Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-21
BANK OFFICIALS
Give Testimony in the Machen
Postoffice Case.
Various Deposits by the lorenzs Of
Croft Checks.
Eachen's Brother in-Law Also on
Stand During Day.

trial, today, the government gave fur
Their evidence to show the relations
existing between Machen, the Croft
brothers and the LorenZ, etc, concern
ing the sale OF letter-box fasteners to
the government. Several witnesses
from Cleveland and Toledo having
connection with banking institutions.
testified to various deposits by the Lo-
renZs Of checks OF d. p. Croft for large
amounts and to certain debts made
against their individual accounts.
Captain II. Baumgartner, Machen's
brother-in-tlW. secretary of the Depos-
it Trust Go. Of Westminster. Md, also
testified as to Machen's deposits with
the company.
The subject of the coaching of wit
nesses by Post Office Inspector Mayer
again came uD and Mr.. Douglass for
the defense said he also would include
Post Office Inspector Gregory in the
charge. The matter finally was passed
over on the statement of Mr.. kumler,
counsel for the I4Orenzs that he would
procure affidaVits to support the
charge.
When the postal trial was resumed,
today. Mr.. Kumler. referring to his
charge made, yesterday, that Post
Office Inspector Mayer had coached
witnesses, said he did not want to call
TIE attention of the court again to the
matter, but as the district attorney had
pressed him for proof for his assertion,
he was prepared to present an afTidav-
it. The district attorney protested
that the matter could not be brought
lief hn IN 10
testimony should be taken.
Il beg to differ with you as to that
remarked Justice Pritchard.
Mr.. <umicr then said that as two
affidavits would be necessary. he would
obtain one more WhcreupOn Justice
Pritchard remarked that if he found
sufficient cause for issuing a rule of
contempt against Mayer he would is
sue it.
Mr.. Douglass interjected the state
ment that the affidavit would apply
equally ana perhaps more so to Post
Office Inspector Gregory. Justice
Pritchard informed counsel on both
sides that he would demand that no
extraneous matters be introduced to
influence the jury, but that if it was he
would take occasion to mention it
when he delivered his charge to the
jury.
George D. Aston. bookkeeper in the
West End National Bank Of this city.
concluded his testimony concerning the
Groffs accused.
Mr.. Taggart read letters signed by
tn" LOrrnZs, transmitting certain sums
of money for deposits.
~, I,D
Cleveland Bank, identified the letters
as i part OF the files of his bank. He
produced the copy books of the bank
containing tn" banks replies to these
letters, one of which the witness read.
showing chat the bank had returned a
check for $1,000 made in favor of George
L.orenz by ID. 3. Croft, because il was
improperly endorsed. Further Ques-
tiOnng brought out the fact that when
remttances were sent by DR. LorenZ
to the Cleveland Bank, he invariably
directed that a portion of the sum be
deposited to the account of Martha j.
LorcnZ. The witness identified q draft
for $500 dra"n in favor of George f..
Lorenz and endorsed by him over to
Machcn.
The next witness was Machen's
brother-in-iaw, N. II. Baumgartncr.
secretary ana treasurer of the Deposit
& Trust Co.. of West Minister, Md. who
testified TO the GepositinE OF the remit
tances sent by Dr.. and Mrs. LorenZ to
Machcn's account with that company.
The witness, however. said he could
not identify Machen's signatures en-
dorSed thereon.
Perry Halstead, clerk of the Home
Savings Bank Co, of Toledo. Ohio, tes-
tilted that both DR.. and Mrs. LorenZ
were depostors of the bank. He idcnt-
incd n deposit slip for $Ii0l. to the ac-
count Of Mrs Lorenz. although the
hand writing was that Of Or. Lorenz.
1t was further brought out that the
cneck for 81 .40l was signed by ID. Il. Croft
and deposited Nov. y. 1879. Against this
deposit on the same day n check for 500
was caShed. and witness stated that DR..
LorenZ had purchased 4 New York draft
for 500. paying currency therefor. Later
the same day $500 was deposited to the
credit Of Martha J. LorcnZ in the Ma
tinnaI Bank of Commerce. Toledo.
Henry c. Lockwood, chief clerk city
delivery, New York post office answering
Il question by Mr.. Taggart. said that by II
tier dated Feb. !, 1876. he was notified
that 1000 Croft fasteners were ordered
supplied to his office without any r"qui-
siiion having first been made therefor.
lockwood explained various initials on
the letters by saying they represented
those of officials of the New York post
office through whose hands the letter
passed. 1t developed from further queS-
tioning that the initials "A w. NJ also
We're on the letter.
On crcss-examnation witness Said he
never saw Machen sign his initials and
did not know who put them there. Mr..
Douglass objected to the admission of the
letter because there was no evidence to
show that Machen ever saw ii or even di-
rected it. The court held that as the gov
| ernment was trying to identify the initials
A W. NJ as having been made by
Machen he would require the initials to
he proved before this particular tcstimO-
ny would be admitted.
without such proof" the court said,
with emphasis. There is no evidence
against this defendant Machen. We will
! proceed according to law"
The witness was excused, to be cross
eXa mined later.
Harry Halstead resumed the stand and
Identified a deposit slip dated Jan. %.
1900 for STA to the credit of Martha j.
I.orenz. This deposit. he said, represented
4 check signed by d. r. Croft, endorsed
| bv George f. Lorenz. On this same day.
Witness said. a charge was made against
I