Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-04
IN FAVOR OF DEFENSE
roSS-Examination of Govern
ment's Witnesses.
GREEN AND DOREMUS TRIAL
Nothing Unusual in Meetings With
George w. Beavers.
SIMPLE BUSINESS MATTERS
Former Chief of Division of Salaries
and Allowances Merely Discharg-
ed Official Duty.
SIMPLE BUSINESS MATTERS

the government In the case of George e.
Green and Willard d. Doremus. on trial
before Justice Gould in Criminal Court No.
for alleged conspiracy and bribery in
connection with the Post Office Department
Irregularities, today gave testimony tend
ing to offset the evidence heretofore
brought out by the government as to con-
ferences between Green and Beaver and an
to the official duties of the latter.
1t was shown by the defense that there
appeared to be nothing in the slightest de-
gree unusual in the meetings between Green
and Beavers in the office OF the superin-
tendent of the division of salaries and al
lowances, about which testimony was
given last week.
Ordinary Business Matters.
The defense also brought out testimony
tending to show that on such visits OF
Green to the Office of Beavers the two con-
versed about ordinary business matters
connected with the furnishing of Doremus
canceling machines to the department.
Furthermore, evidence adduced to
show that George w. Beavers, in direct
ing postmasters in various parts of the
country to pay for canceling machines.
was simply discharging recognized part
of his official duty. 1t was also testified
that Beavers was in the habit OF consult-
ing with his superiors before entering into
any important transactions involving the
purchase of canceling machines
General Line of Evidence.
The general line of the evidence given,
under the questioning by Mr.. Worthington
tended to show that Beavers, in so far an
the greater part of his official acts In reia-
ton to the case trial was concerned,
acted In accordance with the rules of the
Office and under the supervision of his
supervisors.
Since Justice Gould put stop to the ad-
mission of a mass of documentary evidence
offered by the government TO prove the dtl-
ties of Beavers and to show his responsioa-
ity the case has progressed much more er-
pedi ously than before. At the morning
session today several witnesses were ex-
anlifled and a quantity of correspondents
Identified
Subpoena for Perry S. Heath.
The attempt of the government to secure
the attendance of Perry S. Heath. former
first assistant postmaster general, a wit
ness in the trial has so far proved un-
successful. The subpoena directed to him
at Noblesville. Ind, was this morning re-
turned without being served 1t Is under
stood that the government will take other
steps to discover the whereabouts of Mr..
Heath.
Cross-Examination Of Mr.. Groff.
H. Clayton Groff, who was on the stand
the whole OF Fridays session, continued his
testimony this morning under cross-exam-
ination conducted by Mr. Worthington. The
witness described the routine connected
with the ordering of Doremus canceing
machines. He said he had seen several
pa pers, purporting to have come from the
Postmaster General, directing Beavers to
order machines for post offices. Sometimes
he said the instructions for the buying OF
machines came down to the office of the
division OF salaries and allowances on cards.
letter heads and plain pieces of paper 1t
was part of his duty, he testified, to
put such papers ON file. For each company
or individual with whom the department
had business dealings, the witness stated
there was a file or jacket, where such MEM
oranda were placed. The witness said that
since leaving the department he had seen
a number of the orders for canceling ma
chimes, but had not seen any OF the mem
oranda, excepting one paper. He could not
tell what had become of them.
Conversation With Beavers.
He remembered one conversation with
MI Beavers when the latter stated that
he had received a memorandum from the
Postmaster General directing the purchase
of 100 canceling machines. He could not
tell what had become of the single memo
randum he had seen since leaving the Of
fee. This bore a date In May, 1901. he
their accustomed places In the department
The United States attorney said that the
government had made an effort to find all
the memoranda connected with the orders.
He suggested that George w. Beavers was
the only man who could tell what had be-
come of them.
In answer TO a question by Mr.. Worth
ington the witness expressed the oninion
that ne had prepared and Beavers had re-
yised letter of May 8, 1902, to George e.
Green, as president of the Doremus Ma
chine Company, In reference to the pur-
chase of canceling machines The witness
SAID that orders frequently came down In
reference TO questions as to the work of
the machines Sometimes, he said MEM
oranda were sent down directing that ma
chimes be forwarded to certain post Offices
In line, the witness understood with re-
quests made to the department by certain
congressman.
Witness Questioned Closely.
The witness was questioned closely by
Mr.. Worthington to the occasions when,
as. testified by Mr. Groff In his direct ex-
animation. he had seen Mr. Green in con-
versation with Mr.. Beavers In the office of
the latter In the department. The witness
said he had been called into the Office Of
Beavers on few of those occasions to ex-
plain some point under discussion pertain
ing to the work OF the canceiing machines.
WAS there anything unusual In the pres
ence of q president of a corporation in
the Office OF the superintendent of the sal
aries and allowances division discussing the
merits OF a capceiing machine?" Mr.. Worth
ington asked. to which the witness re-
sponded in the negative.
No Attempt to Conceal.
In answer to another question the witness
raid that while Green was a visitor In
Beavers ONCE there wassno attempt SO far
as the witness had seen. to conceal any
thing or to keep anything quiet. The Wit
ness testified that Beavers vas frequently
away from the department. once for six
weeks. another time for three weeks At
such timssI Mr. 0ro6 sa1d the business OF