The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-28
SOMETHING
WAS WRONG
AFTER ALL
PostOffiCe Scandals Crop
Out Now Daily.
MIR. MACHEN is
UNDER ARREST
ChargedWith Having Received,
Rake-Offs on Contracts.
HE DENIES CHARGE
MOST ABSOLUTELY
1 Demanded an Immediate Hearing, But
ltWilI Not Be Granted Until June
Flfth-Alleged That He Re-
ceived Some $4,000.
Other Arrests May
s Follow.
ChargedWith Having Received,
Rake-Offs on Contracts.
HE DENIES CHARGE
MOST ABSOLUTELY
tBy Associated prers.)

(By Asrocinted Prers.)
WASHINGTON. May 27.-,By far the
most sensational developments Of the
postoflice investigation UP to this time
occurred to-day. when Augustus w. Ma
chen. the general superintendent OF the
free delivery service, was arrested on a
warrant issued upon the Information Of
postoffice inspectors, charging him with Y
having received 'rake-offs" from con-ts
tracts made with the local firm Of Croft
Brothers for a patent postal box fasten-
er. The warrant specifically charges him
with receiving Sls,9ls.7s since August s,
1900. It Is alleged, however, at the de-
partment that this amount does not rep
resent all that Nlachen obtained In con-
nection with these contracts. 1t being
charged that he profited by them for
several years prior to the datESsof the
first contract mentioned In the warrant
Other arrests are to follow.
Immediately after Mr.. Machen was
taken into custody the Postmaster-Gensral
Issued an order removing him from office.
IIe had been practically under suspension
for fortnight pending the inwestiga-
tion into his bureau. The discovery OF
Machen's alleged interests in the corr
tracts was made quite accidentally by the
inspectors some three weeks ago. nrla.,
since then their enregies had been direct
ed toward making out a case. Last night
after the authorities had become cons
vnced that they were in possession OF
the necessary evidence, Mr. &lachen was
notified to appear at the department this
morning. He did SO and was subjected to
Sweating" process by the Inspectors
and Mr.. Bristow for three hours. but no
admissions that he had profIted by the
contracts could be secured from him. He
declined to answer many questions on the
ground that they related to his private
business, but Insisted to the end that he
had not received cent Improperly,
Nevertheless, ho was arrested on the
warrant which had been prepared, and
taken before a United States comms-#
sIoner. where his attorney Immediately
demanded full hearing. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Taggart. however. was
not ready to proceed with the case, and
the hearing was set for June 9TH, Mr.
a Philadelphia bonding company for his
appearance. declining to accept the proffer
of friends to go on his bond.
DENIES CHARGES.
After his release he declined to make
any statement beyond the single declara-
tion that the whole thing was a grand
stand play and would come out all right.
His attorneys declared that at the proper
time they would show conclustvely that.
he had been guilty of no wrong In conneu-
tion with the contracts, and on the COM
trary, they would be able to show that
his administration OF the free delivery
service had been characterized by ability
and integrity.
The department officials claim that their
evidence Is conclusive. 1t Is understand
that civil suit Will be entered to recover
from Machen the amount he Is alleged to
have received on the contracts
The warrant for MaOlen'S arrest WAS
drawn by Assistant United States Dis
trlot Attorney Taggart, on sworn
statement made to-day by Walter 8.
Mayer. a postofflce inspector from the
Commissioner Anson s. Taylor. In this
city. Inspector Mayer. In the several
counts In the complaint, alleges
tho receipt by Mr.. Machen OF several
specified sums aggregating S1S9S.7S, In 4
connection with the purchase for the use
of the Department OF certain letter box
fasteners.
LETTBR BOX FASTENERS.
After setting forth Mr.. Machens Official
position as superintendent of the free de-
livery In the Postoftlce Department, the
complaint says that as such supertnten-
dent Nrachen was charged with the duty
and vested with the power. under the
supervision and with the approval OF the
First Assistant Postmaster-General, OF
purchasing for the use OF the nepart-
ment certain 3fuClSS, among hIlsIU llot-
ter box fasteners" Inspector Mayer then
states that ono Samuel B. Croft and one
Dlller B. Croft are the owners of q pat
ented invention for such letter box fast
eners. and were engaged In business as
Croft Brothers. The statement then
Gays that on July 2, 1000, Superintendent
Machen procured the Issuance of an order
by the First Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
eral for 5000 complete and 20s7 half fast
eners of the Croft variety, at the rate Of
a5 for one complete and s226 for two
half fasteners. and that as supernten-
dent, he recommended and the Treasury
paid ST,b51 SIS to the Croft Brothers for
the fasteners aforesaid.
The statement then proceeds: Tho
said order was procured by the said
August w, Maohen upon a collusiye un-
derstanding and agreement between him
and the said Diller B. Croft. that he.
the said August w. Machen, was to bs
paid certain proportion OF the pro-
ceeds OF any money to be- issued In pay
ment OF tina articles TO be supplied under !.
said order. and ths promise OF him, the
said Diller y. Croft, to pay such propor-
ton; and that thereafter, and ON the
sth day of August, a. D.. 1900 the said
August W, Machen did ask. accept and
receive OF moneys pain by said Dlller d,
Croft pursuant 10 such collusiye UNDER
standing. the sum of sS,o2o,Ti Then \
follow number of other counts alleging
che receipts By Machen Of the following