The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-28

lutely no truth in the charges that he has
profited even in the most indirect way from
the contracts of Grof Brothers with the
department, and in fact the result OF any
fun and fair investigation of Mr.. Machen's
general conduct OF the free. delivery ser
vice will demonstrate that 1t has been char
acterized by strict integrity and marked
ability; that Mr. Machen desires the fullest
and most thorough investigation into every
detail OF his official conduct, and that the
motive underlying this prosecution will
he no completely shown up that everyday
will understand it when the facts are fairly
and fully known.
Following the Machen hearing warrants
were sworn out for the arrest of Diller
B. Croft and Samuel A. Croft. who compose
the firm of Croft Brothers, and they were
arrested tonight A hearing was later
siyen Diller Groff, and he was released
On tlo 900 bail furnished by D. B Croft, Jr.,
his son, and Samuel Maddox, his attorney:
Samuel Croft was released on 5000 bail
and suspended from the police force pending
his trial
this morning that on the 40 per cent basis
OF the last three years Machen had made
over $50 900 through his dealings with
the Croft firm, and that the money he had
received from all sources during the last
six years would aggregate fully. quarter
of a million Of dollars. But this is probably
a Wild guess.
Postmas-ter-General Payne regards the
arrest Of Machen as by far the most i'm
portant development to date In the Post
it Is extremely probable that other sensa-
lions will follow. When told this afternoon
that Machen had said his arrest was merely
grandstand play" the Postmaster-General
remarked emphatically:
sThis is no grand stand play. Document
tar-y evidence is not grand stand evidence,
and the proof against Supt Machen is ample
to insure the conviction of Machen and
the Croft brothers. can emphasize the
statement that there is absolutely 10 ground
for doubt as to the suff1ciencv Of the evil
dence And l wish to say here, that the
management of this Machen bribery case
by Fourth Assistant Postmast er-Generai
Bristow has been brilliant piece of de-
tective work. The whole matter has been
very delicate indeed, and false step, at
any stage of the pursuit would probably
have boon fatal, But the affair has been
most skfuiy handled, and has been man
aged better than any similar case | am
acquainted with. ! personally referred
I regret that an officer of this Department
should have been found to be lacking IN
honesty and integrity. I am pleased with
Mr. Bristow's work
Mr.. PAYNE paused for moment, and
added with emphasis:
"The end is not yet-not yet, by any means.
The investigation will progress and other
developments are expected. | do not
care 10 say what these are just at this time.
as the Government s case might be harmed.
but the public will be kept informed and
everything made known at the proper
time. The innocent will be protected
and the guilty shall suffer the extreme
penalty OF the law Civil suit will be en-
tered against Mr. Machen to recover the
322 900 which he received in brides. and
Mathen and the Croft brothers will he
vigorously prosecuted on the charge of
conspiracy to defraud, for which the penalty
in each cas- is fine three times the amount
OF the bride and Imprisonment for three
years
From now on the Investigations into the
Department scandals will he pursued more
vigorously. if possible, than before. Former
Superintendent Beavers of the Salary and
Allowance Division. who resigned with
sudden and suspicious haste some time ago,
is under constant surveillance at his home
in Brooklyn: Harrison j. Barrett, formerly
assistant attorney under Assistant Attorney
General Tyner. who was summary dis
missed some time ago, is being watched,
and his every act while an employee of the
postal service and since he has been prao-
Using attorney before the Department
is being carefully inquired into, and other
officials of the Department, as well as per.
sons suspected Of having a knowledge of
facts connected with the scandals, are
under the eyes Of the investigating au-
thprities of the Department