Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06
ANONYMOUS LETTERS
iilYT
Conferences Yesterday Was in
Regard TO Them.
Mr.. KUMLER GETS ONE
EFFORT BEING MADE TO DIS
COVER THE AUTHORS
Not Much Interest in Today's Testi-
mony-Machen to Go on the
Stand Tuesday.
Mr.. KUMLER GETS ONE

Another anonymous letter, this one to
| Judge Kumler the Ohio lawyer who repre-
sents the Lorenzes in the trial OF the al
legged Post Office Department consprators,
| was brought to the attention or Justlce
| Pritchard when he reached his CHAMBERS
in the city hall this morning.
| Judge Kumler explained that he received
| it in his mail this morning at the RIGGS
| House, where he is staying. He turned II
! over to Justice Pritchard, who at once sum-
| moned members of counsel for both Sides
| The letter was read to counsel and Justice
| Pritchard retained it in his possession pend
| ing an investigation, which, 1t Is hoped,
may throw some light as to who wrote it.
| Justice Prtchard declined to say what
| the contents of the letter were unless 1t
| was mutually agreed to by counsel repre-
senting the defense and the government.
United States District Attorney Beach
thought it would be imprudent to make the
letter public.
Others of the attorneys who were ap-
preached on the subject explained that 1t
! would be unprofessional to discuss the
contents of the letter unless 1t should be
agreed to mutually, as suggested by the
presiding justice.
The letter Is understood to be In a differ
| ent handwriting than the letters that were
were called to the attention of Justice
Pritchard yesterday afternoon. resulting in
a conference in the courts chambers with
counsel on both sides and the entire jury.
1t is understood that the letter received
by Judge Kumler stated that jurors had
been approached by some one in the inter-
est of securing conviction of the defend
ants At the conference yesterday after
noon 1t is understood that counsel for the
government dsavowed any responsibility
for the communications, while counsel for
the defense awaited themselves of the OPP
portunity to say that neither by word nor
act had any attempt been made by them or
their clients to influence the jury in any
way.
Justice Pritchard at the conference yes
terday afternoon, it was learned today,
warned the members of the jury against
holding converse ton with anybody about
the case or going among persons around
the court house where it is being discussed
The Letters to Jurymen.
The letters to the jurymen were in the
same handwriting, and indicated that they
were written by some one of foreign birth.
There was a suggestion that they were
written by some one familiar with German
handwriting. Justice Pritchard and MEM
bers of counsel are incensed that any one
should write to jurors or counsel on mat
tiers pertaining to the trial while it is in
progress, and every effort will be made to
ascertain who is responsible for the letters
1t was recalled this afternoon by one of
the counsel that during the trial of the
"star route" cases similar incident oc-
CURED. William Dickson, now dead, was
foreman of the jury in that trial. He an
nounced to the court, in the form OF an
affidavit, that he's had been approached by
man. whose name he gave in a saloon on
Pennsylvania avenue and told that If he
could in any way secure verdict for the
government he would be paid $4,000.
In his affidavit Dickson gave all the de-
tails of what he said took place in the
Pennsylvania avenue saloon Dickson, 1t
was charged after the trial, voted for ac-
quittal, thereby hanging, the jury. Later
he was indicted for bribery, was tried and
acquitted. This case produced great inter-
est in Washington at the time.
There was little out of the ordinary in
the trial of the alleged conspirators this
forenoon. Shortly after II o'clock Justice
Pritchard excused the jury until 10 o'clock
Tuesday morning
Mrs Lorenz was on the stand for a few
minutes after the court got down to bust
ness The counsel for the government did
not cress-examine her. Diller B. Croft was
recalled and he produced some checks that
had been sent to the manufacturers of the
fasteners that were sold to the government
John Taylor Arms was called to substan-
tate the contention of the defense that
Diller B. Croft has never been in the habit
of keeping book accounts OF his business
transactions.
Ferdinand w. Machen, an uncle of Au-
gust w Machen, told of his connection
with Lorenz and his nephew in oil business
in the early 90s. The $4,000 note which it
is alleged was given by LorenZ to August
w. Machen had another inning during the
direct examination which was conducted
by Attorney Charles A. Douglass.
Assistant Attorney General Purdy Sic
ceeded in rafting the witness to a consid-
cradle extent during the searching cross
examination that followed. The elder Ma
chen said his connection with Lorenz and
his nephew Terminated when he sold out
| his interest and the note was given by Lo-
REM to August w. Machen, yet it was
| brought out that eighteen months later the
| witness signed his name to a deed Of trans
fer of oil property. signing his name as
secretary of the company
A Little Life Injected.
| Some life was injected into the proceed
| inps when First Assistant Postmaster Gen
| eral wynne was called to the stand by the
/ defense Attorney Douglass conducted the
| examination in chief. General Wynne an
| swered all questions in direct way. He
raiterated that he came to the conclusion
that August w. Machen was a scoundrel
/ and that he had said so unqualifiedly.
Mr. Douglass tried to score point by
| seekirx to show that Inspector Fosnes had
| succeeded to the position formerly held by
| Machen in the Post Office Department. and
that other inspectors who had assisted in
| working up the case against the defendants
| had been rewarded with promotions.
| while General Wynne was on the stand
| Machen sat deep In his chair. with his
| hands folded, and his eyes directed to the
| witness box. Machen will take the witness
stand the first thing Tuesday morning. 1t
4 is doubtful if his examination will be COM
| n;eted before Wednesday. The case will not
| likely reach the jury until the latter part
of next week-fl;sjr