Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-25
CRAWFORD HEARING
Government Continues the
Introduction of Evidence.
PAPERS IDEN TITLED
SIGNATURES TO CHECKS AND
DRAFTS VERIFIED.
Objection to Alleged Intimation OF
Sinister Purposes Upon Part
of the Prosecution.

Those who expect sensation in connec-
ton with the trial of William G.. Crawford,
accused of conspiring with August w. Ma
chen and George f. Lorenz to defraud the
United States in connection with a contract
for supplying letter carriers satchels and
straps to the Post Office Department. pa
tientIy and sleeply occupied seats in Grim
inal Court No. l again today. The sensa-
tlon had not been sprung up to a late hour
this afternoon. The men and the few
women constituting the audience expert
enced difficulty in keeping In touch with
the trend of the proceedings The identi-
fication of signatures on checks and drafts,
and the reading of the same TO the jury.
was not at all exciting. especially as the
defense seemed to be really eager to admit
the truth of almost everything the prose-
cuion was trying to prove.
The paying teller of a New York bank
testified that he had cashed bearer"
draft, shown in court. for 81 49, 81 but was
unable TO say TO whom he had delivered
the cash. The defense FASTENED to volun-
teer the information that Mr. Crawford
was the individual who received the money
Tor the draft. Mr.. Crawford wears q per-
petual smile and apparently is highly en-
tertained by the detailed manner in which
the government is putting in it's proof
Notwithstanding the admission by the de-
Tense that the greater portion of such
proof so far. is accurate.
Ripple of Interest.
The monotony was disturbed for a mo-
ment when Maj. Holmes Conrad, special
counsel for the government took occasion
TO reply to what he said was an intima-
tinn that the prosecution had a sinister
purpose in introducing certain evidence.
Notwithstanding Attorney Worthingtons
statement that nobody had said the prose-
cution had sinister motives. Maj. Conrad
insisted on saying that the government
was not trying 70 convict any man I'M
Justly.
Another incident at the outset was the
calling Of Thomas McGregor as a witness
for the government. McGregor is now serv-
Ing a sentence In penitentiary at Balti-
more, Md, under conviction for conspiring
10 ,defraud the United States in connection
with the sale 10 the department of rural
Ctrrier's registry sacks He was formerly
an employe Of the department under Ma
chen. by whose direction he prepared ad-
vertisements for bids. The government evil
IDENTIFY expected to show by McGiregOr who
entered the court room in charge of two
officials OF the Baltimore penitentiary, that
Machen had great deal to do with the in
sertion in the specifications of 1902, for car
riers satchels and straps. Of paragraph to
the effect that bids for Supplying satcheIs
made OF material other than leather would
be. considered. The satchels furnished by
Crawfords company the successful bidder.
were or pegamOid, a ma -erial other than
leIther McGregor. however. had no dis
tinct recollection on the subject he said
According to the witness. the paragraph in
question may have been in specifications
prior to those of 1902.
Draft Cashed in New York.
The prosecution showed that draft from
Lorenz. payable to bearer" was cashed in
New York. and the defense admitted that
Crawford received the money. 1t was also
established by the government that the
amount OF that draft was deposited by
Crawford to his private account with an
other bank, which fact the defense also
seemed anxious to admit was true
Everybody interested GEMS to be await
ing the expected appearance of George E.
l.orchZ as witness for the government
Mt Lorenz was not in court TODAY hut his
brother was on hand as usual
consul General Wynne formerly Post
Muster General continues to pace The COR
ridor just outside the court room 49, a..
Tess patiently, under sobpoena as a witness
TOT the government He seems to be grow
Ing little anxious for fear the time no e
spending here walking along the corridor
VIII be deducted from his annual leave of
absence. "a
Crawford and his counsel. Attorneys
Warrington, Carlisle and Frailey. this
morning moved back to their original posts
In rear Of counsel for the government
Wnere they have an unobstructed view OF
the witness stand
Testimony of VIM. E. Colt.
William Il. Colt. cashier of a New York
financial institution, who was testifying at
the hour Of adjournment yesterday. re-
stunned the stand at the opening of court
this morning. He identified checks to the
oder OF George E. Lorenz, drawn on the
witness company and signed 1.-The Postal
Device and Lock Company. by William G.
Crawford manager and attorney" and
other papers. to the Introduction of which
the defensz made no objection.
The prosecution iate yesterday introduced
in evidence several warrants for the pay
ueEt of money on account of the Post Off,
flea Department to the Postal Device and
Lock Company which warrants were paid.
james J. Burke of the Adams Express
Company was called to produce a record
book OF his company by which the prose-