New-York tribune., 1903-11-30
MACHEN'S GRAFT.

M4CHEN'S CRAFT.
August w Machen entered the postal service as
a clerk in ths Toledo (Ohiol postoftice, and
appointed assistant postmaster 1887 by Postmas-
ter George E. Lorenz. On July 81, 1900. Lorenz
retired from Office. In 1898 Machen came to Wash
ington in tho hope OF securing kind of federal
position under President Cleveland's second ad-
ssFan1 on May 1888 he appointed
September 10 follow ing he made superinten-
with numerous judgments recorded against him
When he left Toledo he borrowed sums of money
IN me nrst salary that he received which he failed TO
sorted to forgery. ~ ~
simple statement of facts will give the clear
est idea of Machen's methods
CARRIERS STRAPS
On September 1s, 1896. four days after Machen
the FIRST gatsnd sf frse exgry he Hrots
3 Ise that pa fsther straps be substituted for
stating that to eeup the servSa IN fg v66 up Their t mall
more than s.. 80 year. The recommendation was
straps from George D. LAMB Of NewHaven s'ESa conn
sTr,6 Up to the time OF Machen's removal over one
N$7217 Ss or over $4,000 year.
Mass, wrote the department asking permission to
s nuy Ga ce,, straps I,a from eea dealer stating
request, stating:
The straps for this year purchased Of Nj George
D. Lamb in accordance with contract with Office.
This bold statement was made in the face OF the
fact that no contract had ever been made, Machen
veTbaf agreement between i them p-''' '-N0' 'S
George p Lamb n is nog dead, and the business
advised the inspectors that he knew nothing of the
Se that or s sn nae M e on apped a daGhn M his
fatners ofice at regular intervals and olleSted -,
years that these straps were used Lamb paid Long
which has been traced into Machens hands
LoTg Machen and Stern haye been indicted by
for conspiracy defraud in connection with these
transactions.
CARRIERS sATCHELs.
Carriers satchels are purchased under four year
BOYLE CONTRACTION June o. 1894 con-
tract was executed with John Boyle & Co. Of New
York. for furnishing these satchels, beginning July
l. lSs. The shoulder strap was part Of the the
gust ls. 1894 Machen wrote the company that
Iamb During the life of the Contract co7s4 Shout
der straps were furnished Boyle & Co. upon which
The Boyle contract expired June 30 1898, and
that year MaGhen awarded the contract to A Leopold
plies The specifications called for a satchel with
leather strap mnHfey % deSc3ed & me sane ws as p 9
Piled with IS zoo shoulder straps. Lamb continued
for being relieved from furnishing them
,a bV fbe fesera 1 grand tury in the District o.
c9Ra 5fr eSa5STasE tt June 90 1902 the
contract with Stern expired and rev contract tract
mas psreS & int 9e s p6s pgd eoe OF f2f n Gom Gm
panv. of New-York represented by William ..
utv auditor for the Postofce Department under the
last Cleveland administration. 49,,
the services of George F. Lorenz: of Toledo; Ohio;
to aid him in the reG H6 An TsM9Srd
whereby Lorenz was to receive a specific amount
R9 9 %a sas to Grn as the An @ Of the
M % t the wn m9ney syuS9e gaS 10
orsnz Machen and m Gt dS mSc6sa 9nd
Is ner cent The STRAPS which Lorenz agreed to
provide were never furnished M oy hin' Out 0y
This was pTobaby the most skilful and com
ers n conssted of double conspiracy: First
Lorerz and Machen conspired with Crawford 10
s4aps eH heH with h and
bro5ts on @ the Manufacture of the satches while
on the side Long and Machen receiving
6a uT Gn 81 1893 Machen. Crawford George E.
orenz and Martha J. Lorenz wee indicted - by the
for Conspiracy 10 defraud.
CROFT FASTENERS.
The Croft fastener is a patented deyice for at,
' Was ever executed for these fasteners They were
bought by Maehen direct This 2ethCd 9 Of ~ attach 15v
Pieces postmasters did not consider it satisfactory
tener was % cents each. For many years. the de;
partment paid 81 50, but the price was afterward
Of the si2sesI % that during eight years has been
E%oransz have received about s5l.4so.
we're indicted by the FEDERAL grand ury IN the
District OF Columbia on June 3 5 and o. 1903 for
conspiracy defrdud and the offering and receiv-
ing Of bribes.
PAINTING OF STREET LETTER BONES.
In 1897 Nachen made a verbal arrangement with
John T. Cupper, of Lockhaven. Penn. to paint all
of the letter boxes IN the United States allowing
him % cents each on the posts, 30 cents each for
the letter boxes and 81 for the package boxes: IL
the work was done BY local painter Cupper
to furnish the material and receive IS cents for
eacn letter box and - cents for each package box
On July p. 1900 the postmaster at Springfield
Mass, submitted proposal from local painter
TO furnish the material and paint the boxes in that
CITY for j. cents letter box and 25 cents per
package box. costing in all SO p. On July %
IN days afterward, lac was Informed by Machen
that John 7. CUpper. the contractor. had been in
structed arrange immediately for painting the
boxes After Cupper had completed the work the
postmaster directed to pay him 500 so more
than three times much was asked by the local
painter.
In May 1902 the postmaster at San Francisco
asked permission TO expend $3.50 for material to
paint letter boxes. In answer to this request he
advised that John T. Cupper. of Lockhaven
Penn, had been instructed TO send him sufficient
material for painting the bores, and September
teTial which ne had ninety days previously notified
the department he could secure for $50.
The manufacturers OF letter boxes. by the terms
OF the contract, required to paint the hoxes
Cupper was ordered. In July 1900 paint ali the
letter boxes at the factory where thev ad
and he paid s2ZT 80 for this work.
Inquiry from about dve hundred free delivery
Offices shows that the expense of Pointing letter
boxes for the six years prior to Machen's agree
ment with Cupper 2sla cents each. Since
Machen's removal the boxes have been painted in
thirty-eieht cities the average cost letter box
being T cents; package boxes. u cents. and posts
2 cents each
Cupper when nrst interrosated denied that he