The Washington times., 1905-05-23
TERMINATION OF CASE A SURPRISE.

With his head held high and In a clear,
strong voice August w. Maehen. con-
Yicted OF conspiring to defraud the
United States Government and again be-
fore the bar on similar charge, thus
explained his reason for entering q plea
OF guilty TO the charge today in Crini-
nal Court No. l.
II was sudden and unexpected ter
mination OF the caee, and II caused a
sensation among those who had as
sembled In the courtroom TO hear long
dra wn-out testimony and witness big
legal battle. There was no demonstra-
ton. but a deep silence pervaded the
room and betokened the surprise which,
Machen's latest move had caused.
Machen's action was taken upon the
advice OF bis counsel. Messrs. Douglass
q Douglass and Conrad Syme- Upon
hearing the Plea Justice Wright sen
fenced Machen &c imprisonment in the
penftentiary at Moundsvtiie. W. Va. for
TWO years, to begin at the expiration OF
his present term Of imprisonment.
Crawford Pleads aNot Guilty"
When the court convened at the sug-
gestion of District Attorney Beach, Will
liam G.. Crawford, who is iddicted joint
ly with Machen was called to plead to
the indictment. On the advise of A. 8.
Worthington. of his counsel. Cradword
waived the reading Of the Indictment
and entered q plea of ''not guilty.
Machen was then called upon to plead.
He arose, and with d strong voice en-
tered q plea OF guilty. Then he advanced
{. step or two toward the bench, and
began speaking.
Admits Technical Guilt.
In entering a plea Of guilty to this
indictment. I beg the permission of the
court briefly to explain nay action in
the premises he said.
''Ie is due to the court, TO my devoted
wife. and the children who bear my
name. to my parents. to the counsel
who have Loyalty defended and advised
me. to my loyal and steadfast friends,
and to myself. that an explanatory
statement be made by me,
Although 7 did not directly or indi-
rectly interfere with or attempt TO in
duence the committee that received and
considered che competitive bids under
which the contract set forth IN the in
dietment was awarded and executed.
yet / held an interest In the contract
and shared in the profits accruing from
1t. | did not know or supposed at that
time that l was violating the law, nor
was there any intention on my part 10
tnjure or defraud the United States. l
am advised by counsel, however, tina [
the acceptance Of the money alleged to
have been received by me IN the indiet-
ment constituted, under the eircunl-
stances, technical violation OF the
statnte.
Embarrassed as I am by my present
situation and surrounded with all the
disadvantages which are its consequence
| am from that .ct alone in almost a
defenseless position. l shall therefore
Willingly submit 10 any penalty which
the court may deem -roper to impose
upon me under the plea which I have
entered.
IN my closing words. and with all the
force and earnestness at my command.
let me urge that my plea shall not af-
feet the interests of the other defend
ants under this Indictment
Wright Imposes Sentence.
Justice Wright, when Machen con-
ciuded, said he thought the advice of
Machen's counsel was good. and he did
We'll TO follow it. He further said that
ne took into confederation the fact that
his plea of guilty would relieve the
Government of great expense and loss
of time in trying the ease, and he then
Imposed the sentence stated
When sentence was imposed Charles
\. Douglass asked the court 10 sign an
order turning Mr. Machen over 10 the
custody of the representatives OF the
warden of the Moundsville penitentiary
who were in court.
Justice Wright directed that the order
be made, and in a few minutes Mr..
Machen left the courtroom in company
with the representatives of the warden
Of the penitentiary.
Court Crowded to Capacity.
When the court convened at 10 a. m.
the room was crowded to its fullest
with spectators, among whom
were many prominent members of the
local bar. District Attorney Morgan II.
Reach, special counsel for the Govern
mens in the postoffice eases: Majcr
Holmes Conrad and Assistant District
Attorney Charles A. Keigwin were seat
ed at the trial table in front of the
bench. Sitting near Mr. Beach was
Po5toffiee Inspector Walter S. Mayer,
who played a conspicuous part In the
trial OF the first Of the postotfice scan