Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-22
POSTAL TRIAL.
Interesting Incident Came Just
Before Days Adjournment.
Government Counsel Said Machsn
Made $4,000 a Yea.
Cashier Tells of Machen's Transactions
with His Bank.

incident in the trial Of August w. Ma
chen, the Croft Brothers and the Lor-
enz on an Indictment charging con-
spiraCy to defraud the government in
connection with the sale of letterbox
fasteners came, today, just before the
usual hour for adjournment.
After A. w. Herring, cashier of the
Onion National Bank of Westminster,
Mo, had told Of the various transac-
lions of Machen with the bank Mr..
Taggert. assistant district attorney,
offered IN evidence the transcript or
Machen'S entire dealings with that in
stitution, to the admission to which
Charles a. Douglass objected.
Taking up the document, Holmes
Conrad, special counsel for the govern
mcnt. contended that it was admissible
and remarked that in looking it over,
it appeared that by strict economy.
Machen, on = salary OF $4,000 a year
had managed to make $4,000 n year.
This brought forth n storm of protests
from counsel for the defence who ap-
pealed to the court to let the defendant
Machen be tried on only one charge
at time.
In the midst of the argument an adj
Journnent was taken until tomorrow
Immediately after court convened in
the postal trial, today. Mr.. Kumler, for
the defence presented three affidavits
from persons who alleged that Post
once inspectors Mayer and Gregory
approached the witnesses in the wit
hess room. The atlantis We're Dilia~
Il. Croft, son of Dillor j. Golf, y. H
Baumgartner, Machen's brother-in-law
and VIM. Sapp, assistant superntend-
ent of free delivery, Toledo all three
government witnesses. Justice Pritch-
ard directed that a rule issue against
the inspectors requiring them to make
answer to the complaint by affidavit
Inspector Mayer sought to orally ans
Wer but was not permitted to do so.
Justice Pritchard declared that he
proposed 10 have exact justice in this
case and thought it was due the in
Spcctors that they should make answer
under oath.
J. c. Ecloff. cashier OF the Second
National Bank of this city. said it was
nor unusual fer business men to de-
post with two banks and to draw
che clis upon one for deposit in the
tiii'i. lIClC was iLOllllliSs suspicious
about such transfers, unless the party
resorted to the practice of "kiting.''
Harry Halstead, of the Home Saw
ingS Bank Company of Toledo. then
resumed the stand and continued the
recital Of various deposits of checks OF
=. b. Croft to the credit OF Martha j.
LorenZ, and Of charges against these
deposits i'll the shape of drafts issued
10 George f. LorenZ and by him en-
dorsei over to Machen.
On cross-eXamination by Mr.. Kun
lev witness admitted that although
the account was in the name of Mar
Inc. j. Lorenz by an arrangement made
at the time Of opening the account in
1885, George E. Lorenz also could draw
against it.
S. D. Carr president of the National
Bank OF Commerce of Toledo, read
from a transcript of the account of DR..
George T. Lorenz with his bank, and
identified various drafts drawn against
this account by DR.. LOrenz and made
PAYABLE to Machen who in turn en-
dorscd and deposited them to his ac-
count in Westminster.
In the course of the testimony, yes
terday. it was brought out that among
the checks sent by d. =. Croft to Mar
tina j. LOrenZ. was one for $2O62, and
the government. today. sought to show
that about that time Machen drew the
sight draft on George Z. Lorenz for
1881.
Mr.. Taggart then offered in evidence
the transcript Of Machen's entire ac-
count with the Westminster Bank. |
While Mr.. Douglass was vigorously OPP
posin.; it's admissibility, Holmes Conrad
examined the transcript.
1T appears" said he, that the de- |
PENDANT Machen was making over $780,, |
900 a year."
A strong protest at this statement |
came from Mr.. Douglass. Mr.. Conrad |
said he proposed to show that this |
of this mans account in |
this bank demonstrated that on a sal |
airy of $500 a year, by the observance |
of strict economy and due attention |
to business he was making $4,000 a
year."
Mr.. Douglass protested that in mat
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