Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-13
Central Point of Post Office
Trial Today.
LIVELY EXAMINATION
FIRST TILT BETWEEN COUNSEL
MAKES THINGS ACTIVE.
Rapid Fire of Questions as to Officials
and Their Duties-Sign-
Ing the Mail.

The calling of Mr.. Robert J. Wynne. first
assistant postmaster general. to the witness
stand was the feature of this forenoon's
session of court In the trial Of August w.
Machen. the Lorenzs and the Groffs for
alleged conspiracy to defraud the govern
ment.
Mr.. John J. Howley who is chief clerk In
Mr. Wynne's office, and who has been con-
nected with the Post Office Department In
different capacities for fifteen or more
years was on the stand for more than an
hour, the cross-examination that was begun
late yesterday afternoon not having been
completed.
Mr.. Howley underwent an extremely Sc
we're fusillade of questions fired at him by
Attorney Charles A. Douglass.
At no time during the day was the court
room crowded. When Justice Pritchard
announced that court was convened. about
ten minutes after 10 o'clock, perhaps half
Of the benches were empty.
Several of the jurymen were late In TAX
Eng their seats. Judge Kumler, the ONO
lawyer, who represents specifically the
Lorenzs when asked If the jurymen would
be kept together and by themselves during
the progress of the trial and until It's COM
pletion with verdict, said:
so far as / am concerned shau not ASK
for 1t. It Is customary In many criminal
cases for jurymen to be kept under the
eye Of an officer Of the court, but snail
ask for no such order from the court
II feel the same way" said Mr.. Charles
A. Douglass, one of Mr.. Machen's personal
counsel.
Mrs. Lorenz wore the same garb that she
did yesterday. She chatted with members
of the counsel for the defense when sne
came into the court room. and later LOOK
seat next to her husband. Machen was
among the first persons to reach the court
room this morning. The Grofs were the
last of the defendants to take their accus-
toned seats.
Before court convened, for perhaps
quarter of an hour, Machen spent his time
reading different documents and papers
that had been given him by ms counsei,
and which were later introduced into the
trial. He still wore a low, turnover coilar
and lawn summer tie.
The counsel for the government seemed
pleased when Mr.. Wynne took the stand
The first question asked the first assistant
postmaster general was in line with the ex-
animation of Mr.. Howley. The attorneys
found in Mr.. Wynne witness who seemed
to know his rights in the premises. and who
was apparently anxious to give the informa-
ton that was sought.
The counsel for the defendants in the
cross-examination of Mr.. Howley, which
was continued until the forenoon was near
ly exhausted, sought to show that the first
assistant postmaster general was not per-
forming his duties, inasmuch as he had not
caused to be made personal investigation
as to the genuineneSS of the in tialS on let
ters that came to him for signature.
Mr.. Wynne admitted that Mr.. Machen de-
cided upon the supplies that were needed in
the division of the bureau under his (Mr.
Machen's) supervision. He did not attempt
to take upon himself the entire responsl-
bility of looking up the genuineness of in
itials or signatures that came to him for
approval. He admitted that he was de-
pendent largely upon honesty of the men
who held subordinate positions.
Mr.. Machen would decide the number of
nd fn ha
for them," said the first assistant post
master general.
Mr.. Wynne was permitted to answer few
questions during the time he was on the
witness stand at the forenoon session, by
reason Of the objections that were made by
the counsel for the defense and the argu-
ments that ensued He sat erect in the
witness box while the arguments proceeded
and seemed particularly interested in the
points that were being made by the coun-
sci on either side. He wore a black cuta-
way coat. which was buttoned at the top.
A tall, white collar. to which was attached
a cravat of brownish hue. encircled his
neck.
Attorney Holmes Conrad took cop,ous
notes while the passage of words between
Mr.. Taggart and Mr.. Douglass ensued
About the time that Mr.. Wynne was called
to the stand Justice Anderson came into
the court room and took seat on the
bench adjoining that of Justice Pritchard
The two Justices conyersed at times during
the arguments
inspector Mayer. who was instrumental In
the work of preparing the case for the
government, under the direction of Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow oc-
cupied a seat at table near a window
at the right OF the court room. He watched
every question and answer and the state
ments of the counsel with great interest
and frequently made notes in a small book
that he held in his hand
The dingy old court room was even
dingier than ever this morning Yesterday
the sun streamed through the windows and
made IT easier for the court officials and
attorneys to do their work. Today it was
necessary to light the gas Jets and then
some of the counsel found IL necessary TO
give better adjustment to their spec
tacIes.
Attorney Kumler is a cousin of Represen
tauve Lands of Indiana, who on yester-
day was a spectator from the bench of the
proceedings. This fact was brought out
this morning, shortly before court con-
vened. when some one asked him If he had
not been talking with the court yesterday.
Il suppose you took me for Landis" he
said 1T is not the first time that have
been taken for him. We are relatives"
And then he explained the rela ation ship
There is every indication that the trial of
the five defendants charged with conspiracy
to derraud the government may last for
many weeks. The defense is prepared to
contest every ground, and the government
II equally determined that it's rights shall
be protected to the furthest limit.
Mr.. Howley ross-Examinsd.
Judge Kumler. representing the Lorenzs,
announced Immediately upon the convening
of court that he had progressed yesterday
afternoon far enough with the cross-exam-
ination of Mr.. John J. Howley to satisfy
himself, and that attorneys for other de-
PENDANTS would ask some questions
few minutes before the court adjourned
yesterday afternoon Mr.. Howley had told
of the custom In the office OF the first as
sistant postmaster general for subordinates
TO place their initials on all letters coming
to the first assistant postmaster general for
final signature. Judge Kumer, during the
cross-examination yesterday afternoon, had
tried to bring out the fact that there had
been general order that a subordinate
should place his initial on correspondence,
or whether 1t might be done by other per-
sons designated by the heads of divisions
In the first assistants bureau.
Mr.. Charles A. Douglass took up the
cross-examination this morning. 1t was the
evident design of Mr.. Douglass line of ex-
animation to show that other employees
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