The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-12-11
..Do oSTHou LIBERTY 1. GREAT 4 s.l,.'
THE z O S STAs j. RATJDISS:. d / / ].
Bristow's Report Cond dsmns Tyner,
Beavers and atoheo.

brlstoWs report Condemns nm Tyner,
Beavers and Matohe,
WHO ROBBED THE GOVERN mENT
The Report shows thnt the Ac-
oused Men Had Been Dishen. Sc
est from the moment
They Took once.
The brief j. Z. Bristow, Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General, who
conducted the investigation OF the
United States Post Office Department
was made public last-week 1t details
the glaring frauds, c0nspiracies, black
mailing and looting Of the public
treasury that for ten years had gone
on In this department. Of the public
service. 1t Is shown that in most
cases the accused men had been dis
honest from the moment they took
Office.
In the case Of August w. Machen,
Superintendent Of the Free Delivery
Division, Mr.. Bristow, openly charges
that he was forger when he entered
the service. AS the arch.conspirators
OF the department. he mentions for
mer Assistant Attorney General
Tyner, Chief George w. Beavers, OF
the Salaries and Allowances Division,
and August w. Machen, in charge Of
the Free Delivery Division. Barrett,
Tyner's nephew is mentioned as close
second to his uncle in plots to rob the
treasury.
The brief dlscloses the finding Of
forty-fonr indictments, though more
than this number have been recorded.
Of these. fourteen were against
Machen on Various specific charges,
and eight were against George w.
Beavers, in charge of the Division OF
Salaries and Allowances. There is no
attempt on Mr.. Bristow's part to
smooth over u single Detail. He ieiis
In most open, matter-of- fact way
the methods by whom Post Office
Officials used their offices to put
money into their own pockets.
TYNER AND HIS -JEPHEw.
The charges against Assistant At
torney-General Tyner for the Post
Office Department Indicate, in very
practical way, that he was in partner
ship with his nephew, Barrett, who
had, been his assistant, In order to
profit by the non prosecution OF bond
investment companies, or "get-rich-
quick" concerns that we're using the
mails to perpertuate their frauds.
stop orders" had been issued against
these companies, .Bristow recites, by
Assistant Acknowledgement Thomas,
who declared they were "a greater
menance to society than the avowed
lotteries. So
Barret6 wrote an opinion declaring
al, bond investment concerns .fraudu-
t.lent and ssinImical to the postal laws
but still suggesting that they be given
IAN opportunity" In order that the
lHget-rich-quickn concerns might not
tack the opportunity. Barrett resign
led from his Office and formed part
nership with j. Eenning NefmS, an
agent for one OF these concerns. Then
they became attorneys for nearly all
OF them and thereafter the approval
OF Assistant Attorney-G General Tyner
to any plan Of the investment com
panies was sure, II the application was
thrOugh bis nephew, Barrett.
MIR. Bristow says that the fees Of
Nelms and Barrett for the first fifty
five days Of their copartnership were
$4,000. The opinion Of Barrett, prior
to his resignation from the depart
ment, had scared the investment com.
panies, who all fled to Barrett for
protection. He obtained it through
his uncle. Mr.. Bristow takes up the
case OF each bond investment com pany
and shows what was done.
Fraud orders were issued against the
Southern Mutual Company for using
the mails. Tyner arranged with the
law firm to allow the concern to do
business. Other concerns operated to
gull the public are mentioned, includ-
Ing the Physicians InstitC te, OF Chica-
go; e. j. Arnold 6 Co., the turf firm,
OF ST. Louis; j. 8. Ryan s. Co., and
others 1t Is pointed out that the
fraudulent concerns were able to use
the malls for six years under Tyner's
rulings.
A BANKRUPT AND FORaER.
Mr.. Bristcw finds against August
w. Machen as follows: That he cen
tered the service In 1887, a bankrupt
and forger; that he had then secured
loans from friends on false representa-
lions; that, as Superintendent OF the
Free Delivery System, he introduced
straps instead OF twine for the use of
carriers in tying up mail and collect
ed 100000 from George D. Lamb, a
man with whom he had only Il verbal
contract for suppling the straps; that
the straps cost the Government SI4,-
O0C year.
That he made a contract with John
Boyle & Co., for the furnishing Of
carriers shoulder straps and collected
rebate from the firm for each strap
used; that he made a similar contract
with William G Crawford, Of Wash
ington, when the Boyle contract for
four years expired, and that by its
terms be entered into a conspiracy
with Crawford and George e Lorenz,
OF Toledo, Ohio, to furnish straps and
divided the money received from the
Government. BY its terms Machen
and Lorenz each received 374 per
cent.
That Machen conspired with the
Groffs and Lorenz to defraud the
Government In the supply of the Croft
fastener for attachiptr lottar l,ov,c = -