New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-22
MACHEN'S BIG PROFITS.
Made $4,000 Year on $500
Salary, Holmes Conrad Asserts.

Washington, Jan. 2f.-An interesting incident
i'm the trial OF August W. Machen the Croft
Brothers and the I.oreuzes on charges of postal
frauds came up just before the usual hour for
adjournment To-day. Throughout the day bank
officials had been the stand testifying con-
cerning various checks and drafts which had
passed between D. r. Croft Martha ]. Lorenz
George f Lorenz and Machen In the course
of the testimony yesterday it was brought out
that among the checks sent by d. g. Croft 10
Martha ]. Lorenz was one for S2.O62, and the
government to-day sought to show that about
that time Machen drew "a sight draft on George
f. LorenZ for 81 .031. half the amount of the
check Several similar transactions were set
forth. the witnesses giving the dates and
amounts OF the various draft deposits by
Machen.
Mr.. Taggart, for the government, then offered
In evidence the transcript OF Machen's entire
account with the Union National Bank of West
minister, Md. While Mr.. Douglass. Machen's
counsel, was vigorously opposing its admission
Holmes Conrad special counsa! for the govern
ment examined the transcript. After Mr. Doug
lass had taken his seat Mr.. Conrad rose to reply
1t appears" he said. that the defendant
Machen. was making over S20o0O a year
A strong protest against this statement came
from Mr. Douglass. MIR. Conrad. however. con-
tinued and said he proposed 20 show that this
transcript Of this mans account in this bank
demonstrates that salary of $500 a year
by the obseI vance of strict economy and due
attention To business he making $4,000 a
year
Mr. Douglass was quickly on his fee, and
pretesttd that IN raatters~itsvoly ing the issues
OF .he ..slse counsel oushc net - make n state
meHt of that character
Il made II Intentionally Mr.. Conrad said.
All right retorted Mr.. Douglass: so much
the worse and much the stronger the criti-
cism."
Mr.. Douglass declared that Mr.. Conrad had
taken issue with the District Attorney and with
the government. Continuing, he said:
II knew very well what was 10 be and
sought to uncover the situation"
The special counsel for the government he
said had taken issue with the District At
torney's Office and says: we want this thing
IN for the purpose OF proving Machen made
S2otslO year" Driven 10 the wall. il was now
disclosed that this was the real purpose of the
government. To admit the transcript he said
would put Machen on trial not in one case but
and the Same time. He reverted 10 the testi-
mony and said that MaChen had been declared
by two former First Assistant Postmaster Gen.
erals to be efficient and pable public Off
cial, and that Mr.. Heath had characterized him
one of the fathers of rural free delivery. He
insisted that MdChen entitled TO be tried on
the one single charge contained in the indict-
ment
Mr. Kumler followed Mr. Douglass and
speaking with much feeling, called on Mr.. Con-
rad 10 stand up like and admit the un-
fairness of his statement.
Mr.. Conrad answered that he had nothing to
add TO what he already had said. He declared
that the government not seeking to convict
either of the defendants unless the evidence ad-
dUced conviCts them and insisted that the
transcript admissible as evidence.
The hour for adjournment had long past and
it was agreed that the point should be argued
further tomorrow.