Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-23


ney's force. with pad and pencil in hand.
The presiding justice did not appear I'M
til 1915 o'clock The examination of
talesmen to fill vacancies on the grand
Criminal Court No. 1 consumed the ten
minutes that followed. so that it was near
ly 1870 o'clock when United States Attor-
ney Beach arose and asked first the ar
raignment of Crawford on the remaining
counts of the indictment in the case set
for trial today.
Crawford's Plea of Not Guilty.
Attorney Worthington explained that his
client would waive the reading of the in
dictment. Crawford, in firm, clear tones,
pleaded not guilty.
United States Attorney Beach then sug-
gested a severance of the trial of Craw
ford from that of Machen, If there was no
objection on the part of counsel for the
defendants.
I'VE have no objection" Attorney Wor-
thington remarked, las we have heretofore
asked for such severance.
The severance was ordered and Machen
was called upon to plead to the entire in
dictment.
Machen arose and began to make his
statement. published in full in the fore
going. He had uttered only a few words
when Attorney Worthington interrupted
to say that it might be well to exclude the
jurors from the room If Machen was go
ing to speak. 1t was intimated that the
statement might be injurious to one or
both of the other defendants. Attorney
c. A. Douglass walked across the room
and conferred with Attorney Worthington
for moment. At the conclusion of the
conference Attorney Worthington said:
Il withdraw my objection"
Entirely Unexpected.
Machen thereupon resumed his remarks.
He spoke easily, but with feeling. and his
words were followed with the closest at
tention by all within hearing. The enter
ing of the plea Of guilty was like the
hurting of a bomb, so far as its unexpect-
edness on the part of the majority OF
those present was concerned. Lawyers
and laymen literally sat with open
mouthed establishment. 1t had been be-
1ieved by many that Machen was prepar-
Ing to attack the right of the court to put
him on trial on another charge while he Is
serving a sentence in the penitentiary UNI
der previous conviction. Therefore his
admission of guilt was a complete varia-
ton from what was anticipated
Judges Comment.
The intense silence that followed the plea
of guilty by Machen was broken by the
presiding justice, who briefly informed the
prisoner that the advice given him by his
counsel was correct; that there seemed to
have been violation of the law and that
under the circumstances the plea of guilty
was the proper one to enter Taking into
consideration the TACT tnat Otner Charges
are pending against Machen and that he
had entered plea of guilty in the set
for trial today, thereby saving the govern
ment the expense of a trial. the court ex-
planned that he would make the penalty
less severe than 1t otherwise would have
been. Sentence OF penitentiary imprisOn-
ment for two years. to begin at the expira-
ton of the sentence Machen Is now serv-
ing, was then imposed.
Il presume the defendant Is remanded to
the custody of the penitentiary officials?'
Attorney Douglass inquired.
He was informed that such was the ac-
ton of the writ. A few minutes later
Machen, his counsel and their party left
the room and the building.
No Nolle Pros. Promised.
A rumor gained circulation about the city
hall that in view of his action in pleading
guilty today all other indictments pending
against Machen will be dropped. To Star
reporter United States Attorney Beach de-
clared emphatically that he had said moth
ing to warrant such a conclusion and was
not prepared to say that such action would
be taken.
Without moments delay the work of
impaneling a jury to pass upon the cues
ton of the guilt or innocence of Crawford
was begun. The regular panel of jurors of
the court was exhausted before twelve men
satisfactory to both sides secured so
recess was taken, the marshal being di-
rected to summon ten additional talesmen
in the meantime.
Everybody, including Crawford and Lo-
REM, seemed to be in the best of humor
today, and there were several amusing pas
sages between counsel. John II. Corning,
a member of the jury panel, was asked If
he was connected with the government In
any way
81 have several government contracts"
MI. Corning replied
'"Then you'd better look OUT" he was
warned by Attorney Worthngton
care you a client of Mr.. Worthington's?"
United States Attorney Beach inquired.
NO, sir"
''Then you needn't look out" the prose-
cutting attorney added.
Mr.. Motley Anderson another member of
the panel, a moment later was being ques-
toned. Mr.. Beach asked:
Were you ever so fortunate as to have
enjoyed the services of Mr.. Worthington?"
The reply was In the negative. Mr..
Worthington got even by asking:
Were you ever so unfortunate as to have
had any dealings with the government?
Again the reply was in the negative.
The Jury Impaneled.
Fifteen minutes after the opening of the
afternoon session of the court a jury was
secured, the following being impaneled:
Messrs. John Shugrue, w. T. BroohA, clar-
ence E. Latimer, Ernest L. Hibbs, Charles
Specht, Andrew Boyer, Robert D. Howell,
Motley Anderson. Herman ]. Walz VIII
nam ii. Linger, Harry L. " aafa ana
Franklin p. Nash.
Opening Address to Jury.
The opening address to the jury was
made by United States Attorney Beach
after the witnesses had been excluded
| from the court room on motion of At
| torney Worthington.
| Mr.. Beach explained that the charge be-
! fore the jury was of conspiracy and
| that 1.-The consprators'' were the defendant,
William G. Crawford August w. Machen
| and George e. LorenZ. BY reason of a
| severance being granted as regards Lorenz
| and other disposition being made of Ma
| chen, Crawford was the only one of the
| three defendants trial.
The company this defendant kept, how
ever" Mr.. Beach remarked, should not
prejudice you against him."
Mr.. Beach detailed the connection of Ma
| chen and Crawford with the Post Office De-
| partment Machen, 1t was asserted, was
the purchasing agent-the most powerful Of