The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-02


ers was 5000.
MIR. Purdy-when you made your
statement to Messrs Fosnes and Thorpe
in April, 1893. you had no idea YOU would
be implicated in this affair?
Mr.. Groff-That was tils last thing In
the world / expected.
Witness said the inspectors did not
ask II anybody was intere sted in the
business, but If there WIS anybody in
terested in the patent. He said no. be-
cause Lorenz had an interest in the
business, but not in the patent. If they
had asked him he would have told
them about Lorenz without hesitation.
The inspectors wrote down something
and commanded him to sign il. Thorpe
read 1t to him, Fosnes swore him, and
he signed without reading. although he
was an old policeman and accustomed
to such things.
Signed at Command"
He did not feel exactly inundated
when he signed, but the command came
so suddenly ne obeyed without hest
fancy He positively added that the
signature on the paper was his. He
said he did not think anybody -espe-
cially men holding the high position OF
Postoffice inspectors. would condescend
TO substitute another paper"
Mr.. Purdy read from the April state
ment the facts in which witness said the
brothers had paid no fees and had no
promoters TO have the fastener adODted
by the department He admitted that
that was what he said. He did not say
No others but my brother and myself
dy then read the statement to the wi
ness, sentence by sentence, and asked
him about each.
Affidavit Practically Correct.
Witness admitted that the affidavit
was practically correct, except the SEN
tence ne specifically denied. He insisted
that the affidavit contained only one
sixth of the conversation The inspec-
| tors asked him If he knew Mr.. Nc
Gregor, in Machens Office, how he came
70 invent the fastener, what his income
Witness did not remember the In
spectors asking him at the May inter
] view II he knew about his brother draw
ing large checks on the West End Ma
uonal Bank for the benefit OF persons
out or town. They did show him checks.
but he told the Investigators he knew
, nothing about the matter. The inspec-
] tors told him OF the amount that had
| been paid for fasteners. and asked him
| his share He did not know, but said
he would look IL up.
Lorenz Payments Expenses"
A newspaper interview was quoted in
which Samuel A. Croft said on the day
he was arrested that he thought he got
one-half the profit, and If he did not
his brother had deceived him. Witness
admitted the correctness OF the inter-
view. He explained that he considered
!
There were other expenses, such as
numerous trips TO the factory to hurry
UP the work.
MIR. Purdy-Do you know of one single
thing, In the seven years, that George
f. Lorenz did for the sale OF the fast
eners?
/ II don't know. We did not care as
long as the orders came I'm and the or
/ ders did come from various places. We
had to live up to our contract and pay
] n ~f1.lff 10.
/ Interested only as long as 1 got my
/ share Of the profits.
Satisfied With Profits.
Mr.. Purdy-And you don't know If you
Mr.. Groff-In my own mind I am sat
isfied did. and ] am the one most con-
/ cerned
Mr.. Purdy-Have you locked into the
account for 1902?
Mr.. Grof-No.
Mr. Purdy-In seven years Won maid
Lorenz $500 and can't tell one single
Mr.. Grof-He may have perfor,oed
wonderful antics without my knowing
| IL.
Mr.. Purdy..Didnt you know Lorenz
saw Machen?
Mr.. Groff-No, sir; he did not go there
| with my knowledge. 1 certainly never
knewshe did anything wrong with the
money.
OAuu Gee OldIk-
Witness did not remember his CONVEX
sation with John T. Clark the letter
| carrier in which he offered to see that
/ he was sent around the country putting
up the fasteners He did not send
/ Clark TO Machen. He did mention the
matter TO Postmaster Willett
/ That ended the croSs-examinatIon of
Samuel A Croft
! Mr.. Conrad asked the defense to allow
/ Inspector Fosnes to be examined so the
defense would have a chance to cross
examine him.
Mr. Kumler objected, on the ground
/ that Mr.. Fosnes had been in the room
| listening to the evidence. The court
sustained the objection.
Diller B. on Stand.
Diiler Il. Groff, brother of Samuel A.
/ Groff. was put on the stand
Witness first became interested in the
| fastener In 1894, when he got a half in
/ terest for 800 and an agreement to han
/ die the business. His brother tried 10
work up a sentiment for the fasteners
among the letter carriers and officials
/ of the city postoffice.
| Court then adjourned until 80.