Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-06
May Testify With Lorenz in
Crawford Case.
CLAIMS He IS EXEMPT
GOVERNMENT SAID TO HAVE
PROMISED NOT TO CALL HIM.
Attorney Douglass Will Oppose Efforts
to Put Former Post Office OFF,
cial on Stand.

August W. Machen, formerly superin-
tendent of rural free delivery, Post Office
Department, and George E. Lorenz of To-
ledo, Ohio, both of whom are serving SEN
tences imposed in cases growing out of the
Post Office Department Irregularities reach
ed this city last evening In custody. They
are located at the Riggs House. Machen
and Lorenz were brought here from the
West Virginia penitentiary at Moundsvile
by direction of the authorities of the gov
ernment to appear as witnesses for the
prosecution in the case of William G.
Crawford, on trial in Criminal Court No. l.
Maehen and Lorenz were jointly indicted
with Crawford in one of the three consoli-
dated cases now being heard. Crawford,
however. was granted severance, and
Machen pleaded guilty.
Lorenz appeared as witness for the
government at the first trial Of Crawford
but Machen was removed to the peniten-
tiary Immediately after entering his plea OF
guilty the day the case was called. There
fore the action of the prosecution in bring
ing Machen here for the purpose of testi-
fylng against Crawford in connection with
the second trial of the latter was a COM
plete surprise
May Not Be Put on Stand.
4" Attorney Charles A Douglas of counsel
for Machen was at the city hall this after
noon. When asked regarding the matter,
he stated that he will oppose any attempt
to plce Machen on the witness stand. and
explained that Machen entered into a writ
ten agreement with the Attorney General
prior to entering the plea of guilty, last
spring, the terms of the agreement being
that he should not be called upon to testify
in any of the post office cases. IT is not
the intention of United States Attorney
Baker to call Maehen as witness prior to
tny,,f,r
for the government, it is understood will
confer this afternoon with the court regard
ing the agreement mentioned by Attorney
Douglas, and endeavor to reach some m
ders standing as to the right of the prosecu-
ton. under the circumstances. to eomnel
Machen TO testify.
Toledo Banker Testifes.
Spencer Carr. president of the Society for
Savings of Toledo, Ohio. who was testifying
at the hour OF adjournment yesterday re-
sumed his seat on the stand this morning.
He told of the purchase by Lorenz from
the Society of Savings of a certain dra IF
Tor large amount having it made pay
able TO bearer" This was unusual Chas
II. Tlssington, paying teller of the Bank of
NeW fork III Wall street, testified that fbe
bearer draft referred to was cashed at
his institution on a certain date
me next witness, Harry w Hoad1av ra
celvlng teller OF the United States Mortsa 90
ana Trust Company of New York citv re-
lated that the same date Mr. Crawford 40
posted with the United States Mort 90
ana Trust Company an amount equal To
that for which the bearer, draft uas
easned. The establishment of the Trp;tad
states Mortgage and Trust Companv is nnI,
a few blocks distant from the Rank ~
New York. DR.. Joshua w Herring cashior
OF the Union National Bank OF Westm;n.
ster, Md, testified that Machen had an &C.
count there. The witness Identified cartair
checks and drafts deposited by Machen
introduced by italian Count
Spencer Trask, millionaire banker =,
New York. was interrogated regar7ing
Crawfordss connection with the Postal De.
vice and Lock Company, of which the W.T.
ness was president Mr., Trask met Crau-
ford through an italian count, who had
invented device which the company was
asked to back. Among other things ar
cording to Mr.. Trask.s he was asked nv
Crawford to discount a note for q frfensl
or the latter In Washington. This friend
Mr.. Trask said he learned later. WAS
Machen. The note was discounted, bat has
never been naid
Among these at the city hall this afters
noon within call of the prosecution wns
former Fourth Assistant Postmaster gem.
eral Brtstow. Il had not been determined
Gehniteiy whether or not Mr. Bristow weuiI
he placed upon the Witness stand e
StimQny for the 1,rox xetu tfoaas uy,,s sfva,.
1ats blf III Aicf5 f5FexQf Tie fofn1er!