Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
SKELETON IN CLOSET
Statement by Attorney in
Post Office Investigation.
OPENING OF DEFENSE
ATTORNEY E. s. DOUGLASS RE-
VIEWS EVIDENCE AT LENGTH.
Followed by Attorney Maddox, Repre-
senting Croft Brothers-Trial
Nearing the Close.
OPENING OF DEFENSE

There is a skeleton in the closet some
where. These people who are conducting
the prosecution of Machen, Lorenz and the
Groffs have something which must be COW
cred and kept hidden This significant
statement vas made this morning by At
torney E. Scott Douglass, in the course OF
the first argument to be made by the de-
Tense in the now famous postal fraud cases.
Mr.. Douglass subjected the prosecution, and
the integrity of the men conducting the
prosecution, to a severe arraignment. He
pictured Mr.. Machen an Industrious In
iividual, to whose energy and ability is
due the present efficient free delivery sys-
TEN. He termed the post office inspectors
hounds of the government, whose duty,
purpose and intent it is to secure convic-
ton"
He declared the fact that the alleged
''divvy". was always accomplished through
checks, bearing the signatures of all parties
concerned was in itself proof against any
conspiracy. Mr.. Douglass concluded at
1918. The afternoon session of the court
was occupied by Samuel Maddox. special
Counsel for Diller b. Croft and Samuel A.
Croft.
AS the trial. already Of seven weeks dura-
ton. draws closer to the end, the defend
ants appear more anxious, the attorneys
more weary and the spectators more inter-
ested. The defendants were all present this
morning. and the attendance OF spectators
showed an increase over that OF yesterday.
Mr.. Holmes Conrad. special counsel for the
government. was the only representative of
the government present, except Post once
Inspector Maher.
United States District Attorney Morgan
H. Beach was absent preparing his argu-
ment, which he will submit tomorrow. Mr..
Taggart was taking exercise in the halls
of the court house and incidentally attend
,y.rr 80 tlNv 1,,,~f Twas hi oh,
trict attorneys Office has been compelled to
neglect temporarily. Mr.. Purdy, assistant
attorney general, completed his argument
yesterday afternoon. after having devoted
six hours to endeavor to establish the
guilt of the accused. His connection with
the case has therefore practically been
concluded.
The Attorneys Confer.
When the court convened this morning
twenty minutes were devoted to an AL
pkCnse and CASTOR dialogue between the
opposing attorneys as to how many hours
the court should allow for remaining ar
guments. c. A. Douglass of the defense
was very anxious that the sessions be made
longer, and that the court sit Saturday
evening in order that the case might go
to the Jury before Sunday. He was very
much afraid that if he made the closing
argument for the defense Saturday, and the
jury be allowed all of Sunday and Monday
CWashington's birthday to cool on, Homes
Conrad in closing for the government on
Tuesday, would have an unfair advantage
Mr.. Douglass demanded that ten hours ne
allowed each side. in which to make all
arguments including the six hours already
consumed by Mr. Purdy. Mr.. Conrad re-
piled that he was opposed to any restrlc-
tor and believed that all the time be al
lowed which might be necessary for lar
end full presentation Of the case.
Justice Pritchard came to the rescue at
this juncture, announcing that as no limit
had been set at the beginning of the argu--
ments, none should be set now, but that In
future cases which come before him FOR
trial the matter of hours will be settled be-
forehand. The court agreed, however, that
hereafter all sessions in the present trial
shall last until o'clock in the afternoon.
Incidentally the Judge remarked that from
the proceedings he had concluded 1t not
to be case of how long the material for
argument lasted, but how long breath
enough remained to talk.
AS stated in The Star yesterday. there fs
little probability of the case going to the
jury before Tuesday, and Wednesday is
estimated by the attorneys. 1t Is hoped by
all persons connected with the case that
the jury will not be long in reaching Its
verdict and that the result of the tedious
trial will be known Wednesday evening, or
Thursday morning at the latest.