The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-27
ARREST MACHEN.
Brist0W Had Him in Sweat Box
Three Hours.
Charged With Taking Brides
Amounting to S22, 900.
40 PER CENT RAKE OFF
On Patent Mail Box Fasteners
Furnished the Government.
PecuIatiOns Have Been Going on
for Three Years.
10 PER CENT RAKE OFF

Washington. May 27.-A w Machen,
superintendent OF the free delivery. who
was relieved from duty sometime ago
was arrested today at the instigation of
the postoh1ce department charged with
receiving bribes from contractors. These
bribes are supposed to aggregate 500, 600
/ Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow this afternoon issued the fol-
lowing statement:
t'A1r. A w. Machen, general superfn-
tendent free delivery service was ar
rested at / o'clock today He is charged
with receiving bribes amounting in all
to about $4,000 in connection with a
contract held by Croft Brothers ef
Washington. D. C.. for patent fas-
tener used on street letter boxes. known
as the Croft fastener. The postof1ce
used about S160000 worth of these fas-
teners and it is shown by ample evi-
dence that for the past three years, at
least, Mr. Machen has been receiving
40 per cent of the amounts paid to the
Groffs. The transaction Of the busi-
ness was conducted by Diiler B. Croft.
who controls the patent of his brother
Samuel NJ, a policeman
The arrest of Mr. Machen was the
concluding act of an examination of
him which was conducted for three
hours today by Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow. Inspector
Fosnes. who relieved Mr.. Machen as
chief of the free delivery system, ane
Postoffice Inspector Myer. At the con
clusion of the examination 0eouts
United States Marshal Springman was
called into General Bristow's office and
made the arrest.
Mr. Nachen was taken before United
States Commissioner Taylor. and
through his attorneys. Douglas s
Douglas, demanded an immediate hear
ing The district attorney said he was
not ready to proceed and asked for
postDonement for ten days. The pre-
lirninary hearing was set for Friday
June E. Bond was fxed in the sum o
900, and Mr.. Machen made arrange
ments with the Union Security ana
Guarantee company of Philadelphia to
secure bond IN that amount He de-
clined to make any statement, but his
attorneys stated that they felt confident
that they would be able to show con-
clusively at the proper time that their
client had been guilty of no wrong-doins
in connection with Croft contracts, bur
on the contrary Mr.. Machens admin
istration of the free delivery had beelt
honest and upright
The warrant on which Machen was
arrested charges him with receiving q
bribe It is understood that other arr
rests are to follow. Machen will be inn
mediately dismissed by the postmaster
general. The amount of money paid
during the past ten years to Croft
Bros. in Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow's statement was sub
sequently changed to $4,000.
Postmaster General Payne dismissed
Mr. Machen in the following order:
"A W. Machen is this day removed
from the position of general superin-
tendent of the free delivery system Of
the free delivery service. His removal
is made by reason of malfeasance en-
his part in the discharge of the duties
of his office"