Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-15
THE CASE OF BEAVERS
Now Out of Hands of Post
Office Department.
TO BE PROSECUTED
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT, SAYS
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Has Confidence in the Department of
Justice-An Alleged Alteration
-Machen Returns.

Postmaster General Payne said this after
noon that he had no criticism to make of
the dilatory action of United States Dis
trict Attorney Youngs of Brooklyn in caus-
ing the apprehension of George w. Beavers
1T is entirely out of the hands of the
Post Office Department Mr.. Payne said.
I'VE have confidence that the Department
of Justice will cause Mr.. Beavers arrest
when he is wanted There is no disposition
l am sure, to show Beavers any immu-
nifty whatsoever AS Postmaster General
do not hesitate to say that Beavers will be
prosecuted to the fullest extent"
But isn't it something out of the ordi-
nary for man charged with a crime
against the government to go about with
out any apparent attempt to, at least Of
ficially notify him of his Indictment? was
asked of the Postmaster General.
Mr.. Payne said he thought there might
be similar instances found, but that he
couldn't refer to them just at the instant
Beavers has apparently snapped his fin
gers in the face of the Department of
Justice. His counsel have been quoted in
the New York newspapers as saying that
he was where he could be produced within
an hour if the officers of the government
wanted him.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow said this afternoon, when asked if
inspectors of the Post Office Department
were looking after Beavers. that he did
not care to discuss the matter.
"If they were looking for Beavers 1
wouldn't tell you. and If they were not
looking for him wouldn't admit it," was
his significant reply.
An Alleged Alteration.
Some interesting developments have been
brought about as the result of the investi-
cation of affairs in the Post Office Depart
ment The latest, and perhaps the most
interesting, was an alleged alteration be-
tween John M. MaSten. assistant superin-
tendent of the railway mail service, and
former chief clerk to the first assistant
postmaster general. and c.. B. Terny of the
supply division of the Post Office Depart
ment.
According to the story that was current
about the Post Office Department today
inspectors in Fourth Assistant Bristow's S
bureau were pursuing an investigation be-
lieved to have been ordered by the Presi-
dent. Terry, under oath, made certain
statements regarding Masten, to which the
latter objected, it is said. Masten frequent
ly interrupted. saying Terry was lying
Finally Terry warned Masten that a repeti-
ton of an opprobrious epithet which the
latter had appned to the witness would be
met with violence, and as that did not
deter Masten from using that epithet again
Terry sprang at him with an uplifted chair
1t Is said, but the inspectors were too quick
for him. Meantime Masten, shaking with
Indignation, begged the inspectors to search
Terry, which they did, but without finding
the weapon which Masten feared.
The investigation is said to have grown
out of Terry'S allegation that Masten had
removed him from the temporary roll. Just
as his position was about to be placed in
the classified service, in order that a wo-
man friend of Masten might be assigned to
the work. She was so assigned. and is now
understood to be within the classified SER
vice.
Terry further alleged, it is said that Mas
ten came to him and announced that
through his efforts Terry was to receive an
increase of salary from $500 to $500, and
demanded that Terry pay to him $1GO down
and $40 month thereafter.
With regard to the former charge, Rep
resentative Hemenway of Indiana interfer-
ed and secured an inveStiga ton by the
civil service commission. In this way the
case came to the attention of President
Roosevelt
When the commission had completed its
investigation Terry was covered into" the
classified service. on the ground that he
had been entitled to such inclusion in the
first place. The charge that Masten de-
manded rake off, of Terry and other
allegations which will not bear repetition
angered Masten and occasione the often,
sive term that he applied to Terry The lat
ter replied that he under OATH and
was therefore compelled to tell the truth,
but that did not prevent Masten from re-
peatlng the insult, with the result noted
Machen Returns to the City.
August w. Machen, former superintend-
ent of the division of free delivery of the
Post Office Department, and who is under
indictment by the grand jury of the District
of Columbia, returned to Washington last
evening after an absence of a week, during
which time he visited Detroit Mich. and
Toledo, Ohio, the latter place being his old
home.