Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
MR.. DOUGLASS BEFORE JURY.
Begins Summing Up Argument for De-
tense in Post Office Cases.

The summing up argument FOR the de-
Tense was begun this morning by Attorney
E. Scott Douglass. He first declared that
the governments theory of the case was
based on coincidence" that being the
watchword of the prosecution. Mr.. Purdy.
the speaker declared had attempted to mis-
lead the jury by dwelling at length on the
fact that money was passed from Groh to
Lorenz and from Lorenz to Machen. The
fact that money had passed was admitted
by the defense at the outset Of the trial
And it was not denied that very often the
remittance from Lorenz to Machen was
half the amount Lorenz had just re-
ceived from d. B. Croft Therefore, ac-
cording to the speaker, Mr.. Purdys argu-
ment was misleading and unfair
The instruction that the court will give
the jury to the effect that It was entirely
legitimate for Lorenz to send money TO
Maohen, was then read. Every facf ana
circumstance OF the case, the attorney IN
sisted upholds the testimony OF Mr.. Lor-
enz and, he charged, Mr.. Purdy cleaned
from the mass of papers offered In evidence
only those checks and drafts that suited
his purpose Attorney E. s.. Douglass then
asserted that in many instances the remit
tances from Lorenz to Machen were much
less than one-half the amount Lorenz mad
received from Croft.
The speaker argued that there was not
even a suspicion that Lorenz owed Machen
an honest debt, and that the payments
made were properly made In settlement
thereof
I'VE are not asking you to believe any
of these defendants independent of the
facts in this case, counsel announced,
but you simply can't get away from the
stubborn facts which prove the legitimacy
OF all the transactions set forth by the de-
fer Sc. The prosecution has not presented
sciitilla of evidence to prove that Lorenz
had not owed Machen an honest debt OF
$4,000 1t was not only the right OF
Lcrenz but 1t was his duty to pay It,"
Continuing, the speaker contended that at
the time the indictment charges that the
cor spiracy had been formulated Lorenz
was in Europe. The attorney likened the
post office inspectors to terriers after a
rat 1t is their business and their intention
| to convict, it was declared. Attorney Doug
! lass next commented in terms the opposite
| of complimentary on the methods employed
| by Mr.. Mayer and the other inspectors in
| securing statements from certain of the
! defendants. The testimony of the inspec-
! tors, said counsel, should be weighed with
| the greatest caution.
Alleged Star Chamber Proceeding.
| The securing of a statement from Machen
at the Post Office Department, May 81. was
| declared to have been a star-chamber pro-
| coeding. The speaker also paid his respects
| to the stenographer who took down
| Machens statement the date mentioned.
| The statement, offered in evidence, was de-
! clared to be unreliable. At one point, 1t
! was cited. the stenographer's notes showed
| no where the typewriter transcript read
| yes"
| rs that statement accurate?" remarked
| Attorney E. S. Douglass. Suppose Machen
had been asked, Are you a CRATER? and
| the typewriter transcript should show that
| the answer was yes and the stenogra-
piers notes that il was 'no?
Machen's career in the Post Office Depart
| ment. and the manifold duties he perform
ed as general superintendent of the free
J delivery system were reviewed in detail