The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19
INA L|EDHhRDT, INDIANA
WOMAN, TESHHES Al
POSTAL FRAUD TRIAL
She Was A. w. Machen's Chief
Clerk, and Was Trusted with
Much of His Work.
MET DIR. AND MRS. LORENZ
But She Never Heard Them Speak
of the Croft Letter Box
Fasteners.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-In the trial OF
August w. Machen. the Croft brothers and
DR.. and Mrs. George +. LOrenz, charged
with conspiracy TO defraud the govern
ment, the prosecution introduced a number
of witnesses to prove the relations of Ma
chen with the Lorenzes and the Croft broth
ers. One of those, Ina Liebhardt. Machen's
former stenographer and chief clerk, testi-
fed to visits of DR.. and Mrs. Lorenz TO
Machen at his office, but declared, on cross
examination, that during the several con-
versations she was present she heard moth
ing said about letter-box fasteners.
Asked by Mr.. Taggart TO state under
what circumstances she had placed an in
dorsement on a certain letter which was
handed her, she replied that she could not
recall the particular case, but that she was
in the habit of "briefng' letters. She was
shown a number of press copies of letters
to Croft Brothers and identified Machens s
signature attached thereto
The question of the admissibility of GER
tain government evidence again was raised
by counsel for the defense. Mr.. Taggart
stated that the evidence was intended to
show direct intercourse between Samuel A.
Croft and Machen with respect TO the
fastener. It was admitted. subject to for
NAL objection by the defense, which will
be urged tomorrow.
said she had seen Or: Lorenz in Machens
office several times. She also had seen Mrs
Lorenz in Machens office once. On cross
examination by Mr.. Douglass Miss Lieb-
hardt testified that Mrs Or. Lorenz came
into Machens office with Henry LorenZ and
the latters wife, and that she had never
seen her before or since. She was present
she said, during all of the conversation, and
that nothing said about fasteners. 1t
was a friendly call, she said. She also
testified that upon all the occasions of DR..
Lorenz's calls upon Machen in his office she
was present and heard nothing said re-
garding letter-boX fasteners.
A question designed TO secure from the
witness a statement as TO who was In
charge of the original matter of looking
into the subject of supplies, brought an OBJ
lection from the government. which was
sustained, the court remarking that the
question would be admitted at the proper
time.
Harris Atkinson. Mrs. Irene Shaffer and
b. A. Smith, of Washington, were intro
duced as witnesses to prove the Identity OF
Dr. and Mrs. LorenZ as the persons seen
with Mr.. Machen and William Sapp, of To-
ledo o.. and Charles Boss, of Washington,
testified TO the signatures OF Machen and
the Lorenzes.
James e. Bell. superintendent of the
Washington city postofice, testified that
the Groff fastener had been adopted with
out any report on it having been submitted
by him. although IL would have been his
duty to make such report. as the fastener
was tried the first time in this city.
John F. Clark. a letter carrier. described
the failure Of the fastener 10 work at a test
made in 1894 in his city. at which Machen
and Samuel A Croft were present which,
he said caused Machen 10 remark TO Croft
at that time that unless the fastener would
work without sticking he would not recon-
mend its adoption.
During the day Justice Pritchard showed
OF evidence not 70 tolerate unnecessary de-
lays in the progress of the case