The Washington times., 1904-01-15
PERRY S. HEATH ON STAND
IN POSTOFFICE CASES

were 1--WE or forty. asserting it was a |
( detail OF his bureau with which he was
not familiar.
Route agents and examiners made |
. statements OF supplies needed in their |
territory on April /. and Croft fasteners
were part OF the supplies asked Mr.
wynne said these acquisitions did not
: get to him. except on appeal They
: were settled In Machen's. Office.
s Are not these requisftions of post
masters and agents the bases of fur
nishing supplies throughout the coun-
try?'
''They are the bases OF the honest fur
nishing OF supplies"
Did you ever turn down a requisi-
''Mr. Machen had complete charge of
that
As to acquisitions.
''If a requisition came te you for
( supplies after contract had expired.
would it be acknowledged" 81
1T would be by the head of the sba-
reau."
Would it be by the head Of the
division?" lass5@ = -3-Si
"If the head of the division had a dis
honest interest in the contract. he would
see that each requisition was filed
Mr. wynne was asked about Con-
gressmen protesting against the failure
10 establish routes. An objection was
interposed. and Mr.. Kumler said he
wanted to show that Machen's head
3 would have gone into the basket had
he not followed the advice Of Congress
; men. He wanted also to show that
Mr. Wynne. and Mr.. Howlev did not
know who was running their ofaceg.and
It was naturaH Macher should look TO
some one.
Mr. Wynne said he had never received
q request from Congressman for Groff
fasteners, and all requests OF Congress
men had been perfectly proper
"why Mr. Bristow?"
. Mr.. Kumler-Couldn't .su have con-
{ Quoted an investigation into your bureau
as well as Mr.. Bristow7
Objection was made and sustained, and
the spectators lost Mr. Wynne's explain
alton of how he would have probed into
f the scandals.
Mr. wynne denied that Mr.. Bristow
( had ever complained that his fourth
class postmasters were being thrown out
because OF the activity of Machen In
establishing rural free delivery. The
question II Mr.. Bristow had a violent
prejudice against Machen when the free
delivery system was transferred to the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
! was ruled out.
Once Machen's Guest.
Mr. wynne admitted he went to the
Ohio Society banquet as the guest Of
Machen in January. 1908. although he
had begun TO distrust him in Decem-
Der, 1902 He added he felt most uncom-
Portable under the circumstances.
Mr.. Maddox then took up the cross
: examination. Mr.. Wynne said he
scrutinized all orders as closely as DOS
sible. and had not studied those for ex-
s igency purchases more closely thar
! others. Some of his scrutinies were
brief and others were more close.
His scrutiny was heightened by
charges appearing in newspapers.
When prices appeared excessive he
asked Machen about them.
Mr.. Douglass asked that Mr. Wynnt
: bring into court the acquisitions fol
: free delivery supplies, acquisitions OF
the superintendent of rural free aeliv.
cry upon the general superintendent OF
free delivery. acquisitions upon the
shipping clerk for supplies for Reading
Pa. and orders upon the box maDufac'
= furers at Adrian. Mich. That concluded
the cross-examination Of Mr.. Wynne.
Mr.. Taggart took up the redirect ex
animation.
McGregor's Crime Introduced.
Mr.. wynne was asked IL he knew
McGregor. the clerk in Machen's office,
, and II he was still in the department.
The reply was that McGregor had been
sentenced TO prison for two years Mr..
Douglass claimed Mr.. Taggart led on
Mr. wynne TO make the statement tc
3 prejudice the jury and asked the court
to reprimand Mr.. Wynne. Justice Pritch
ard told the jury McGregor- had nothing
10 do with the case.
Mr. Wynne was shown a requisition
for supplies. upon which his signature
had been stamped He said 1t was ir-
regular and no paper for expenditure
OF money should have been without his
autograph signature Each division
chief had a signature stamp Of the
First Assistant POSTMASTER General
He did not know II Mr.. Howley, his
chief clerk. had one.
Mr.. Douglass-Did you Withdraw from
Machen's Office in January. 1903, al
stamps. including the one with youi
signature?
Mr.. Wynne-I don't remember, but
hope ] did.
Wanted Rubber Stamps.
Mr.. Douglass was insistent upo
knowing whether Mr.. Howley had signe
the name with a rubber stamp. Nj
wynne said nothing but forms wer
signed with stamp; certainly not LEI
tiers
He said Machen and Beavers weT
anxious 20 have rubber stamps used 70
the First Assistants signature on IN
plea II would save him trouble II
allowed them TO use the stamp for fixe
forms. He did not remember II he ha
taken them back. but repeated:
II hope did. / should have done IT.
Mr.. Wynne then left the stand.
Blaine W. Taylor. chief clerk of I'll
Postofice Department. identified III
postal laws and regulations again.
Heath Takes Stand.
Perry s. Heath WAS the next witnes
He said he was First Assistant Pos
: master General from March, 1897. TO Al
gust. 1900.
Mr.. Heath said the Gronf fastener ha
been adopted before he went into of1cs
and he continued It. Shown an orde
for fasteners upon which the signatur
had been stamped. ne said:
The stamp was for formal natter
It was not my design 10 have II