way put out by the
/ scrutiny When he recognized an old
friend he bowed slightly and gave that
queer half conciliatory. half contemp-
tuous smile. or rather grin, which is one
Of his most marked characteristics.
! With his hands folded across his
breast he lay back in his chair. per-
rectly Al ease. but very alert. and
watched the selection OF the men who
/ are to send him forth free and vindi-
| Gated or render a verdict which Will
herald him through the land as a selon
unworthy of public trust.
Only once did he speak TO his aJtOr-
neys and then with a sudden movement
he leaned forward to Charles A. Doug
lass. his principal counsel, and whis-
pered suggestion about a name What
the suggestion was did not appear from
subsequent developments. Having
spoken to Mr.. Douglass. he again folded
his hands and assumed his combined
look Of alertness and Indifference
Croft Seemed Worried.
Samuel A. Croft. the inventor whose
/ fastener was sold TO the Postoffce De-
partment. and who is accused of having
dealt with Machen through Mr. and Mrs
Lcrenz. is man of middle life well put
up. quiet in dress and manner, and look
/ ing to perfection his part Of a policeman
in plain clothes His face expressed
more worry than that OF any of the
other prisoners. with the possible ex-
iception of Mrs. Lorenz.
! Croft leaned slightly forward In his
chair and watched the proceedings with
/ intense interest, IN that respect differ
/ ing from his brother Diller, who acted
as if he were amused by what was tax
ing place.
Those at the counsel table for the
prosecution were Morgan II. Beach.
United States District Attorney; Jess"
| Atkins Charles II. Keigwin. and Hugh
D. Taggart. Assistant District Attor-
Ecys: Hugh L. Purdy. Assistant Attor-
lney General, and Holmes Conrad, spe-
cial counsel.
For the Defendant.
| Representing the defense were Charles
! A Douglass, s. r Douglass. Conrad
/ Syrne. Samuel Maddox. and John +.
1 Kumler. a noted criminal lawyer from
1 Toledo. who was engaged as special
counsel for Mr.. and Mrs Lorenz-
Cards were required 70 obtain aGmis-
sion to the trial. and while the room
was filled not enough persons were ad-
/ nlitted to crowd it. Those in attendance
we're principally witnesses and attor-
news. and an effort was made. as far
as possible to limit the spectators TO
! those two classes
The prominent Postoffice Department
officials> who were expected to be there
in the capacity of witnesses knew that
the case could not get to the point of
hearing evidence today, and few of
them were on land Perry Heath was
looked for by the spectators almost
with as much interest as was Machen.
/ but he sent "a telegram 10 Justice Pritch-
ard. saying that it would be impossible
/ for him to reach the city until O'Clock
this afternoon.
Mr.. Wynne Absent.
! r. ] Wynne. First Assistant Postmas-
/ ter General the man who was largely
! responsible for the downfall of Machen.
was not there, but ]. ]. Howley, his
! chief clerk. was. ]. c. Robb. Assistant
/ Attorney General for the Postoffice De
partment. was also absent. Chief In
/ spector Cochran. whose men ran down
! the evidence which VII Oe offered
/ against the accused, was not in the
courtroom this morning, but some of
/ his inspectors were there to keep an
/ eye on the proceedings.
First blood was drawn for the Govern
ment when. after the pleas OF not guilty
| were entered, G. A. Douglass asked the
| Court TO hear argument on the number
OF peremptory challenges which should
! be allowed each side. Justice Pritchard
! decided that each side should have ten.
| Mr.. Syme opened for the Dc efense Oy
saying that as there were hVe defend
! ants, and they were charged with 4