Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-06-06
ANOTHER ACCUSED.
Former Superintendent Beavers Saio
to Have Been Very Extravaqant.

Washington, May 30.-A large corps
OF inspectors, including some of the
veterans of the service, are at work
probing into the alleged Irregularities
at the postoffice department.
1t Is said to be possible that the In
termediary who, It is alleged, figured
In the transactions which led to the ar
rest OF Augustus w. Machen. the form
er general superintendent of the free
delivery service, nay turn states evil
dence. His identity has not been dis
closed.
Mr.. Machen's counsel has issued his
statement asserting his ability to fully
disprove all the charges. The investi-
eating officials are equally confident.
The government Is anxious to expedite
the trial OF Machen as much as pos
sible consistently with the proper
handling of the case. 1t Is arranging
to have its witnesses at Machen's pre-
liminary hearing June 8. The prelim-
mary hearing Of the Croft brothers. the
profits of whose firm Machen Is ac-
cused Of sharing on a 40 per Ger basis,
has been set for June 9.
Beavers ls Accused.
A report was published here yester-
day that George w. Beavers, the form
er superintendent OF the division Of sal
aries and allowances, was in the city,
but the department denied having any
such information. Mr.. Payne was asked
as to the nature of the charges on
file against Mr.. Beavers. He replied
that they might be summed up as the
payment of ~eXtravagant prices for ma
terials and supplies used In his division,
including time clocks n stamping ma
chinery. He said there was only n
charge that Mr.. Beavers a received
a commission on these supplies. This
charge, he said, is d investigation.
A much more rigid overhauling of the
affairs Of Mr.. Beavers former office
will begin soon. The investigation Of
the Affairs of the free delivery divis-
ion, IT is stated, has not been interrupt
ed by the arrest Of Machen. The in
spectors who brought about that result
are continuing their inquiry, and will
probe into other charges against Mr..
Machen. In this connection Mr.. Payne
yesterday said that one of the charges
under Investigation was the allegation
that Mr.. Machen had forged the name
ten years ago. He said that Mr..
Machen knew of this charge and had
informed him (the postmaster generaD
that he (Machen) vas ready at any
time to bring conclusive proof that he
was innocent of the transaction. Other
charges involve letter box contracts.
Some of the charges are Of a similar
IldluIS ~ llOSe Ol WHICH, ySSlGEudy y
arrest was based.
Will Make Thorough investigation.
Overhauling of the free delivery
branch will be thorough and Postmas-
ter General Payne today declared with
emphasize that the investigation will
not end until all irregularities have
been thoroughly inquired into n
eradicated. He said that he did not
know as yet when it would be possible
to close the investigation.
Postmaster General Payne has given
considerable attention to means Of bet
ter safeguarding the miscellaneous APP
preparations available in various bu-
reaus. These appropriations offer the
greatest latitude in expenditures. I'm
questionably," said Mr.. Payne, these
abuses will not occur again"
He called attention to the fact that
the rural service at it's inception was
of an experimental nature, and said
that much latitude was given on that
account.
The Croft contract was made under
the miscellaneous appropriation for the
free delivery service, and the first ink
ling of the circumstances that led to
Mr.. MaChen's arrest vas gained In eX-
aiming miscellaneous expenditures.
Samuel A. Croft, one of the brothers
arrested yesterday, was suspended
from the police force pending the
hearing of his case. His return to duty
depends on the result OF the court pro-
ceCdiEgs against him. He had been
connected with the police force twenty
Scnre, and ~ the inventor Of the devica
manufactured by Croft Brothers.