The Washington times., 1904-01-29


Postmaster General Smith had told
Machen TO report to hiin direct i'm mat
tiers relating 20 rural free delivery.
New Devices Tes,ed.
at was usual to grant the privilege
CT testing new devices. Witness thought
Il was the custom for Machen 20 con-
suit the First Assistant Postmaster
General about new devices. In some in
stances authority 10 make the tests
was given by telephone on submitted
me morandum. IN 1902 a rule was estab-
hshed prohibiting such informal authori-
z-tlcn. She Identified orders for Croft
fasteners which were not initiated by
Machen at all. but by subordinates in
his ofiioc.
Witness also identified reouisitions
from route inspectors. asking for the
fasteners. The object was TO show that
the distribution of the fasteners did
not originate with Mr. Machen but was
due 10 the unsolicited acquisitions of the
Inspectors and postmasters.
Mr- bongass-l want to show that
Machen did not personally take a per-
nicious interest in the sale OF the fas-
teners as charged.
Mr.. Beach, viii eniighten you.
Mr.. Douglass need all the enlighten-
Mr. Beach, think you do. The Gov
eminent does not care TO show that the
have shown that the letters initiated by
him or BE- his chief clerk in ''uncon-
scious Imitation OF his signature
brought money back to him. The de-
fense has tried 20 put the responsibility
or Mr.. Machen's clerk
Mr.. D0uglass-Mr. Beach is not talk
ing seriously. lie Is joking with the
court and with innocent and modest
counsel We are not trying 20 throw
the responsibility on woman
Defense Had Right"
b. Justice Pritchard said the Govern
ment had offered a great deal Of evil
dance showing Machen's connection
with the orders. and the defense had a
rlght to show the contrary.
2tr Douglass asked for the Maybury
am Ellis contract for letter boxes. de-
sirirg TO show that back in 1897 the
SS S5I LISTENERS were standard supplies
MI Dougi0ss-l have never been n
postofiice Inspector and don't know
much about these papers.
Mr.. Beach-You say you have never
Mr.. Douglass believe you really
mean that for compliment
Mr. Beach--fhat depends on how you
AR. MADDOX asked Miss Liebhardt to
identify Dnler T. Croft. She had never
seen him. sam GTon she had seen some
years ago Young Diller r. Croft was
called into the room. She knew him
a soon as she said she identified him
young Gron left the room so hurriediy
that Mr. Beach spoke OF it a ''disap-
pearing view
Mr.. Beach Con crcss-examination)-
YOU first knew Mr.. Machen eleven years
ago He was somewhat younger then
Mr.. Doug iass-That's like Taggart's
asking Il man was still dead.
Mir. Beach-You were somewhat
younger then yourself?
Miss Liobhardt-I am thirty-three
now.
Mr.. Beach, didn't mean to be so IN
gallant as to ask your age.
Machen's personal Clerk
rsSv3 tness said she was Machens per-
tsohoi clerk sgvhen he went into Office
She was dra sing SEQ. and now she IS
drawing Sl,Seo. She first signed his per
sonal mail Later she admitted she be-
gan signing his official letters. At first
her hand <riting was different from HIS.
but in the time from 1923 to 1901 the
handwriungs had become so similar she
could not tell the difference between
the initials ~. W. NJ" when signed by
Machsn and by herself. Witness had
never signed any letters to LOrenz. as
he was Machen' : personal friend. She
signed many letters 70 people in To-
Nacdo as after Mr.. Machen was ap-
wanted place in the Postoffice De
pdrtment. and she signed letters with
Machen's name 10 the place-hunters.
Uses
Mr. Beach-why did you. in some
cases. put your initials on letters. and
then sign Machen's initials. while in
others you left Off your initials
Miss Ljebhardt-When the rush was
Frsat; and did not have time. left my
issar Beach-And Machen. poor man.
Cd not have time to sign 1t ail2
Miss Liebhardt-Yes.
Witness said she had fun authority
from Machen 10 sign his name
>f5e assumed fun responsibility for
eEerything i signed, said the Witness
1lr. Douelass-And he does now
AR. Beach-Thats very proper and
manly Of him.
witness knew Macben's family and
.vikited his home. A letter signed Au-
gust =. lsaZ. was not in her handwriting
because she was in Nova Scotia. at that
On redirect examination the witness
said she was not certain but Thought
Mr. Conrad. chief clerk 10 Mr. Rrfstov,
also signed Mr. Bris5ow's name as
she did Machen'a.
Speich Takes Stand.
Emanuel sPeieh, auditing clerk of
The free delivery system was called as
Inc second witness for the defense. He
has held the place two years. and yyas
formerly in the Treasury.
Mr. SPEECH explained that he prac-
tically did the preliminary work of an
auditor
Miss Liebhardt was recalled and fden-
stlfied tie Maybury & Ellis contract for
fetter boxes. II was in the handwriting
OF Mr.. Marche
Mr.. Maddox asked that he be sworn
as a witness TO testify how far hack
NJ had noticed the erasure IN the state
ment of Dilier =. Groff TO the inspectors
II would be a most important point FOR
the GrOffs. he said
Nj Maddox then went on the stand
He went 10 the PostOfiice Department In
october. 1913, to inspect papers in the
case inspector Mayer seemed TO be in
charge OF the Office he visited He
asked Mr. Mayer for the GroT state
ment. lie got a typewriter copy. but
asked for and obtained the original
lie noticed that the first time the word
Machen occurred there was an erasure
az the end He called Mr.. Douglass
and drew his attention 20 IT,
The erasure occurred in the sentence.
j first went 10 see Mr. Bell in The
city postofiice. and then went to soc
AR. Machen. When the paper was lost
IN the early part OF the trial Il had acct
qentally been taken TO the Office Of Mr
Douglass
ar, Beach (soIemnly)-Mr. Maddox
you realize the obligation OF an cath2
Dir. Maddox do.
. AIR. Beach-What is your age2
DIR. Douglass rise TO a question of
privilege The witness cannot be COM
peeled 70 incriminate himself Laugh