The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-06
WILL ACT QUICKLY
IN CROFT CASES
Grand Jury to Report at
Mondays Session.
LITTLE NEW EVIDENc
One Of Machen's Bondsmen a Subor-
dinate-Taylor Loses Jurisdiction.
Curious Side Lights.

Assistant District Attorney Hugh
T. Taggart. appeared before L. S. Com
missioner Taylor this morning, and in
formed him that the grand jury yester-
day returned an indictment against A.
w. Machen, charging him with accepting
| bribe- He said that Machen had ap-
peared before enc OF the justices of the
Supreme Court of the District, and gave
tond in the sum CT 500, 600 for his ap-
pearance for trial
Under the circumstances. Mr. Taggart
said that the Government desired TO
have the proceedings before the COM
missioner dismissed. This was done.
Mr. Machen and Conrad Symme, one
os his attorneys. We're present.
Plan fo- Croft Cases.
The charge against the Croft brothers
Of offering a bribe to A. ". Machen, gen.
eral superintendent of the free delivery
division of the Postofice Department 10
secure contracts for the sale OF letter
box fasteners. viii be taken up for con-
sideration by the grand jury en- Monday.
The jury was not in session today.
After reporting an Indictment against
Machen yesterday afternoon, charging
him with accepting bribes from the
Gron brothers for the letting of con-
tracts for the sale OF letter box fasten-
ers. the jury adjourned until Monday
at Ii a. m
The Croft brothers are manufacturers
OF the letter box fasteners which have
been purchased in large numbers by tne
Postof.ce Department The contracts
for the purchase of the fasteners. it IS
alleged, were secured by the GroI
brothers through the influence OF
Machen.
Nay Exclude Taylor Again
In consequence the testimony which
will be submitted TO the grand jury
against the Gron brothers. concerning
the letting of the contracts will be sub
stantially the same as Was offered
against sachen- Under The cIrcum-
stances it 5 believed ii viii not take
the grand jury long to reach conclu-
sion in the case. IN the event that a
presentment IS returned against the
Grons early on Monday it will preclude
the necessity of the preliminary hear
ing which is set 70 take place before
United States Commissioner Anson 5.
Taylor on Monday.
Postmaster General Payne was at the
Cabinet meeting this morning, and did
net appear at the Postofice Department
fer his usual daily conference with the
reporters.
!. L. Bristow. Fourth Assistant POST
master General. announced that there
Was nothing new in the matter of the
arrests of MeGregor and Upton, and said
that no more arrests were contemplated
today.
Smith Expected to Tell.
NJ. C. Fosnes, acting superintendent
of the free delivery division. was asked
whether c. Z. Smith. named as the
pouch manufacturer whom McGregor and
Upton are said TO have bribed. would be
arrested. Mr. Fosnes would not give
definite answer. but intimated that if
Mr.. Smith would be good and tell all he
knew he would not be prosecuted
Small Profit and Large Holdings.
Comment was caused by the allega-
tion that McGregor and Upton received
40 cents On each mail pouch. the price
OF Wnlcn was 80 cents, leaNi0S MT. smith
but so cents. The 80 cents is thought
TO have allowed Mr. Smith a good but
not excessive profit, and amazement wss
expressed over the fact that he did not
get more out of the alleged deal.
Another subject of comment vas the
fact that Emanuel Speich should be one
of the bondsmen for A. ". Machen. who
pledged the $4,000 needed. Mr.. Speich
is bookkeeper in the rural free delivery
division and passes upon the accounts
for supplies for the division. That
clerk should be in a position 10 go on
such heavy bond caused some sur
prise.
Speich's Career.
Mr.. Speich was appointed from Ne
bl aska, McGregor's State. and was first
n the Treasury Department. From the
Treasury he went to the mail depreda-
tions division of the Postoflce and later
bee ane bookkeeper in the rural free de-
livery division.
He is also Said to be the man who
estimated the free delivery deficit at
s2a Geo. when subsequent examination
indicated a deficit of over $500, 600.