Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
MORE Ex-0FF|C|ALS
Testimony Today in the Post
Office Cases.
MR.. MACHEN PLEASED
TWO WITNESSES WHO HAVE BEEN
FIRST ASSISTANT.
Defense Shows That Patented Articles
Were Bought Without Competitive
Bids-An Early Adjournment.

Not more than half the benches in the
court room were filed this morning When
the trial Of Machen. the Groffs and the
Lorenzes was continued before Justice
Pritchard. 1t was twenty minutes after 10
o'clock when Attorney Douglass began the
cross examination of Former First Assist
ant Postmaster General Johnson Mr..
Holmes Conrad was again absent today. 1t
is understood that he is suffering from a
severe cold which confines him to his hotel.
There was some talk this morning Of ask
ing Justice Pritchard to refrain from hold
ing court on Saturdays during the progress
of the Post Office Department trials, but
this was said to have been opposed by Judge
Kumler of Toledo, Ohio, who represents the
Lorenzes Judge Kumler is anxious for the
trial to be completed as soon as possible
so that he may return ITO his practice at
home.
Mrs. Lorenz occupied her old seat adjoin-
ing that of her husband. Next to her sat
Mrs. Machen. Mrs. Phillips, Mr.. Machen
sister, sat near by. There were only two
other women in the court room.
While Mr.. Douglass piled Mr.. Johnson
with questions District Attorney Beach and
Assistant Attorney General Purdy took
turns at reading over the typewriter pages
of yesterdays proceedings.
Post Office Inspector Mayer was on hand
early with his telescope bag, which has be-
come a familiar object in the court room.
In this bag are documents and papers OF
the Post Office department that may be
called for during the day. Inspector Mayer
sat back of Assistant District Attorney
Taggart, and occasionally took notes.
Dull Proceedings.
Machen watched the cross-examination of
Mr. johnson with more than usual inter-
est At times he Strengthened back in his
Loot of ont ant
upon his face, but the greater part Of the
forenoon he bent forward and poured words
into the ear of his counsel. The Groffs and
Mr.. Lorenz listened to the crosS-examina-
ton apparently only perfunctorily and with
seeming desire that something might turn
up to enliven the proceedings. Even JUS
tice Pritchard was apparently tired of thu
dryness of the testimony that was brought
out. Occasionally he yawned, and at one
time arose and strobe I'D and down the
floor behind the bench
AS the cross-examination continued Mr..
Johnson proved to be equal to the ques-
tons that came to him with rapid-f1re pre-
cision. To one question propounded by
Mr. Douglass the witness gave an answer
that suggested he was displeased with the
treatment he was getting from the at
torney.
I'm not an expert on postal box fasten-
ers; my opinion would count for little, any
way" said the former first assistant post
trying to get him to admit that uniform
lty of fasteners throughout the service was
desirable.
EFFICIENCY Supplies.
There was ripple of laughter through
the court room when Attorney Maddox
asked Mr.. Johnson If he had ever seen a
Groff fastener.
II have" said the former first assistant
'When?"
IT saw several of them yesterday"
Did you ever see any of them before
yesterday" Maddox persisted.
Yes; several days ago.
But did you ever see any Of them while
you were first assistant postmaster gen.
eral?'
Mr.. Johnson frankly said he had not
The spectators laughed and Justice Pritch-
ard asked that order be restored.
Mr.. Machen's face fairly beamed when
Mr.. johnson testified that 1t was the prac-
tice in the Post Office Department to make
exigency contracts for supplies without
advertising for bids. The witness explain
ed that patented articles were usually in
cluded In what Is considered as exigency
supplies. Mr.. Machen nudged Attorney
Douglass, and turned about to the Groffs
and moved his head in a manner to sug-
gest that a good point for the defense had
been made.
Another Ex-ofacial.
Mr.. Douglass and Mr.. Taggart had several
tits during the forenoon as to the manner