The Washington times., 1904-01-28
OPENS
IN P. @. O.CASES
Motions to Exclude Important Govern
ment Testimony OVerruIed.
Maddox, Kumler, and Syme Make Opening
Statements---Ina Liebhardt Tells Why
She Initiated Signatures.

Yin II A1NNLLSO
Legitimate business transactions be-
tween the accused was the contention of
the defense in it's opening statements
this morning in the trial OF A w.
Machen. Diller B. and Samuel A. Croft,
George Z. Lorenz, and Martha J. Lorenz,
his wife. on the charge of conspiring 10
def-aud the Government in the sale to
the Postoffice Department of Croft let
ter box fasteners.
Mr.. Beacn announced at the opening
of court that the Government had closed
its case. Mr.. Douglass made formal
motions that the court strike from the
record the evidences of money transac-
tions between the defendants. and also
the statements which the Lorenzes and
the Groffs made to the postoflce in
spectors. The motion was overruled. as
well as one that the prosecution be
compelled to elect upon which count of
the indictment IT would ask conviction.
From GroHs' Standpoint.
Mr. Maddox. in his opening statement
for the Grofrs. explained that Lorenz
saw the Gronfs shortly after they OBJ
tanned their first contract for fasteners
pressed with ,he merits Of the device.
and sought an interest in the business
After some bargaining. the Grons
agreed TO give him one-half the proE4.s.
In return for this he was 20 devote
his energies 10 persuading postmastcrs
that 1t was a good thing and should
be asked for in their acquisitions. He
was also 70 use his infiuenc, ..s.h fneTH-
bers of Congress- TO get them 10 have
the device installed IN their districts
The Groffs had neither the time nor
the influence to procure the general
adoption of the device. and for that
reason agreed 10 split their profits with
Lorenz. There iTgts absolutely nothing
wrong with the arrangement. said Mr..
Maddox. and each check sent BY Dilier
y. Gf0sf 20 Eorens Was IN aecordance
with It's provisions.
Partners in Oil Fields.
Mr Kumler. representing the Lor-
enzes. explained that for years Lorenz
and E:achen had had large business
transactions growing out OF their ven
lures in oil, when the oil fields of north
western Ohio were first discovered The
two Lorenz brothers and the Machen
brothers were among the first to go into
the field. and for a while they made
money rapidly out Of rich well they
struck. Later. hard times came upon
them. and through the selling os prop
erty which Lorenz had given a bank as
security he became deeply indebted to
Mschen
= was in the discharge Of this debt.
grcESing out OF series OF ordinary bust
ness transactions, that Lorenz sent so
many checks to Machen- There was no
conceGlment about the dealings between
the men. They did not exchange money
by express or send II through the mail
ter OF permanent record in a bank.
where II could be found by anyone in
terested in the matter.
Mr Kumler said the bringing OF an
indictment against Mrs. Lorenz was
nothing less than cruelty. When the
grand jury was asked to act IL was not
shown that in single instance she had
received l cent from the Groffs. and she
had never seen them or known them
until she walked into the courtroom for
trial She had borne a spotless reputa-
tion as the result of a long life of good
deeds. and the man must rest uneasy
who caused the indictment to be
brought and SO cast a slur upon her
name"
Her husband started bank account
for her when their daughter was mar
ried. in order to relieve himself OF the
bother OF personally paying the numer-
Gus small bills incident to the wedding
and it vyss that which explained the ae-
count in the Toledo bank.