Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-28
TO EXPEDITE TRIAL.
Conference With United States At
torney Beach.

Assistant Attorney General RObb Of the
Post Office Department had a long confer
eDce today with United States District At
torney Beach regarding the procedure, in
the Machen case. It is the wish of the
Postmaster General that the trial of the
case be expedited as much as possible. The
evidence in the case has already been re-
viewed by Attorney General Knox, Solic-
itor General Hoyt and District Attorney
Beach. and the prosecution now rests with
the Department OF Justice. The federal
grand jury is in session, and 1t Is expected
that the case of Mr.. Machen will be pre-
sented Immediately to that body.
The civil suit and attachment proceed
ings to recover the amounts alleged by the
Post Office Department to have been OBJ
tatned from the post box fastener contracts
will be instituted at once This phase OF
the case Is now in the hands of the dis
tr1ct attorney. The proceedings will be
similar to those instituted in the Green
Gaynor case The Postmaster General said
that no further sensational developments
were expected today. Nevertheless other
arrests are believed to be imminent.
Post Office Inspector Mayer. who worked
up the case against Machen, was at the
district attorneys Office today making ar
rangements for the issuance of subpoenas
for the government witnesses who are to
appear at the hearing Of Machen June s.
d
Several of these witnesses reside outside
of Washington. Their names could not be
learned this afternoon.
Policeman Croft Suspended.
Maj. Sylvester has suspended Policeman
Croft pending the hearing Of the case. The
case Is to be heard the 9th day of June at
1890 o'clock before United States Commits
soner Taylor. 1t Is likely that the de-
PENDANT will insist upon q hearing of the
case upon its merits and will not waive an
examination. His position on the force de-
Ponds upon the result of the proceedings In
stituted against him. Final action will not
be taken by the police officials until the
charges are disposed of. Should the United
States commissioner dismiss the charge the
officer will be reinstated without delay The
officer was before the retiring board not
many days ago, and action upon this ap-
plication will probably be delayed because
Of the action Of the post Office inspectors
yesterday in causing him to respond to the
charge Of bribery.
Postmaster General Payne announced
this afternoon that no action would be
taken toward filling the vacancy caused
by the dismissal of Mr. Machen until after
the investigation Of the free delivery bu-
reau had been completed
Mr.. Fosnes will continue to administer
the affairs of the Office In the meantime
Machen's Career.
Mr.. Machen came to Washington from
Toledo. Ohio. more than ten years ago. He
was appointed general superintendent OF
the free delivery system on May Q, 1893. by
President Cleveland. He has held that
office continuously since that time During
his administration the rural free delivery
service. which now embraces most of. the
country. had its inception. He has been
under suspension several weeks.
Mr.. Machen is forty-two years old 1t is
stated generally that when he came to
Washington he was practically broke"
He was born In Ohio Of French Canadian
parents
He had lived some years In Buffalo, also
In Detroit and his present legal residence
is Toledo. where he was engaged at one
time in the commission business He was
also assistant postmaster In that city at
one time. Mr.. Machen Is said to have
made and lost some money In speculation
In Oil fields before he came to Washington
His ability as an administrative head and
politician has been displayed in the devel-
opment of his department. and he has
gained many prominent and influential
friends In both houses of Congress