Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-04
Describes Business Enterprise.


| 1t may be worth
Describes Business Enterprise.
Mr.. Lorenz, in detail and at great length,
| told of the purchase of land, the erection
of large tank and the establishment of a
| refinery, by the companies In which he and
| Machen were interested, and of the value
of the several properties.
Attorney Kumler offered the incorpora-
| ton certificates of the Pluto Oil Company
and the Crystal Refining Company. Some
body objected.
| This is all a myth, is it?" remarked At
torney kumler, turning to counsel for the
government, and waving the Incorporation
papers. Here is record evidence
Nobody has said anything about a
| myth replied Attorney Conrad "That is
creature of your own fancy"
iou are setting up man of straw
added Mr.. Purdy.
The defense offered in evidence state
| ment dated August. 1903, by the terms of
which August w. Machen and Ferdinand
Machen surrendered to George E. Lorenz
the stock they held. forty shares each. in
the Pluto Oil Company.
Mr.. Lorenz testified that Machen also SIR
rendered the stock he held in the Crystal
heHning Company to the witness. The
statement transferring the stock he said
could not be found. In return for the
stock thus transferred, Mr. Lorenz said. he
executed a note promising to pay August
w. ddcnen $Z0,OUu.
The note was offered in evidence. 1t
bears a number Of Endorsements in Ma
chens handwriting, showing that I'M to
January 1, 1903 total of s19124 63 of the
SSoooo had been paid. The note also bears
the Endorsement, in Machans HANDWRITING
December 16, 1903. the within note fuIly
satisfied and cancelled
A personal account book kent by I,orenz
was introduced in evidence. 1t showed that
no credits on the note for S25 ono were on
tered from January I 1877 fo To-
I3Ol. This, he said, was because there were
no balances during that period between
Lorenz and Machen.
Mr Lorenz said that the first remittance
from ID. B. Croft was received nv hin, IN
November. 1895. and the second, in Decem-
Der, 1875. In all. he had received $4,000 or
$JOo00 from d. B. Croft
After heated discussion between counsel
caused by suggestion from ATTORNEY Con-
rad that Mr.. Lorenz be adnOnished not to
talk to anybody regarding the case. during
recess the usual midday recess was taken.
The $25, 600 Note.
When the proceedings were resumed this
afternoon Mr.. Lorenz explained that from
the date of Its execution until December
IL, lS9s, the $4,000 note was in the possess
sion of Mr.. Machen. Since the latter date
1t has been in the keeping of the witness.
Mr.. Lorenz next told of his various bank
accounts in Toledo, Ohio.
AoOut ApOo iiC SdtO, ne OpeNec an account
IL the Home Savings Bank. ir lie narne of
his wife, Martha J. Lorenz 10Th he and
his wife could check against it. The ac-
count was opened by him SO that Mrs.
contracted in connection with the an
preaching marriage OF their daughter They
also had Joint account at the Society for
Savings. Cleveland, Ohio
The Slips offered In evidence nv the gav
ernment showing deposits to the credit OF
Martha J. Lorenz. were identified by the
witness as being In his handwriting.
According, to the witness. the draft drawn
on him by Machen. for 81 ,0e1 was drawn
at the instance of the witness.
Checks Identified.
Mr. Lorenz identified a large number OF
checks drawn by himself and some drawn
by Mrs. Lorenx at his suggestion in favor
of August w. Machen. These, the witness
said were mailed to Mr.. Machen to be cred
tied on account OF the $4,000 note.
did Mrs. Lorenz know that you had
business with Croft Brothers. inquired
Attorney Kumler.
II think not" replied Mr.. Lorenz.
Mr.. Lorenz declared that Mr.. Machen had
never, without the consent or request of
the witness, drawn on the latter for money.
The witness was next examined regarding
the visit of the pest Office inspectors to him
at Toledo last spring. In substance, he
tors any information. explaining that the
subject of their inquiry was his personal
business.
Close Of Direct Examination
In closing his direct examination Mr..
Lorenz declared that his remittances to
MT. Machen were for the purpose of
liquidating an honest debt and that In
none of his transactions was there
thought of defrauding the government.
nor was there any conspiracy
Whenever he could afford to do SO. added