Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-29
Progress Of the Postal Con-
spiracy Trial Today.
AMUSING INCIDENT rs
MISS LIEBHARDT OCCUPIES THE
STAND THIS MORNING.
Mr. Maddox Does Not Have to Tell His
Age Young Croft
Questioned.

The defense In the trial of the alleged
Post Office Department conspirators re-
sumed operations this morning in Crlminai
Court No l. Miss Ina S. Liebhardt, VINO
was Machen's chief clerk. and D1ller r.
Croft son of Diller B. Croft, in turn occu-
pied the witness stand during the greatel
portion of today. The effort of the defehse
was to show by Miss Liebhardt that MT
Machen had no personal connection Win
or knowledge of the orders that emanateo
from his office for Croft fasteners-that
they We're drawn and sent out as "ei0
matters of office routine.
BY young Croft it was developed that 'io
original order for Croft fasteners was IN
tho form of a memorandum and was signed
by Mr.. Marche now deceased. who was an
official of the department. The order coulu
not he found although a search was mace
for it 1t was also testified that long De
fore the Groffs ever heard OF MI LolenA
they had endeavored to secure an agent
to interest poStmaSters tiiooshoo' ~
country in the fastener 49,.
When the proceedings were resumeu LIE
morning the attendance was sinah' ~, -
by noon every seat was occupleG. WI! NJ o
LorenZ Mrs. Machen and Mrs. Pnllps,
with several of their relatives, sat dlrectiy
IN rear of counsel for the government. MI.
Machen was at the counsel table Wlth the
attorneys for the defense. The GroH pro,h-
ers were in their usual places.
The povernment's counsel did not appear
to be at all disconnected by the statements
of what the defense expects TO prove. LII
fact all the attorneys were In hol1iay
hrmor, and particularly so was unlteo
States Attorney Beach. He conducted the
cross-examinatiOn of the witnesses Az
one point Attorney Douglass occupied d
long time in the examination of certain
papers. ... oon ,,
he said to the court, but have never peeh
q post Office Inspector.
Did you say you never nave Deen an III
spector?" inquired Mr.. Beach.
81 don't think 1 have" replied Mr.. Doug
lass, sarcasucally.
But you're not sure" added MI Beach:
'T suppose you intend that for a compli-
ment," then said Mr.. Douglass. If you
do, don't take it as such.'
Amusing Incidents.
While Miss Liebhardt was testifyng Dill
Ter F. Croft was called into the room to
see if the witness could recognize him as
having ever called at Machen's office In
the Post Office Department. Young Mr..
Croft appeared at the doorway and then
left as hurriedly as though he had been
Shot from cannon.
who was that gentleman who just exc
cuted the disappearing act so remarkably
well?'' inquired Mr.. Beach of the witness.
"Diller F. Croft" Miss Lebhardt made
reply.
DID ne stay longer tnan tndl "neH He
called at the Department." was the next
query of the United States attorney.
The climax of the fun that tended to en-
liven otherwise gloomy day occurred
just prior to the midday recess. Attorney
Maddox. counsel for the defendants Croft
insisted on taking the stand for the purpose
of explaining what occurred at the Post
Office Department one day last October
when he called there and discovered that
an erasure had been made on the now we'll
known statement signed by Diller B. Croft.
When the witness placed at the dis
posal of the government for croSs-eXamina-
ton Mr. Beach demanded, in severe tones:
Mr.. Maddox, do you realize the nature
of the oath you have taken?"
Mr.. Maddox thought he did
Then. sir and Mr.. Beach arose and
fairly hurled the words at his brother law
yer, Il ask, what is your age?
Mr.. Maddox, who is a bachelor, and who
is conceded to be a handsome man, blushed
like a school girl. He glanced in a con-
fused manner i'm the direction of a score or
more young ladies seated in the audience.
Attorney Douglass, with faitEfulneSS, hur-
ried to the rescue of his colleague.
Il rise 10 a question of personal privi-
lege,' announced Attorney Douglass. THE
witness should not be compelled TO answer
that question: maintain that the answer
would tend to incriminate him"
The point is well taken ruled Justice
Pritchard. entering into the spirit of the
incident.
Attorney Holmes Conrad next undertook
the cross-eXamnation of the witness, but
In a serious vein.
Mr.. Douglass" he began, looking
straight at Mr.. Maddox.
Mr.. Douglass has not yet been sworn ~
that gentleman corrected facetiously
The thrust proved boomerang, however
for Mr.. Conrad. quick as a flash said:
Mr.. Maddox, l humbly apologize to you
sir"