The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-14
POSTAL SCANDAL TRIAL,
R. J. WNNE A WITNESS
AGAINST AACHEN ET Al.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Subjected to a Rigid Cross
Examination.
HAD FAITH IN MACHEN
And Signed Many OF His Papers
Without Closely Examining
Their Contents.
MR.. HOWLEY'S EVIDENCE
Says He Knew Miss Liebhardt
Was in Habit of Signing
Machen's Initials.

WASHINGTON. Jan. ls.-Robert :.
Wynne, first assistant postmaster general.
was the central figure in the postal trial to-
day, and when court adjourned until Friday
he was still on the stand. Mr.. Wynne's
testimony occupied most of the day. and he
was subjected to a rigid cross-examination
by Charles A Douglass. counsel for the de-
fense. during which the opposing attorneys
had several tilts. necessitating a word OF
admonitiOn from Justice Pritchard that
they must conduct the case in peace.
The first assistant postmaster general was
piled with questions designed 10 test his
knowledge of the duties of his Office. The
witness frankly stated that he often had
signed papers prepared in Machen's division
without examining into their contents. be-
cause they came to him in official form,
and because of the fact that he regarded
Machen as one of the most expert men in
the service. and relied on him.
Mr. Wynne related how, after assuming
the duties of his office. he had stopped
Machen from writing letters. unofficial
business signed by himself CMachen). to
members OF Congress- postmasters and
other commissioned officers of the govern
ment He did not know of any authority
Smith to sign such letters He said that
after he had determined. i'm December. 1902.
the investigation of the department. he re-
garded with suspicion everything emanating
from Machen's office. and closely scrutinized
it, Therefore. he did not consult Machen
about the expenditure Of money but made
inquiries of Machen's clerks. Mr. Wynne
declared that for long time his investiga-
tion did not result I'm any definite discovery
OF criminality upon the part of Mr.. Macben.
John j. Howley, Mr.. Wynne's chief clerk,
occupied the stand for a brief time the
principal part Of his testimony relating
10 the fact that he suggested TO his supe-
rior officer the advisability OF examining
the legality of Machen's initials and sig
nature placed on letters and acquisitions
by Machen's subordnates Witness de-
tailed the duties of the general superin-
tendent Of free delivery. but he could not
state them as fact, simply from his
knowledge of office practice. Concerning
the placing of Machen's name and initials
on letters by subordinates witness said Miss
Liebhardt. Machen's stenographer. had for
several years done So Ee admitted that
he knew of this practice three years before
he became chief clerk. He did not speak
of 1t TO his chief, he said. because he did
not want to interfere with the affairs of
Machen's division. He tolerated IL, he said,
until the postal investigation came up and
finally informed First Assistant Postmaster
| General Wynne that the legality OF these
initials and signatures should be looked
into.
Witness admitted that the order OF Mr..
/ Wynne prohibiting the delegating Of
authority to others TO sign the names OF d.
vision chiefs was not Issued until the in
vestigation was on. Replying TO close
| questioning Howley said he could not recall
any time when he held any conversation
with Mr.. Wynne affecting the expenditure
of money for his office. He explained that
the division chiefs were trusted in these
matters and that he himself never investi-
| gated the subject matter OF letters. on
further questioning he said the first as
sistant postmaster general was required
/ personally 10 sign any letters calling for
! the expenditure OF money, although on ac-
! count of the number Of matters Mr.. Wynne
/ had TO attend TO he did not investigate their
nature or their necessity for the expendi-
4 ture.