Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-18
PRElIMIN OVER
MISS LIEBHARDT TO SHOW CON-
NECTIoN BETWEEN DEFENDANTS
Justice Pritchard Objects to Dilatory
Tactics-Models of Golf Easten-
ers in Court.

August w. Machen and who is at present
chief clerk in the free delivery service, was
called to the witness stand
The original letter from Samuel A Croft
to Machen, advising the latter of his inven-
ton and seeking opportunity to have 1t
tested by the Post Office Department, was
offered in evidence by Assistant District
Attorney Taggart and was identified by
Miss Liebhardt.
The letter book containing copy of the
letter sent by Machen to Samuel A. Croft,
asking the latter to call at the Office of
the superintendent of free delivery, was
also introduced. 1t was also identified by
Mrs Lebhardt.
The witness is an unusually attractive
young woman. Her appearance on the
stand gave every Indication that she was
familiar with the affairs in her office. She
was modestly attired in a gown OF brown
texture and wore hat of red and black.
The court room where the trial of the
alleged Post Office Department conspirators
Is being conducted resembled junk shop
today. Both the defense and the govern
ment exhibited letter boxes, posts and the
Croft fasteners. They were placed about
the witness box, and almost hid the wit
ness from view.
On previous DAYS of the trial Mr.. Samuel
A. Grou, the Oe1enQdnt VINO lnNeHteu lHo
fastener under consideration, has seldom
changed positions in his seat while in the
court room. 1t has been his wont to keep
his eyes constantly on the witness being ex-
amined He took livelier interest today.
The introduction of his invention seemed
to awaken renewed interest with him.
When the exhibits were brought into
court he left his chair and helped place
them in position in front of the reporters
ha irafrn
evidence.
Fastening Matters.
Justice Pritchard is desrous that no time
be lost in the examination of witnesses. At
the same time he is patient in listening to
every question and answer that may have
the slightest bearing on the case. At one
time this forenoon, when Assistant District
Attorney Taggart was examining a wit
ness as to the usefulness of the Groff fas-
tener he interrupted the examination.
1T seems to me that it Is conceded that
the Croft fastener is a useful article TO
the government Now you all agree If
you talk on. you may disagree; then we
will have plenty of trouble.
DO YOU want these exhibits removed from
the court room?" asked District Attorney
Beach.
Yes" said the court land as quickly as
possible"
Strengthened back in his chair. while
Justice Pritchard will not stand for any
extended levity in the court. At the first
suggestion of nirth he ins SITS on order.
At another time during the forenoon's
proceedings, when Attorney Douglass for
the defense was objecting to the admis-
sion Of certain papers or documents on the
ground that no prima facie evidence of
conspiracy had been proven, District At
torney Beach arose and said:
I'VE can't prove a conspiracy at a
jump"
mo-. said Justice Pritchard, but let's
jump along lively as we cam
This brought forth much laughter, which
was promptly silenced by the bailiff
Today Is the first time that Attorney
Samuel Maddox has been heard to any ex-
tent Heretofore he has sat next to At
torney Douglass and Judge Kumler Of To-
ledo. and has advised In the cross-examin-
alton, or has occasionally interposed an
objection on the part of the Groffs, whom
he represents He cross-eXamined Major
James z. Bell. superintendent Of delivery
in the Washington city post office Mr..
Maddox seemed to be suffering from q
cold which made his voice hardly audible to
persons who sat In the back part of the
court room.
Major Bell presented his usual martial
appearance on the witness stand. He gave
his answers very much in the same manner
that he would address his superior officer
In the District National Guard. He showed
that he was familiar with the duties of his
position to extraordinary degree.
He stood up, and, with one of the Croft
fasteners in his hand. explained its work.
Ing. He seemed to be familiar with the
technical terms of mechanism The Groffs
listened attentively to every word he said
and seemed particularly pleased when the
witness declared that the Croft invention
was the best thing Of the kind that had
come TO the attention OF the Post Office De-
partment. and was a vast improvement over
the old device used
Justice Pritchard when the prooeedinps
We're dryer than usual read the typewrit-
ten pages or the testimony adduced at Sat
days session. Postal Inspector Mayer was
as busy as ever. He rumnaged about the
white telescope bag that contains many of
the documents that the government will
seek to introduce as evidence. These papers
or documents are fled In large envelopes
which are numbered in big black figures
There were several Tits between opposing
counsel. An expression that was used by
Judge kumler In trying to show to the
court upon an objection, that the govern
ment was trying to conduct the case back
ward brought smile even to Justice
Prftchard.
Apart from these occasional sallie. the
forenoon was devoid of any interest other
than usual
In the early part of the day Mr.. Machen
took notes, from which later he prompted
Attorney Maddox in the cross-examfnation
With the Groffs he went over to the exhfb-
its Of letter boxes and fasteners and ex-
amined them closely.
The Croft Firm.
The first step taken by the government
VIXEN the trial was resumed today was the
Introduction of documentary evidence to
show that patent had been granted to
6amuel A. Gron for an improvement on
letter box fasteners and that prior to the
granting of the patent he had assigned a
half interest therein to his brother, DilIer
3. Croft.
= Next NJ. Glpfn. Treasury Department
clerk took the stand to identify paper
produced from the files of the Treasury
Department. The paper was an authorize
ticn for Diiler B. Croft to be the financial
manager of and to sign for the firm of
Croft Brothers.
Joseph Harper. deputy clers of the Police
Court, who is a notary public, testified that
/ the paper referred to was sworn to by the
(Conkinued On Eleventh Pass@