Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
LORENZ Is FREE MAN
RELEASED FROM WEST VIRGINIA
PRISON LAST SATURDAY.
Pathetic Scene Enacted Before United
States Commissioner in Wheeling
-Machen and Beavers.

Contrary to expectations, DR.. George Z.
LOrenz, of the defendants In the pos
tai fraud cases. was discharged from the
West Virginia pententiary at Moundsvile
last Saturday. His term expired that day
and he took advantage of the provisions
of the poor conviets act. declaring he was
unable to pay the fine of $4,000 that was
imposed upon him in addition 10 the SEN
tence of two years Imprisonment. He is
the first of the several convicted men in the
post office cases to take advantage of the
provisions of the poor convict act, but it
is thought some others will do so later.
United States Attorney Baker suggested
yesterday that DIR. Lorenz would probably
have to remain in prison thirty days before
he could make showing of his inability
to pay the fine and get released but it APP
pears that under the law IN force in West
Virginia the case was disposed of without
delay. DIR. Lorenz was taken to Wheeling
by federal officer and given opportun-
tty to appear before United States Com
missioner George E. Boyd and make the
necessary affidavit. 1t is reported that his
appearance before the commissioner and
the story he told enlisted the sympathy
of those who were present.
Pathetic Scene
DR.. Lorenz Is no longer a young man,
and his bowed head as he fell upon his
knees and made an appeal to the commits
sioner made the scene a particularly sad
one. He is reported to have told the
United States commissioner that he was
penniless; that he had no home, family or
loved ones. and that he was almost afraid
TO return to his old home in Toledo, fearing
his former friends and associates would
not welcome him. 1t upon this showing
that he was released and enabled TO return
to his old home.
Upon reaching Toledo Dr. Lorenz was
happily surprised at the cordial reception
given him. He is in the best of health and
spirits. and he lost no time in resuming his
perfume business Madison avenue.
Shortly after reaching home he issued a
statement in which he said that there was
not the slightest tinge of guilt upon his
conscience. He said he was merely the vic
tim of a mistrial and that 1t was in the air
TO convict at the time he was tried.
Philosophical View.
Taking philosophical view of his con-
viction and the sentence he served, Dr.
Lorenz stated:
There is compensation in all things, for
this rest from business has done me a
great deal of good physically. and 1 now
feel better than 1 have felt in years. Serv-
ing time in prison makes philosophers of
some of us. and i want to say that l have
discovered that the greatest prisoners We
have in this land of ours are the business
men"
Terms of Machen and Beavers.
Computing from the time allowance in
the case of the Groffs, who were convicted
with LorenZ and August w. Machen, and
released from the pententiary last Septem-
Der, August w. Machens term of impris-
onment on the second sentence of two years
imposed on him will expire about April %,
1898. Should Machen take advantage of
the privilege afforded him under the pauper
convict act he will have to serve addi-
tional month to avoid the payment of the
$4,000 fine imposed him in connection
with the first sentence.
George w. Beavers, the other post office
conspirator. who pleaded guilty to an in
dictment charging conspiracy with George
r. Green, who was tried and acquitted of
the charge, entered the pententiary Feb
ruary Il, 1906. to serve two years impris-
onment Justice Gould did not impose a
$4,000 fine Beavers. The term of two
years. deducting good behavior allowance,
will expire about September ~, 1907.