Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-26
STATE MENT HEAD
GrCff's Admiss ols to I1s1eC-
tor Admitted as bVluelce
POST OFFICE G A S E
STARTLING STATEMENT OF A
PROMISE OF IMMUNITY.
Mr.. Douglass Objects to a Remark of
Mr.. Beach-Many Tits Be-
tween Counsel.
POST OFFICE CASE

spira tors. Throughout the forenoon there
We're clashes between counsel on opposing
sides. and the bailiff was compelled fire.
QuentIy to rap for order.
Mr. Holmes Conrad of the special counse
for the government, despite his indisposi
ton from the grip, jumped into the cast
with vigor. He cross-examned the wit
nesses that were called by the defense ir
effort to show that the statement made
by Diller b. Croft to Inspectors Rolfe and
Tharpe was made under duress.
Conrad Objects.
Mr.. Maddox's voice was in poor fettle, but
he took part in the proceedings. AT one
time, when Mr.. Maddox had taken issue
with Mr.. Conrad over his methods of ques
tioning a witness, the latter arose, and with
much emphasis said:
your honor. l have heard often in this
case the statement by members of opposing
counsel tndl what the wi,neSs s-,Iu W.:
not so, and at other times it has been de-
clared, regarding representa- tives here OF
the government. that'cvunseI knows that
this. 1t is intimation that attorneys
standing here in court, in the discharge OF
their duties, are not honest
Judge Kumler Also.
While Mr.. Conrad was cross examining
Diller B. Croft Judge kumler took excep-
tons to a question that was propounded by
the special counsel.
Doesn't counsel for government know
that the whole or nothing of the conversa.
ton can be admitted?'' the Ohio lawyet
asked in laundering tones.
Don't get excited" said Mr.. Conrad in
docile voice. I'VE cOncede yorn PROPOSE
ton"
Mr. Douglass was severe in his examina-
ton of Inspector Tharpe The latter who
looked ha al
for the defense directly in the eyes and an
swered the questions with precision and
care.
Admission of Groff's Statement.
When court convened Attorney Douglass,
for the defense. took up the question of the
admissbility of the declaration of Dilier
B. Croft, denying any acquaintance with
the Lorenzes, or as having had any trans
actions with them. He said there should
be some investigation in reference to the
manner i'll which the statement was OBJ
tanned.
Justice Pritchard replied that in the
event of there being any difference of opin-
Ion or controversy as to whether OF not it
was voluntary statement he would make
the matter clear to the Jury
On pehalf OF the government Mr.. Keig-
win. assistant district attorney, said the
declaration was offered testimony of the
witness TO an independent fact, and the
purpose of 1t was to show that the de-
fendant, when confronted with charges, re-
sorted to evasion, subterfuge and false
mood Replying to a question, Inspector
Rolfe, who resumed the stand this fore
noon. said this statement was not made
under any threat or duress at the time
Croft Not Warned.
Justice Prftchard interJected the remark
that any statement made to a government
ofhclal under these circumstances was in
the nature of a confession, and he would
inquire further into It,
Cross-examined by Attorney Maddox. In
spector Rolfe said that when he and In
spector Thorpe called on Mr.. Croft thew
answered that they had called officially.
Mr. Grof. he said asked them to call
aealn. but Mr. Rolfe said he remarked to
SroiI that they wanted the statement then
He admitted that the inspectors did NOT
cauuon Iron about making any statement
that might incriminate him.
Croft Explains
with the view to showing that the decla-
rauoh was obtained under duress Diller
B. Croft took the stand in his own behalf.
lie declared that the manner of the in
speotors, when they called, was "overbear-
ing, gruh and bulldozing"
The witness described the meeting and
told of his request that the inspectors call
again. because he was sick, whereupon. he
testified, they answered:
We nave got to have the statement
now"
Groff's manner on the stand was ner-
vous and impetuous. He declared that
he had been a sufferer from insomnia :
lhat ne had not slept any the night before
ana only TWO hours the night before that.
Mr. Taggart came back at Croft The
latter denied that lie was well enough to
transact other business that day. He was
shoWn the declara ton which he signed
last April and said 1t was read to him and
he did not understand one word of it,
Startling Statement.
There was a sensation in the court room
when Mr.. Croft testified that when the in
spectors came to him they handed him
another statement and said:
I'VE want TO arrest two men, and If you
will give us the information that will con-
vict them we will return this one and give
you $4,000 and let you ride in the govern
ment bandwagoni and we Will ride with fly
ing colors."
Question Objected To.
Mr.. Douglass in his examin alton of In
spector Thorpe insisted upon his answering
questions in a different manner than the
witness cared to answer. Mr.. Douglass
was aggressive In his questioning but he
was unable TO get the witness to make ad-
missions that were desired. Justice Pritch-
ard became nervous.
81 think you have gone far enough with
this manner Of examination, Mr.. Douglass, -
he said.
II think, your honor" Mr.. Douglass re-
piled, that we should have a right to con-
duct the examination in this way. We
purpose showing that this whole thing Is
honeycombed with intimidation"
Mr.. Conrad was on his feet In an in
slant.
'I object to this talk of counsel for de-
fense" he said. There has been nothing
in the way of evidence adduced here that
would tend to show that there has been
Intimidation"
Inspector Thorpe is possessed of much
dry humor. He resembles not In a small
degree the late Sol Smith Russell in
dPeaceful Valley" His voice is very much
the same There was much laughter In the
court room and the bailiff had to rap Wig
orousIy for order when. in answer to Mr..
Douglass question If Mr.. Croft was in
fCoatinued On Tenth page)