The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-10
MACHEN PLACED ON WITNESS STAND Assumes Responsibility for Miss
 Liebhardt'S Acts EXPLAINS THE NOTE GIVEN Croft Fastener Was First Introduced In Washington Under the Very
 Eyes of His Superior
 Officers

Washington, February 9-The fifth, and what is now considered to be the last week, of the postal trial began today August W. Machen, former superintendent of the rural free delivery of the postoffice department, the central figure in the case. was on the stand. MT. Machen testified that his service in the Toledo postoffice began in September 1888, and ended Att gust 1, 1890. While still in office, he said, he and his uncle and George D. Charles, W. and Henry L. Lorenz. became asso- ciated in the oil business.
 Several years after leaving the Toledo postoffice he said he and George D. Lo- renz devoted their entire time to their oil venture. He came to Washington and assumed his duties as assistant superin- tendent of free delivery in May, 1903 MT. Machen gave a summary of his oil trans actions, and said the Pluto oil company was close corporation, composed of him. self and the four others mentioned He then referred to the building of the Crystal Refinery company, its indebted ness, and mentioned other details already brought out in the testimony. Coming to the giving of the note of $25,000 by Lorenz. Machen said it represented the equity in what was known as the Ma chen interest in the oil business He did not close with Lorenz at once, he said, be- cause he had other purchasers in view. The note was finally given by Lorenz July 1, 1903.
 Sold Out His Interest. "Will you tell the jury that you at that time actually sold to Lorenz your inter- est In this busnessg' he was asked.
 ''I did said Machen with emphasis.
 Mir. Machen admitted that sometimes he resorted to "kiting." When he wanted money in hurry, he testified, he would draw on Lorenz. In order. however, not to catch Lorenz unawares when not in a po- sition to meet the draft, he would send check to meet it, and ask him to hold it. MT. Machens entered into a history of the growth of the free delivery service, and said he always took the position of en- couraging never discouraging, the test ing of any device or system which tended to the betterment of the service.
 All of his time he said was taken up in the consideration of administrative matters of rural delivery. Every blank in the rural free delivery he said was originally made with his own hand. It was impossible to give personal attention to the ordinary details of the service. While congress was in session he said the only time he could give consideration to administrative matters was after office hours.
 Miss Liebhardt as Chief Clerk. Miss Leibhardt. he said, had been desg- mated in January l. 1902, by the postmas- ter general as chief clerk. After 1900, Mir Machen said he personally examined very little mail. Mir. Machen assumed all the responsibility for Miss Liebhardt's acts saying: While I was compelled to have this mail signed and initialed by Miss Leibhardt, have always assumed all the responsibility for every signature and ev- cry initial she has made
 After a brief pause Mr. Machen added. "I stand by it today"
 Miss Liebhardt he said. initialed proba- bly 75 per cent of the orders for Croft fas- teners. He said the rule of the depart ment was to allow an inventor who pre- sented something feasible to test his de wise at his own expense. This was done he said in Groffs case. Mir. Machen ex- plained the introduction of the fastener in Washington by stating that Machen came to him and said the Groffs were anxious to equip Washington with the devise.
 Machen said he brought the matter per- sonally to the attention of First Assistant Postmaster Jones and pointed out the ad- vantages to be gained by the use of the device Washington he said. was there upon selected for the first use of the fas- teners right under the eyes of my supe- rior officers Had there been any attempt at concealmept or of sliding in this the first order Washington would not have been selected"
 recess was taken at this point Described the Advantage. When Mr. Marche resumed his testi-