The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-02
CROFT ADMITS SIGNATURE:
ON ALLEGED STATEMENT

Direct examination of Samuel A. Croft
was resumed this morning in the
Machen case by Mr.. Kumler. The Wit
ness again Identified his signature on
the affidavit which he signed for the
inspectors, but thought il might be DIFF
ferent.
Justice Pritchard-Doss the defense
claim that the paper is not genuine?
Mr.. kumler-We want TO see why the
witness was sworn twice. and why the
paper has two jurats.
No Doubt os Signature
Mr.. Groff-There is no doubt it is my
/ signature.
Justice Pritchard-If the witness ad-
mits he signed the paper that is APP
| parently enough.
| Mr. Douglass-We want 10 show the
circumstances and find out whether.
when Croft went to sign, there was not
another paper showed under the one he
/ thought he was signing. Here is a pa
per with three erasures and signatures
| in two kinds OF ink. The AGbnversation
lasted an hour, but here are only two
pages of long hand.
Mr.. Conrad-Here Is a remarkable
| thing II the witness had been put on
/ the stand by the Government he could
not have been more rigidly crOss-eXann-
!
remarkable thing is that this gentleman
\ on the stand. who Is frank, truthful
/ and honest, has never intimated that
the paper was not proper. That was
other mind than his. The cross-eXami-
nation has gone too far.
Mr. Kumler-The witness has not SAID
/ III this Is the paper he signed I'm his
/ house He knows he signed a paper
but does not know II this Is the paper
| The witness should have chance
Didn't Rise to Bait"
Mr.. -Conrad-He can have all the
chance he wants. but he did not rise
TO the bait offered him
| Mr.. Douglass am through with the
examination and don't know what W,
are talking about
! Mr.. COnrad-I thought you would reacf
that point after while.
Mr.. Kumler-We viii show the paper,
Mr. Conrad-That will do no harm
| certainly. / do not care. The Jurors
can take the paper home and sleep witt
it for all ! care.
Attack on Inspectors.
Mr.. Douglass wanted witness TO tel
~ Inspector NJ. c. Fosnes and Inspec-
tor Thorpe. who obtained the affidavit
had been promoted. He desired TO show
that their work had caused them toa bt
advanced, to the detriment Of other or
/ ficials who had been dismissed. He
would show bias. Mr.. Douglass com
! rnented on the fact that the Government
had not produced Mr.. Fosnes on the
| stand Mr. Conrad offered to let the
defense have him, with all the right:
of cross-examination- The offer was not
! accented.
Justice Pritchard-I do not see thai
! the evidence is proper. The fact thai
| a man has been promoted in the depart
| ment Is nothing. II IL were, every mar
J promoted would be the object of sus
Assistant Attorney General Purdl
| conducted the crOss-eXamination- Wit
| ness had frequently arrested persons
and taken oral statements of persons II
Witness had talked to hundreds o
| people about his invention, principally
| letter carriers and officials OF the CITY
! postoffice, before he got the device in
| stalled.
Couldn't See Machen."
He went to the department TO sc,
about it's general installation. and saw
Mr.. Marche, Machen's assistant HIS
met Mr. Marche rather accidentally. II,
saw some other people. but didn't re
member whom. He tried to see MacheI
several times, but could not catch him
Mr.. Groff identified thu letter of Au
! gust 10, 1898. in which ne asked for the
| privilege OF testing the device on two
| boxes He knew Machen was the mar
who had charge of such affairs. II,
! never went to see First Assistant Jone.
| or the Postmaster General. He related
again the story of the first order fol
fasteners and how after that Loreni
had introduced himself TO him in the
| city postoffice-
Machen Not Mentioned.
Witness also told again the old stor!
of how ne and his brother. Diller B
Croft. bargained with Lorenz about tn,
| latter's share OF the profits in return
for tabor In introducing the device
Machen's name Was not mentioned
Lorenz said he knew Postmaster Willet
| and Mr.. Marche.
! Mr.. Croft did not think OF what PEG
pie he knew here. We knew somebOd,
had to go TO other cities and work up
| sentiment.
/ Mr.. Purdy-DId Mr.. Lorenz ever reall!
go 10 another city