Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-18
ASKS FOR SEVERANCE
Petition in Behalf of William
G. Crawford.
ALLEGED CONSPIRACY
BELIEF THAT LoRENZ WILL
TESTIFY FOR GovERNMENT.
Developments in the So-Ca1led Post
Office Cases-Immunity for
One Defendant.
ALLEGED CONSPIRACY

Lorenz has entered into some arrangement,
directly or indirectly. with representatives
of the government by which Lorenz has
made statements or admissions Ito save
himself"
1t has been rumored about the cftN.,hall
for several months past that Lorenz might
turn states evidence" and as a reward
for so doing be relieved from punishment
for his connection with the Post Office De-
partment irregularities. Lorenz has been
permitted to remain undisturbed at his
home, in Toledo Ohio, and Machen and the
Croft brothers were taken to the peniten-
tiary at Moundsville. WA, without loss OF
time after the Supreme Court Of the United
States had acted in the Machen- Croft
Lorenz case. .-
A similar sentence was imposed on
Lorenz as on Machen and the Croft broth
ers. At the time Machen and the Groffs
were taken to the penitentiary 1t was an
nounced that Lorenz was suffering with
ear trouble and was physically unable to
travel. 1t is assumed, however, that he
long since recovered from that complaint.
However, he has not begun to serve the
sentence. That fact has constituted the
basis for the rumor mentioned.
An open assertion that the government
may make use of self-serving statements
of Lorenz against the latter's co-defend-
ants in the wford-LOrenz-Machen
case, though, was not made until today.
when Attorney A. S. worthington, who is
associated with John G. Carlisle, formerly
Secretary of the Treasury. as counsel for
Crawford. filed motion in the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia asking
that Crawford be granted a severance in
the case in order that he may be tried
alone.
Allegations Made.
In support of the motion it is said in be-
half of Crawford that his co-defendants'
Machen and Lorenz, and two other persons
who were indicted with them, have been
convicted of an offense similar to -that
charged in the indictment In the Crawford
Lorenz- Machen case. The other three de-
PENDANTS In the first case, 1t Is added, are
now serving a term of Imprisonment IN the
penitentiary under the conviction.
For some reason unknown to Crawford,
Lorenz is still at large the court is in
formed. Counsel for Crawford Rave asked
the United States district attorney. Wno IS
prosecuting this cause, to inform th2m
whether Lorenz is acting with the govern
ment in the case, and have been informed
in reply by Mr.. Keigwin, one Of @he assist
ants of the district attorney, tina. the Dis
trict attorneys office will give CRAWFORD
counsel no information on the subject"
Counsel further say that If Crawford Is
tried with his co-defendants any admis-
sion, or statements in the nature OF ad-
missions, MADE Dy e1lner Oh tletH VIII Dc
admissible evidence against the DEFENDANT
making such admissions, and that, while
the jury will be instructed to disregard
such admissions evidence against Craw-
ford. it will be difficult If not impossible
for the jury to comply with such 1nstruc-
ton. Crawford, on account of the alleged
refusal of the district attorneys office TO
give information, as stated. and Tor other
reasons believes and therefore AYERS that
Lorenz has entered into some arrangement
directly or indirectly~with representatives
OF the government, so that If he should be
jointly tried with this defendant the trial
as to him will be conducted pursuant TO
such arrangement. and that statements or
admissions made. by him to save hlmsei1,
and not under oath, may be put in evil
dence so as to seriously embarrasS and az
feet this defendant (Crawford). and yet
this defendants counsel will have no OPP
portunity for cross-examination.'
Other Indictments Pending.
There are two other indictments now
pending In the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia against Crawford. In one
of them he is indicted with Machen and
Lorenz and Martha L. Lorenz, the wife of
Lorenz. In the other he is indicted alone.
Both Of those indictments, 1t is said. relate
in large part to the same matters which
are covered by the latest indictment and
the evidence in all three cases so far as
Crawford Is concerned Will be largely the
same, whether 1t be evidence In support Of
the charge evidence against It, Crawford
says he wishes to have all the cases against
him tried at one time by having the indict-
mentS consolidated, SO far as he Is con-
cerned. He AYERS that this cannot be done
If he is tried with his co-defendants. be-
cause they are not parties to one of the
indictments against him. Crawford further
remarks that he is possessed of very limit
ed means and will be utterly unable to bear
the expense of properly defending himself
in such a series of trials.
Set for Trial Monday.
The Crawford-Lorenz-M achen case is set
for trial next Monday in Criminal Court
No. l. Arguments in connection with the
motion for severance will be made to-
morrow.
The government recently had bench
warrant issued upon which to bring
Machen here from the Moundsvllle peni-
Tertiary for trial next Monday Counsel
for Machen raised the point that the Dis
trict Supreme Court is without authority to
bring Machen back at this time, while he
is serving a sentence, for trial on another
charge. The court ruled against them. 1t
is stated that when Machen is brought here
his counsel will again raise the point
through the medium of habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. and. If necessary. carry the mat
ter to the Court of Appeals, and perhaps
to the Supreme Court of the United States
In view of the motion for a severance
and of the intention of counsel for Machen
to institute habeaS corpus proceedings 1t
was this afternoon regarded extremely
doubtful that the Crawford-Lorenz-Ma chen
trial will be started Monday morning next.
planned.
Preparations for Trial.
The prosecution is actively preparing for
the trial Mr.. Robert ]. Wynne, United
States consul general at London, England,
| recently Postmaster General, and prior to
that first assistant postmaster general, who
returned to this country from England for
the purpose Of appearing as a government
witness at the hearing of the Crawford
| Lorenz-Machen case. was at the office of
| the United States attorney for the District
Of Columbia this afternoon. Mr.. Wynne
| was busily engaged with Assistant United
| States Attorney Keigwin going over the pa
pers In the case.
| Post Office Inspector Walter s. Mayer,
who figured prominently in the Machen-
Lorenz-Groff case. has been at the city hall
| almost constantly for several days past In
connection with the preparation Of the
Crawford Lorenz-Machen case for trial
Bequest to q Local Institution.
| 1t Is reported from New York that Sarah