Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-23
A TEDIOUS DAY
In Line Of Questioning in the
Postal Inquiry.
Bills and Drafts and Fasteners and
Papers and Cash, Etc.
. Judge Discharges Order Made Against
Two Inspectors.

trial, today, several witnesses were
: led through tedious line of question:
ing by the assistant district attorney,
most OF which was for the purpose of
. showing personal interest of Machen
Introducing the Croft fastener Treas
, urer and post Office officials explained
= the various channels through which
bills for fasteners passed before the
drafts in payment We're drawn.
After counsel for defence briefly had
touched on the statement that Machen
on a salary of $500 a year had man
aged to make $4,000 year, Mr. Con-
rad explained and secured permission
to withdraw his remarks saying that
: ne would not convict the defendants on
any statement that fell Unguardedly
from his lips.
7 Justice Pritchard discharged the rule
issued, yesterday, against Post office
4 Inspectors Mayor and Gregory. charg-
! ed by the defence with coaching wit
nesses.
: Continuing the opposition to the ad-
, mission of the transcript of the Union
National Bank OF Westminster. Md,
Mr.. Maddox representing the Croft
stated that there was little to add to
what had been said against the as
founding assertion of Mr. Conrad that
Machen had an income Of $4,000 a
year. who he continued, had taken
!. advantage of his position and had been
forgetful Of the proprieties in the case.
g He continued that the transcript
should not be- admitted. Mr.. Kumler.
on behalf Of the Lorenz's made SINH
lar statement.
Justice Pritchard said he would ad-
init the transcript subject to the limi-
tation that only those items which are
shown to relate to Mr.. Machen in the
transactions between him and tine de-
PENDANTS should be considered. He
instructed the jury not to consider the
fact that. there were other deposits. If
any improper remark. he said. had
been made the jury was not to consid-
er it for 4 moment. Mr.. Douglass
moved to strike the statement from
the record but the court denied the
request.
Mr.. Conrad stated that he would not
convict the defendants on any state
ment that fell unguardedly from him
and said to remove from the minds OF
counsel the faintest suspicion he would
move to withdraw it with motion the
court agreed to.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne was recalled and submitted
certain papers which had been called
for
Emanuel Epeich. clerk in the rural
free delivery division, testified to hay
ing received from Machen check for
$3.50 signed by Martha J. Lorenz and
$loO in cash with which he purchased
a New York draft for 500 in favor of
Machcn.
Daniel p. Cahill. of the Chicago post
office. identified the signature OF D. B.
Croft to bill dated June, 1896. for
1890 fasteners supplied the Chicago
Office.
r. p. DIETRICH. another employe of
the Chicago post office. TESTIFIED that
nv. years after the receipts Of the $500
fasteners number of letter boxes
were received which were supplied
with the various parts of the Grof
fasteners. or the $500, witness SAID,
900 were used. the balance being stored
in. the basement until 1901. and then
shipped to other cities. He said that at
present there were 100 of the fasten-
ers in use in Chicago, although another
fastener also was used.
J. Raymond White, n clerk in the
sixth auditors office identified the GER
tificate authorizing the auditor to cred
il the Chicago postmaster with S4Zoo
represented by the $500 fasteners. On
cross -examination 1t was brought out
that r. u. Marsh. former chief clerk or
the free delivery division, had initiated
the certificate.
Mr.. Purdy. assistant attorney gen.
era,, presented affidavits from Inspec-
tors Mayer and Gregory in response TO
the rule of the court made. yesterday,
recurring to answer the charge that
they had interviewed witnesses. Mr..
Purdy denied that the inspectors had
talk with witnesses in pertaining in
my way to the testimony which had
given within the courtroom. Justice
PritChard disposed of the matter by
directing that the rule against the in
spectors be discharged in considera-
ton of the answers filed by them. Adj
4o,,rnad ill Monday.