The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-05
Sensation Created in Washington
by Machen's Arrest.
REPUBLICANS ARE WORRIED.
They Admit That 1t Is a Political
Necessity That the Hascala
he Turned Out OF the
Department.


when August w. DIachen, the general
superintendent Of the free delivery
service, was arrested on Il warrant is
sued Upon the information Of postuf-
lice Inspectors charging linn with
having received rake offs" from con.
tracts made with the local firm of
Croft Bros, for patent postal box
fastener. The warrant specifically
chargeS linn with receiving SIS ,9Sl.7S
SinceSAug. S, 1900. 1t is alleged,
however, at the department that this
amount docs not represent all that
MacEcn obtained in connection with
these contracts, it being charged that
he has -proited by them for several
years prior to the date Of the first con
tract mentioned in The warrant.
lmmcdiatcly after Mr.. Machcn was
taken into custody "Wednesday the
postmaster general issued an order
removing him from onlce. Hc had
been practically under suspension for
Il fortnight pending the investigation
into Ills bureau. The discovery Of
Machcn's alleged interests in the con-
tracts was made quite accidentally by
the Inspectors some three weeks ago
and Since their energies had been di-
rccted toward making nut Il case. Az
Ter the authorities had become con
vincedftlat they were in possession of
the necessary evidence, Mr.. Machen
was notiilcd TO appear at the depart
mcnt "wednesday morning. He did
SO and was subjected to 'Swcating''
process by the inspectors and Mr.
Bristow for three hours, but no ad-
missions that he had proiitcd by the
contracts could he secured from him.
lie declined to answer many questions
on the ground that they related to
MS private business, but insisted to
the end that he had not received
cent improperly. Nevertheless he
was arrested on the warrant which
had been prepared and taken before
United States commissioner, where
his attorney Immediately demanded
full hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Tag
gart, hhWcyer, was not ready to pro-
ceeds the case and the hearing
Al. .s-ioss Chef! gave
a. SAcs s0GvS furnished bya Phila-
delphia bonding company, for his ap-
pearance, declining to accept the prof
fer Of friends to go ON his bond. At
ter his release he declined to make
any strtcmcnt beyond the single dec
laration that the whole thing was
grand stand play and would come out
all right. His attorneys declared that
at the proper time they would Show
conclusively that he had been guilty
OF no wrong in connection with the
contracts and, on the contrary, they
would be able TO show that his adj
ministration Of the free delivery ser
vice had been characterized by ability
and integrity. The department. Of
hcIalS claim that their evidence is con
elusive. 1t is understood that civil
suit will be entered to recover from
Machen the amount he is alleged to
have received on the contracts.
THE CHARGES
The warrant for Machcn's arrest
was drawn by Assistant United States
District Attorney Taggart on a sworn
statement made by Walter S. Mayer,
Il poStollicc Inspector from the Chicago
district, before United States Com
missioner Anson S. Taylor. Inspec-
Tor Meyer in the several counts in the
complaint alleges the receipt by Mr..
Machen of'seycral specified sums ag-
grcgating SlS,9Sl.7S in connection
with the purchase for the use of the
department OF certain letter box fas-
tcners.
After setting forth Mr.. Machcn's
Official position as superintendent Of
free delivery in the postoilcc depart
mcnt, the complaint says that as such
superintendent Machcn was charged
with the duty and invested with the
power under the supervision and
with the approval Of the first aSsis-
tant postmaster general Of purchasing
for the use Of the department certain
articles, among them letter box ras-
tcncrS."
INSPECTOR Mayer then states that
one Samuel b. Grolr and one Diller b.
Grotf are the owners Of patented in
ycntion for such letter box fasteners
and were engaged in business as Croft
Bios. The statement then says that
on July :, 1900 Superintendent
Machcn procured the issuance Of an
order by The first assistant postmaster
general for 5000 complete and 2,OS7
half fasteners OF the Groir variety at
the rate OF $l.25 for one complete
and $50 for two half fasteners, and
that as superintendent lie recon-
mcnded and the treasury paid 81
35l.SS to the GrolY Bros, for the fas-
tcners aforesaid. The statement then
proceeds:
The said order was procured by
the said August w. Machcn upon
colluslye understanding anG agreement
between him and the said Diler b.
Croft, that he, the said August w.
Macben, was to be paid Il certain pro-
portion Of the proceeds Of any war
rant to be issued in payment OF the
article supplied under said order and
the promise Of him, the said Diller b.
Groif, to pay such proportion; and
on the SLll day Of August a. d., 1900,
the said August w. Machcn did ask,
accept and receive Of and was paid by
the said Dillcr Il. Croft pursuant to
such collusive and agreement the sum
OF S3,02O.74
Then following a number Of other
counts alleging the receipt by Mr.. Ma
chen of the following specified sums
In connection with sales Of letter box
fasteners to the government: Sept
20, 1900, $2,50l; Dec. II, 1900, 81 900;