Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-04
An EXCITING EPISODE

III lAUt1tHu II 1UUUL
4 Continued from First Page)
ance in thesscross-examination of the wit
ness. s,syf,sf
Story of Business Deal.
4 Lorenz told OF his long acquaintance with
Machen and OF their business dealings. He
related his first visit to Washington. and
of how he became; Interested with the Grons
in the letter box fastener. When Judge
Kumler sought Ito get the witness to tell
what other passengers were on a lake trip
that Lorenz and Maehen enjoyed soon after
the former. had become interested in the
patent Justice Prichard spontaneously
cut the witness short with the remark that
It would take too long to give a complete
list of the steamers passengers.
The mutilated letter that has been intro
duced at different times In the trial bobbed
up serenely again today. Lorenz told how
1t became torn and found its way into
waste paper box. and later into an old fur
mace. ana how he rescued 1t bit by bit and
pasted It upon a sheet OF paper. thus pre-
serving 1t for its daily appearance in the
trial
Finally, Judge Knmler. In his examina-
lion OF Lorenz. got down to the Oil tranSac-
items or the witness and August w. Ma
chen, and others. He sought to ascertain
the worth of the property that was pur-
chased in the oil fields south of Toledo
when he asked Lorenz what the production
was or the wells that had been sunk by the
Pluto OH Company, Justice Pritchard who
had become restless, turned to Judge Kuni-
Ter and said:
Lets get down to business"
Assistant Attorney General Purdy al
most simultaneously had fnterposed an
objection.
Judge Kumler excitedly declared that
the defense had a perfect right to go into
the details of the transactions in Oil and
70 snow the amount of business DONE
rms brought Attorney Holmes Conrad to
his feet.
listened attentiyely in the opening of
the defense to my brother" he said
pattlng Judge Kumler on the back, re-
garding the Ell Dorado field In Ohio
1T was highly Interesting and Instructive,
put fall to see what relation It has to this
trial.
4 "A conspiracy is charged here" Mr.. Con-
rad continued. raising his voice. at is
shown that Croft sends to Lorenz 40 per
cent of the profits Of the fasteners sold to
the government; Lorenz sends 20 per cent
to Machen back here In Washington It is
commended by the defense that Lorenz got
only his Just dues as member of the firm.
Zen me, II you can. what relation oil
has to these business interests of Machen
and Lorenz. II we could have settle
ment here in court and a balance struck,
showing that $4,000 was due Machen from
Lorenz. then the jury might see that Lo-
REM was paying off a just debt
Can we reach 1t by going into the prod
ucts OF the Ohio oil feld?" Mr.. Conrad de-
manded What purpose can be served by
gong into statement of productions Of
Ohio Oil, unless we can bring in the assets
of all the parties and have an accounting?
How does 1t cast any light upon the solu-
ton of the question at issue?''
i Judge Kumler's Rejoinder.
Judge Kumler was by this time on his
feet
He declared that the testimony he sought
to bring out by his line OF examination was
| relevant and material He insisted that 1t
was necessary in the interest of giving to
| the defendants a fair trial. Mr.. Conrad in
! terrupted the Ohio lawyer
/ HOW can yen prove the value of one
| asset unless you are prepared to prove all
| the partnership accounts and strike a bal
! ance? / say you can't do it In a criminal
| case.
| 1T should be referred to a master"
Judge kurnler stood with his arms folded
his eyes fastened upon the special counsel
| for the government. ,..-
| TN admit that the mines of Goleonda
| northeastern Ohio, Mr.. Conrad said,
| drawing himself to his fun stature.
THAT ought 70 please you, Judge" said
| Justice Prftchard, turning to Judge Kum-
| Ter. Everybody laughed except Mr. Con-
| rad, who Continued:
! why, I'll admit that the gold fields of
Africa were nothing, COMPARED to this Ohio
/ Judge Kumler was irritated. He again
j declared that it was necessary to go INTO
| details, In the interest Of generating his
| client.
This won't exonerate, your clients" said
| Mr., Conrad. You are trying to settle a
1 partnership account before this jury
! Justice Pritchard finally ruled that Judge
1 kumler might proceed with the examina-
ton in the line indicated by this last ques-
ton.
Scores Point.
| Justice Kumler was successful in admit
ting note of $25 GEO. which. it is conten led.
| Lorenz gave to Machen. 1t was for five
| years. given July J. 1893, but was not fully
satisfied until December 49, 1903. The in
dOrsements of August w. Machen appear
| on the back of the note. The defense also
| produced book, which purports to be a
| running account between Lorenz and
| Machen.
| Asks Personal Question.
When Judge Kumler this afternoon, in the
| direct examination of George E. Lorenz
| had completed that part of it which re-
! ferred to checks drawn by himself and at
times by his wife, Martha J. Lorenz, pay
| able to August w. Machen he asked the
witness how long he and his wife had lived
| together. Mrs Lorenz blushed and turning
| to Attorney E. Scott Douglass, good
naturedly asked:
"Are they going into that?''
| Mr.. Lorenz, who had summed I'D The
| years in his mind. said:
| Since 1866"
! Samuel A. Croft. of the defendants
| and the inventor of the fastener that fig
ures In the trial. was feeling i'll today but
| he remained in the court room throughout
| the proceedings. He is suffering from an
| attack of neuralgia.
The government. earlier in the trial. in
| troduced evidence that January % 1000
| Machen drew upon Lorenz through a To.
ledo bank for $1.Os1. a letter which ac-
companied the draft for collection said:
IF the party referring to Lorenz) is
| out of town delay collection until his re-
| turn"
/ 1t was shown by the government that
| this was several days before the treasury
| warrant had been issued to the Groffs The
| draft of 81 031 which subsequently reached
| Machen, was just one-half OF the remit
! lance made by the Groffs to Lorenz as his
/ share, 40 per cent of the net profits Of
| sale of fasteners to the government
| The governments contention was that
| Machen by reason of his position in the
| Post Office Department. knew that the war
/ rant was to be sent and WIS anxinus to