The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-03
Samuel Croft Did Get
That Money Due Him,
After All.
DILLER SHOWS CHECKS
Aged Defendant Also Ex-
plains Why Lorenz Pay
ments Suddenly Ceased.

Favorable testimony for the defense
was adduced this morning in the trial
OF A. W Machen, Dilier 3. and Samuel
a. Croft and George E. Lorenz and Mrs
Lorenz. on the charge of conspiracy.
Diller Il. Croft was on the stand near
ly all the morning and proved an excel
lent witness. Yesterday the prosecution
showed that while Samuel Groff's share
of the profits in 1902 was about $500.
his bank deposits amounted to Only
SS.l0O that year This fact. as brought
out on cross-examination of Samuel
Groff. made a strong impression, espe-
cially since he said he kept no accounts
and had no means of knowing what
money he had received and what he had
spent.
Money Accounted For.
This morning Diller 3. Groff was ask
ed If he could show what payments he
had made his brother in 1902 and
promptly responded by producing his
checks to Samuel A, which showed
that he had paid all that was due and
that the money had been received. 1t
was a shock to the prosecution. which
tried TO keep the checks out after they
had been produced. c. A. Douglass
made strong protest but after some
wrangling let the matter drop. as the
prosecution practically admitted that
the checks accounted for all the money.
The prosecution suffered again on
financial matters. 1T had shown that
after November. 1902. no payments were
made to Lorenz by the Groffs. This
TACT was considered suspicious on its
face. as showing that rumors Of the in
Festgation had gone abroad and had
scared the GrO1s into withholding the
planned that the partners had adoDted
the policy of ordering a large number
of the fasteners in advance. and even
now have 2.Ooo of them in storage.
Payments Held Back.
Payments were not made to Lorenz
because the money was held back TO
furnish Lorenz's share of the cost. In
addition 10 the 1000 fasteners in storage.
the Government is using II 600 fasten-
ers as yet unpaid for The unordered
fasteners were paid for by DiHer b.
Croft personally. and his brother and
Lorenz still owe him several hundred
dollars each for their shares OF the cost
point for the prosecution was OBJ
tained when Croft was asked what So
hciting Lorenz really did in further
ing the sale of the fasteners. He could
other defendant had shown results ex-
cept Chicago. where Lorenz had said
ne had hopes OF getting large order
The witness was then asked If he did
not know that the postmaster of Chi
cago. Washington Hessig now dead,
had telegraphed the Postofice Depart
ment on the receipt of the fasteners,
wanting TO know what they were and
how they were used. thus indicating
that LOTenz had never seen him about
them. Gron said he had never heard
of such a telegram.
Got Just Dues"
Some minor differences. between the 40
per cent due and the amount Of the
checks sent Lorenz were pointed out by
the prosecution. but Gron maintained
that after small expenses were deducted
the total OF the checks and warrants
for any long period would show that
Lorenz received his fun share
a regro cook in Groff's house. who
was there when the inspectors obtained
the May. 1903. statement from Diller b.
Croft. testified that she heard Samuel
A Croft ordered from the room, which
was directly contrary to the testimony
OF the inspectors, who. said they had
been willing 70 have Samuel present
when they saw Diller-
Patent Attorney McGiH was on the
stand when recess was taken. The OBJ
ject was to show by him that the Croft
fastener was the pioneer in that field,
and that there was no chance Of com
petition from the Miller fastener.