Evening star., 1904-02-25


ter box.
Mark YOU gentlemen" said Major Con-
rad, 'Lorenz looked clear across the street
and said to Tom Marche: That Croft fas-
tener is an excellent thing And Lorenz
had never seen or heard of Croft nor of
the fastener. Isn't that peculiar. gentle
men,?
Ridicules the Contract
Mr.. Conrad then ridiculed the contract
whereby the Groffs gave a half interest in
their fastener patent to Lorenz upon Lo-
rcnz's promise to go out into he highways
and the hedges and stir up public senti-
ment in favor of the Croft invention.
DO you believe that these two intelligent
men tthe Groffs) gave away half of their
net profits upon the promise of an absolute
stranger to go out and drum up business?
Would you divide your business with me-
gentlemen, if | promised to go out and
drum for you? | don't believe you would
sell d cat that way. and L don't believe
that you believe that this alleged contract
is genuine. The intellect that shines from
the countenance of Diller b. Croft forbids
the suggestion that he is a fool, and only
a fool would present $4,000 to a stranger
who promised to become a drummer
Furthermore, it is ridiculous to suppose
mat Lorenz ever thought of going around
among the letter carriers and postmasters
lie knew how supplies were purchased He
had been postmaster for four years and
ne knew that the route lay direct to Ma
chen. The Groffs knew this also and vet
they all come here and say they were go
this?
Cited as Singular.
Wasn't it odd that Lorenz. who had not
been interested in post office business for
hve years. should happen around just when
he was needed in Washington. and should
Sc. first of all. the value of the Croft
fs-Stpnprp five T
Whole soul absorbed in OIL like a sardine
ana yet he just happened along in time 10
rake $1oo0 by selling something to his
dear friend August W. Macheu. Ouear.
isn't il. sentlemen?'
Mr.. Conrad then explained that Iorenz
Knew he would not. and. in fact could not
go over the United States drumming for
the Groffs. and that therefore the consl.i-
Grafton for the alleged contract between
the Groffs and Lorenz was invalid lie
SAID. as Lorenz knew Machen had already
accepted the fastener, it was his Qorenzs
duty to so inform the Groffs.
Every dictate of common honesty woula
demand that Lorenz tell the Groffs he could
not perform his portion of the contract"
said Mr. Conrad. What do you think of
a man who would keep such information TO
himself and would try to decoy the GrorTs
irto a more binding contract? | pity the
man.
Another great point 1 want to impress
on you gentlemen is that in all these trans
actions there has not been Offered single
letter to attest the honest relation which
these defendants claim existed Is it possi-
bie-l say possible, gentlemen not probable
but is it possible that all these renittancas
should go from Croft to Lorenz without a
single letter of explanation or without any
letter OF receipt from LorenZ Is this an
oien book? Is this not concealment of the
idhkest sort? Is this the manner honest
business men would deport themselves. i'm
conducting harmless tranSa ction?
No No On the contrary. it is the way
dishonest men would act when the transac-
ton is tainted by the black stain of fraud
Don you believe there Were letters? Don't
you believe there are letters? WHY are they
rot offered in evidence?
Creates a Sensation.
Maj Conrad created quite a stir in the
court room when he announced that mis-
duty as man and as a lawyer compelled
him 70 say he did not believe there was any
evdence which Will warrant the conviction
CT samuel y. Croft. He said Sam Croft
was not present when the contract was
made. and no evidence had been adduccd
10 show that he was aware of the agree
ment between his brother Diller and Geo.
+. Lorenz.
Air. Conrad continued his argument until
l...D o'clock. when adjournment was taken
until 20 ,. m. for luncheon.
Discusses Note for S25, 600.
Major Holmes Conrad resumed his argu-
ment at the afternoon session BY discussing
the note for $4,000. which is offered by the
defense as the reason for the payments by
iOrenz 10 Machen
Il am SO bold to say that ] will con-
vince you that this note is not essential to
the case of the government What does
concern us Is how the amount Of this note
was arrived at
Mai. Conrad showed that the amount was
not arrived at by any mathematical caicu-
latiOn. He showed the amount 1t should
have been IL the claim of the defense is
true, $2i.7Jo. He added that the only way
ne could nSuTe II was that the amount of
the note should have been about SO 900
This difference is condemnatory said
MIR. Conrad "A difference of $40 or 20
cents. or 2i@ cents, is enough TO show YOU
that tins note does not tell the truth The
very books of the companies do not support
the statement of these defendants There
must have been books. but none have been
produced at this trial.
Il have asked for them. but they are hid
den. and yet this is what the defense calls
"a lack Of concealment.' Nor has this note
been proven valid
Mr.. Douglass Declaration.
hIr. Douglass interrupted with:
I'VE have asserted it's validity, and you
have never attacked it,
Attacked it,! Attacked it," echoed Mr.
Conrad. 1T was your business to prove
the validity of that note. beyond reason
dDie doubt. L nth TINS was attempted there
was no reason for the government to at
tack 1t. As this has never been done. we
have never attacked it,"
Major Conrad averred that I.orenz was
selling a rabbit he hadn't caught when
he disposed of certain stock in the Pluto
oil properties. In revertng again to the
whereabouts of the books of this and
other oil companies. MIR, Conrad said
Another extraordinary occurrence is
that the defense offers in evidence state
meut which Machen declares was taken
direct from the books. We have the state
ment, but where are the books? 1t is like
Introducing an echo to prove sound. Con-
tenporaneous papers do not show any men
i9u cf this note for 81 600
Not to Jury Today.