The Washington times., 1904-02-05


Washington. when he entered into the
deal with the Groffs. He did not tell
the Groffs that he knew Machon.
Mr.. Purdy-You knew at that time
that your old friend Machen would be
quite influential in getting the thing in
stalled?
Lorenz-No. l had no idea it could
be done that way.
Witness said that while he was post
master at Toledo he got patent moneJ
chimes by asking for them. He did not
get anything entirel% new, but got
things which other offices had but his
did not
Resents Insinuations.
Mr. Purdy-You knew your old friend
Machen was in position to order those
things?
No, sir"
Machen to see the GrofTs?"
No. sir; I was not l would 90
nothing OF that sort You can make
any insinuatiOns you want, but l did no
such thing
Mr. Purdy-Don't get excited. I am
simply asking you.
Witness SAID he had read the rules
and regulations of the Postoffce De-
nishcd by the free delivery division. but
did not have that In mind when he saw
the Grosfs.
Alr. Purdy asked about contracts for
building postofnccs, and Mr.. Douglass
objected. he SAID the contracts had
been let by the Treasury. but the prose-
cution was insinuating Machen procured
them. Mr.. Purdy did not press the
point, and went to the lake trip when
Lorenz SAW Machen.
Told Macba, Of Trtereet
Witness said he told Machen he had
an interest In the fastener, but did not
mention the amount RE told Macnen
he intended to work up demands fol
it among the postmasters.
Machen told witness it was no use tC
travel around in that way. 1t would
rot expedite matters. The fasteners
would be installed as fast as the apprO
1 priations admitted. The device was be
! ing Installed in Philadelphia and Baltt
more. and witness drew the conclusion
: that it would be put in force In othel
/ cities.
/ Witness and Machen did not discus.
/ the note for S25, 600 on the lake trip II
\ 1895. Only 500 had been paid on tn
/ note uD TO that time He did not men
tion to Machen that he intended I
devote half his share OF the proceed
/ from the fasteners to payment OF TN
note.
That Mutilated Letter.
Witness was again Intercepted abou
the mutilated remains OF the letter sen
| him by Diller b. Croft when Diller re
turned the contracts for an interest Il
The contracts in the patent. He die
not see the letter again until Tive or s.
years ago, when he moved and foun'
it among other papers. The Gron pa
pers found in the old files were put asid
and kept at his house The letter wa
| found but the contracts which the Croft
had returned, found they were subse
Quently lost.
The rnutiIated letter was accidentall
put In the furnace, which was not burn
ing. Three or four days later he rernem
bered il and got the scraps out OF tn
furnace. He took that action as h
| wanted Il memorandum of his deal wit
the Groffs. This deal had been on 10
( two years without d contract at an
time, and he had not yet gotten a con
tract. Mr. Purdy insisted that the let
ter had no value as contract
Witness saw the GrOffs shortly ate
this and talked about a contract. bu
nothing was done.
Thought Verbal Contract Good
Mir. Purdy-Didn't you know as a bust
ness man of thirty-two years expe
rience that the verbal contract with tn
Groffs could be broken at ary time?
mo. sir; ! did not know K then and
do not know Il now: TheS were doin
their part and / was doing mine.
Mr Purdy-What We're you doing j
|, 1857
Mr.. I.orenz-Nothing. 1 had CONVEX
, sation With the Groffs and told ther
the department was buying the tasten
Z ers as rapidly as the appropriate
would allow and there was ne use !
my going around among the post1naf
tiers. They were perfectly satisfied wit
/ Mr.. Purdy-Did you tell them Mache
/ had informed you that the fastener
we're going to be Installer
Mr.. Lorenz-No, sir; ! said / got IN
, information at the department Inc
were satisfied with my part. and l wa
satisfied with theirs.
Undoubtedly Satisfied"
Mr.. Purdy-I don't doubt you were.
Mr. Purdy asked about the statemer
OF Diller 3. Croft that Lorenz told hin
ne had seen the postmaster Of Chdcas
and would get an order. Mr.. Lorer
| had said he intended to see the Chlcae
MIR. Purdy drew attention to the fa'
that fer doing nothing LOrenz IA
drawn 10000. Witness said ne Toe
= chances in paying so down and agree
ing to pay the $3.50 remaining on Il
bonus for his interest He said II
fact that he happened 10 get $4,000 !
return was good luck and that
had suffered enough bad luck before
didn't Give Machen Half"
$ Mr.. Purdy-And out of that $4,000 yc
Z sent A w Machen half?
: Witness-No. sir.
Mr. Purdy showed the note for $500