Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-18

The defense today also introduced evil
| dence directed against the claim of the
/ prosecution that George w. Beavers as
| headsse the division of salaries and allow
| ances, Post Office Department, exercised
| extensive and practically independent au-
| thority in the purchase of machines for post
| offices.
| Argued Against Admissibility.
United States Attorney Baker argued
/ against the admission of this testimony,
| but Justice Gould held that it was proper
| to go before the jury as bearing on the
| question of the degree of Beavers author
| ity. Gen. L. T. Michener, who occupied the
| stand at the time the point arose, stated
| that, to his knowledge, the earliest nego-
/ tiations for the sale of the Doremus can
| ceiling machines to the Post Office Depart
| ment were embodied in a conversation. be-
| tween him and the tnen first assistant post
| master general Perry S. Heath. From that
| time down to the date of the first order
| for machines. the witness said, his dealings
| with ssthe department were conducted
| through Mr.. Heath.
| Gen. l. T. Miehener, who was of the
| incorporators of the Doremus Machine Com
| pany, was called to the stand when court
convened this morning at 10 O'Clock. Mr..
| Worthington asked the witness If he had
| not used his influence as political leader
| in Indiana to secure the appointment of
George w. Beavers to the division of saa-
| ries and allowances in the Post Office De-
| partment. Counsel for the government OBJ
| jected to the question, claiming that the
| evidence heretofore adduced on that point
| related simply to the alleged activity of
/ Green in securing the appointment of Beav-
ers and not to what influence others may
| have brought to bear in that connection.
| Mr. Worthngton said he wished to show
| by the witness that the contention of the
| government that Green had virtually OBJ
| tanned the appointment of Beavers was in
! correct. The defense, counsel said, pro-
| posed to prove that the whole matter of
| Beavers advancement from his former po-
sition in the postal service to the salaries
/ and allowances division had been practi-
| cally fixed, SO far as political influence
| went, before the time of the alleged ac-
| tivity of Green in the matter.
| Ruled to Exclude Question.
| The court ruled to exclude the question.
| holding that the issue involved was not as
to who had actually secured the appoint
ment of Beavers, but that 1t was as to
what influence Green may have employed.
! To this counsel for the defense noted excep-
tions.
The witness was next asked to state the
beginning of the negotiations between him
| and the then first assistant postmaster gem
eral. Perry S. Heath. Counsel for the pros
| ecution objected, and Mr.. Worthington
stated that the purpose was to negative the
claim of the government that Beavers had
| extensive authority in the purchase of post
| office supplies After hearing argument at
!
| United States Attorney Baker. Justice
\ Gould ruled in favor of the defense. The
court said that the evidence had clearly
| shown two things-one that Beavers did not
have the final say In regard to the order
| ing of machines, and the other that he did
have something to do with such purchases.
| The question. the court said, was as to the
extent of Beavers authority.
Negotiations With officials.
| The question then being repeated the
witness said that the opening of his nego-
tiations with officials of the department in
regard to the Doremus machines was
conversation between him ard Mr. Heath.
Another interview followed, the witness
said, in which Mr.. Heath agreed to give an
order for two canceiing machines. to be
tested by the government with a view of
installing the devices in the postal service
From that time down to the date of the
first order for seventy-f1ve Doremus ma
chimes, Gen. Michener added. he had had
no dealing with any one in the Post Office
Department except the first assistant post
master general. So far as the witness re-
called he had talked with Beavers only once
in reference to the Doremus machines dur
ing that period. That was. he explained,
when Mr.. Heath called Beavers into con-
sultation over the proposed first order for
seventy-hve machines.
| The witness was asked when, to his
knowledge. Green first knew of the Dore-
mus machines and when he became inter-
ested in the company. Counsel for the
prosecution objected, but the court allowed
the question. Gen. Michener said that SO
far as he knew Green first became inter-
ested in the enterprise after a meeting of
the incorporators OF the Doremus Machine
Company in Wilmington, Del, in August
1899, Some time after that, he stated he
was informed that Green was to come into
the company in order to furnish capital
Continuing his testimony Gen. Kitchener
said that the law firm of which he was
member had represented the Bundy Time
Recording Company. and that the firm
had dealings with the Post Office Depart
ment In 1896. In his business In that con-
nection Gen. Michener said he had always
dealt with the first assistant postmaster
general.
Excused Without Testifying.
Henry L. Bregan was next called to the
stand but was excused without testify
fng objection to the first question put to
him being sustained. Addison G. Dubois
told Of having had q conversation with
Dallas Knowlton. one OF the witnesses |
for the prosecution, in 1899. in this city |
Mf Knowlton then said. according to the !
Witness that he would camp on Do
remuG trail until he got even with him.
WI Hunday of Syracuse, n. r, stated /
that Hefbert 4 Truesde1l had said III con- |
yersatton that he would get even with |
(continued on Second Pege.)