The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-06-04
MACHEN ARRESTED.
aanifef Of fursl Free hsIi,ery vii
FACE Serioss Cknges
GETS OUT On WAY HtAyi BAIL
Msehsn Is Alleged TO tisss Received
nsny Ihoassnd Dshsss From Ces-
srseis insproprfiy let

WaaslaEtaa. Special by fAf tAe
niowt sensational 6srriopu~nt as tAe
po~t0Gicc iaSca&i sht.Ca up 20 th!s iims
occurred we4aes&zy. sksn August W
Aachen. the EraeFai ssp~fgatruasut os
the frsc eeliNeEy service. wzs arrested
or ~ warrant iEsusd uroa The lafuf-
uistlon ~ rosiaEiCe Inspector ohaFE-
thE him Nith having received ~FAkr-
orS" frrta coatrzctr taaar ~ith TIE
local arm % Ggon urosh~rs Tor a PAL.
tnt postal box fanicacr. Tkr warrant
specifically charged h.m ulth Fscriv-
Ing fis.ssl-7S s.Ece August =. 1900 II 10
alleged. however. AZ the department
tia; this suoLnt dos not TepEcsrat
all that khchen obtained in Connection
with these contracts. IL h~snE charged
tlat he had proiicI by them for EeS-
era' years prior To the date q the frHt
contract mentioned IN thr warrant
Other arrests are TO follow
imms d.aisly after Mr. Machen Vas
taken ini5 custody. the Postmaster
General issued an order removing him
from oFice. lie had been practically
Under suspension for n fortnight. pend
Ing the Investigation lnto his hag~Au
The discovery OF Maehcn's alleged in
iCrefts in the contracts vas made
quite accidentally by the inspectors
some three Sceks ago, and since thea
their energies had been directed to-
ward making out n ease.
Tuesday night after the authorities
had become cony.accd that they gefe
n possession of the necessary cSidsac,
hr. Aarhen WIS notified to appear az
the Department lie did 30 and wan
subjected TO e "Eweating' process by
the inspectors and Mr BrlEtuw for
three hours. but no admissions thH; lie
had pTofitcd by tic contracts could be
secured from him. He declined to
answer many questions on the ground
that they related To his private busl-
hess. but ina!sted to- the end that he
had not received cent improperly.
| Nevertheless he was arrs z:sd on the
warrant which had been prepared and
taken before a United States commis-
| sicner. where his attorney lmme dls;eiy
J demanded n fIll hearing. Assistant
: District Attorney TaEgait. however.
was not ready TO proceed $ith the
case and the hearing WAS get for June
| 5,h.
Mr.. Machon gave s2o. 900 lond fGr-
nished by PHILADELPHIA bon,ilng con-
| LaRy for bis appearance. declining 20
accept the proffer OF friends 10 30 on
| his bond. After his release be declined
10 make any statement beyond the
| single declaration that the whole thing
was a grand-stand play and be would
come out all right His attorneys de-
| clared that AT the proper time they
| would show conclusiTeiy that he had
been guilty OF no wrong In connection
with the contracts and. on the Goa
| trary. they would be able TO show that
| lis administration OF the free delivery
service had been characterized by
! ability and integrity.
The Department officials claim that
their evidence is conclusive.
II is understood that civil suit Will
be entered 10 recover from Machen
the amount he Is alleged 10 have re-
ceived on the contracts.
The warrant alleges several and sun
dry counts against Machen for obtain
ing money in an improper and illegal
| manner.
Then followed a number OF other
counts alleging that Mr. Machen re-
oeived the following specific sums FOR
letter box fasteners for the govern
ment: September 20. 1900. 32 .JOi: De-
cember II. 1900. $1,000: August 81.
1901, 81 ,271; September 3. 1901. f753- 80:
| january II. 3SJ<. sf<fLsos SahA1sy ~
1902. $500: April 2. 1902. s2.3so.JG:
August %. 1902. s2.s50.
According to statements OF Post
ONCE Department officials there was
a go-between for the alleged transac-
tions In connection with the contracts.
The identity OF this person In withheld
by the Department and the oficiah rc-
fuse 20 tell what steps. II any. have
been taken looking 10 this appreher.
sion. II Is stated that he does not rc-
side in Washington and IL not here at
present.
Postmaster General Payne was ask
cd for the name Of this man but 6e-
cl!ned to discuss the subject. addlnZ r
that be knew nothing about IL. The In
spectors. however. II Is stated. know
the identity and movements Of the In
termediary. He may be arrested AT any
time. The inspectors say the evidence
| they have Is OF the most comprehen-
sive nature. II includes many drafif
OF an alleged discriminating character
bearing the signature OF Nr. Machen.
The evidence was worked up principal
ly IN Washington. though much Of II
was obtained in other parts OF thu
country. The final cecis.on 10 make tns
arrest was reached al 3 o'clock thi,
morning. after a protracted conferenc =
between the United S.ates distrie'
attorney and the inspectors.
|, The arrest created a profound sensa
! tion at the Postofice Department Tb'
news spread rapidly ani within feS
| minutes after the arrest The fact vS'
known generally. Postmaster Genera
Payne lost no time In communicating
the news 10 the public. su.oDonIng AZ
] | newspaper men and saying: "Mr. Ma
Z chen Is now under arrest In this builo
ing. He has received large sum o
: money from the contractors who sup
: ply the government With certain ar
. ticles. The amount he is charged wit
: receiving Is over $4,000. The Depart
: nent Will make a statement later u
the day az soon as Il can be prepared.
K Am.rican Ships Visit kie'.
4 n