Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
GREEN AND DOREMUS
Hearing Resumed Today in the
''Post Office" Case.
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
Identification of Letters Bearing
Beavers Initials.
LOOKING FOR PERRY HEATH
Spirited Arguments by Counsel-Ex-
ception Noted to Courts Ruling
Fined for Contempt.

The proceedings today in the trial of
George E. Green and Willard D. Dcremus,
before Justice Gould in Circuit Court No. /,
under indictments charging conspiracy and
bribery growing out the the Post Office De-
partment investigation. were characterized
by the introduction on the part of the gov
ernment of evidence relating to the first
overt act charged in the indictments
c. p Granfield. who was on the stand
during most OF the morning session, iden-
titled the letters &c. w. b" appearing on
an order of the Post Office Department for
a Doremus canceling machine as the regu-
lar Endorsement of George w. Beavers.
This letter, which forms the basis of the
first of the ten alleged overt acts, bears
date of December 10, 1900
The defense showed by Gen. L. p Niche
ner, the first witness called this morning
py the government, that the Doremus Ma
chlne Company had dealings with the Post
once Department before former Senator
Green had any relations with the company.
II was shown that prior to the date when
Mr. Green became president Of the company
or mad any other connection with the con-
Germ batch Of seventy-f1ve Doremus can
ceiling machines had been sold to the de-
partment.
Spirited Argument by Counsel
spirited argument was started when
counsel for the defense sought to prove by
the same witness that there was no sus-
picion Of the use OF improper methods by
the company at that time Maj. Holmes
Conrad and United States Attorney Baker
made forceful objection to the introduction
OF testimony along that line while Attor-
neys A. s. Worthington and John B Stanch-
field. representing Green, and former Sena-
tor John M. Thurston. counsel for Doremus,
maze vigorous arguments In support of the
proposed procedure.
The evidence was excluded by Justice
Gould. to which ruling exceptions were
noted
The government introduced evidence to
show that strong effort had been made To
locate former Fist Assistant Postmaster
General Perry Heath, In order TO secure a
subpoena on him to appear as a witness
in the present tri u.
Identifies Several Letters.
Mr.. Granfield identified several letters and
other papers connected with the purchase of
canceliing machines by the Post Office De-
partment. Many of the letters bore the
initials &c. w. b. which the witness said
had been written by Beavers. Counsel con-
tended for some time over the admissibility
OF an order for 100 machines. The paper
pore the name of former Postrna ster Cen
eral Charles Emory Smith, but did not con-
tam the initials of Beavers. The court re-
fused TO admit it until the government had
shown by the testimony of Mr.. Granfed
that the letter was prepared under the di-
rection of Beavers.
The direct evidence in general of Mr.
Granfield related to the first overt act
alleged in the indictment charging CON
spiracy. The date of this alleged act is
given as December TO- 1900 and the Of
fense charged Is based upon an order from
the Post Ohlce Department for the pur-
chase of one Doremus cancelling machine
m a ancr Af
witness Identified copy of the order. bear
Ing the initials &c. w b."
Under Cross examination.
Mr.. Granheld. under cross-exanination
stated that he had occasionally endorsed
orders for caneelling machines in the alb
sence of Beavers. Mr.. Worthington at
tempted to show by the witness that the
then Postmaster General Smith was for.
maly notified by the Doremus Nroohi,o
company that the price OF the macbinas
mad been reduced from $3.50 to so25 A let
ter 10 the Postmaster General announcino
tne reduetlon was introduced but the wit
ness could not say that 1t was seen nv Mr.
smith instead of being referred to a s,,bor
dinate official e"ooA
Mr. Granfield was followed on the vitness
ssahd sta oy arthur II. Whtlark. a clerk in
the post office at Detroit, Mich. and for-
merry clerk in the division of salaries ana
allowances In the Post Office Department
Before the examination was proceeded with
the usual midday recess was taken.
Fined for Contempt.
oscar l.. Berger, a member of the snac,a,
panel OF twenty-five talesmen summoned
to complete the jury in the reen-Doren,n.
case was taken into court late YESTERDAY
afternoon and called before the bar IN c.
plain why he had not obeyed the summons
ne ae Stated stated, mat the notice of the court was
not served until twenty minutes before The
hour at which he was directed to annaar e
and that he could not arrange to Ieave his,
grocery store at 1901 street in time to
ieacn a',st,ca cne iiI eour, room at the hour set
notice was short. but he added that the
exigencles or the court In that Instance
We're pressing. He informed Berger thai
IL is the clear duty OF a citizen 10 nron,,at
ly obey summons, and to present evcusas
and explanations, IL any are necessarv
later. Justice Gould said he did NOT wish
TO be severe. but added that he could not
overlook such case, and imposed a fine of
50 with costs Of the attachment
Witnesses Excluded From Room.
At the request of Mr.. Worthington the
court passed an order excluding from the
court room witnesses whose testimony had
not been heard An exception. at the in
stance of counsel for the government, was
made in the case OF the post Office inspect
orS VINO are nanoilng papers to be made
use of In the trial and who may or NAV not
be placed on the witness stand. Under this
order Consul General Wynne retired from
the court room comment made by Unit
ed States Attorney Baker in connection
with the action OF the defense as 1t applied
to Mr.. Wynne was objected to by Mr..
Worthington. who thought that such re-
marks should not be made before the jury.
Gen. L. p Michener was the first witness
called for the government. He stated that
he was one of the stockholders of the Dore-
mus Machine Company at the time of its
organization in 1898 and was counsel for
the company for several months.
Where is Perry Heathf
Counsel for the government then began
a line of questions with the stated pur-
pose Of showing that the witness knew
the present whereabouts OF Perry Heath,
formerly first assistant postmaster gen.
erai. for whom the government few
DAYS ago issued subpoena to appear as
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