Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-13
MRS. LORENZ FREE.
Justice Orders Jury to Find
Verdict Of AcquittaI,
After Evidence Had Been Adduced in
Postal Trial.
T.
Court Holds There Was No Evidence
to Hold.

Washington, Feb 12.-Before court
adjourned in the post office trial, TO-DAY,
Mrs. Martha ]. LOrenZ was 4 Tree
woman. Justice Pritchard, acting on
a motion of Mr.. Kumler, decided that
there was not sufficient evidence to
hold her and directed the jury to find
a verdict of not guilty. She simply
smiled at the announcement and was
warmly congratulated by her counsel
and friends.
Justice Pritchard's decision came i'm
mediately after all the evidence was in.
Several witnesses in rebuttal testified
one of whom was John X. Tulles, the
stenographer, who took down the ques-
lions and replies at the time Machen
was under investigation in Gen. Bris-
tow's Office, May 1903. The witness
under a searching crOss-examination
admitted that he had made number of
errors in transcribing his notes.
The court adjourned until tomorrow.
Testimony in rebuttal was given,
today. in the postal trial. The
first witness for the govern
eminent was John r. Tulles who read
the original notes Of the examination
of Machen in the Office Of Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow,
on May q. 1903. previously to the ar
rest Yesterday Machen testified that
some of his replies to questions We're
not reported correctly. 1t was pointed
out to the witness by Mr.. conrad that
the reading in several particulars diff
fered from the typewriter manuscript.
The court would not permit NJ. Tulles
to correct his notes but allowed him tn
re-read some of them. Replying to Il
question by Mr.. Douglass the witness
admitted that he had altered his notes
in one Instance, changing 4 word i'm a
sentence so as to read private tran
FACTIONS instead of private bust
ness" Counsel pointed out various
discrepancies. the witness admitting
that the differences shown between
his notes and the transaction were in
accuracies.
After a long crOss-examinatiOn dur
ing which other inaccuracies were ad-
mitted the witness was excused.
James f. Bell, superintendent of
city delivery. Washington. ID. c.. "a 70
formerly testified for the govern'u'.l.'
was recalled and said he had no i''t .d-
lection Of seeing LOrenZ at the t., a..
the fastener which LOrenZ testifit'' -.
although he might have been in IA"
party.
NJ c. McBath. a treasury otH,r'i
produced a contract between the "sr
Office departure t and the post, Il
at Detroit, dated Feb. 10, 1897. f., let
ter boxes. containing a provision for
old bands as well as the Croft faSten-
err
Replying to n question by Justice
Pritchard. Mr.. Conrad and Mr.. Taggart
said 1t was material as showing that
at that late date the Croft fastener
was not n fixed supply although LOrenZ
had testified that on the yachting trip
in August. 1895. Machen had told him
1t was. The contract was admitted in
evidence. The government announced
that its rebuttal testimony was all in.
Mr.. Kumler then moved that the
jury be directed to return a verdict of
not guilty as to Mrs. LorenZ.
Mr.. Conrad said at this stage of the
case he would oppose the motion, but
he added:
Il think you might trust that much
to u.s."
He said he was going to deal in his
argument with the utmost fairness as
to which of the defendants in his opin-
Ion should be dealt leniently with and
which should be dealt vigorously with.
Dist. Atty. Beach also opposed the
motion. whereupon Justice Pritchard
said he would consider the matter and
announce his decision after the recess.
Immediately after the recess Justice
Prichard directed the jury to find a
verdict of mot guilty as to Mrs.
Lorenz. remarking that there was not
sufficient evidence against her to con-
Wet. There was no demonstration of
any kind at the announcement.
Mrs. Lorenz smiled and was congrat-
ulated by counsel for the defence. Mr..
Lorenz gave way under his joy and
was moved to tears as he joined in the
congratulations. Court was then ad-
journed to tomorrow to permit counsel
to prepare the usual prayers and the
jury was excused until Monday.