The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-28
ARREST OF A. W. MACHEN
Superintendent Of Free Delivery Service Charged
with Receiving Bribes from Contractors

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. May 27.-August w.
Machen. superintendent of free delivery Of
the Postoffice Department. was arrested at
o'clock this afternoon on a charge Of
bribery. He is accused of having accepted
a total of $4,000 in connection with con-
tract for a patent fastener used in attach
ing letter boxes to posts. Diller B. Croft
and Samuel A. Croft. the latter Washing
ton policeman, have been arrested for CIV
ing the bribe.
The operations upon which the criminal
proceedings are based have been in prog
ress for three years. in which time the
Croft brothers, proprietors of the device.
have had contracts amounting to s16s.oOo
1t is alleged that Mr.. Machen was given 40
per cent. of the amount they received on
their contracts. The postmaster general
announces that civil proceedings will be in
stituted against Machen to recover the s22,-
600 he received.
Machen was arraigned before United
States commissioner this afternoon and
gave bond in the sum Of $4,000 He has re-
who successfully defended Mrs. Bonine,
the woman tried here two years ago on a
charge of numbering a young census clerk.
Machen's attorneys make a brief state
ment. in which they say that at the proper
time the charges against him can be ex-
planned away and the entire conduct Of mis-
Office completely indicated. The postal
authorities assert with positiveness that
the case against Machen is well grounded
and that his conviction is assured.
CREATED A SENSATION.
Nothing has happened in Washington in
recent years which has created anything
like the sensation Of to-day. August
Machen came to Washington from Toledo.
O., about ten years ago, looking for a place
under the government. He had been in the
postal service in Ohio and had made an ex-
pointment in the Postoffice Department and
almost from the first day showed executive
ability of a high order His promotion was
gradual and deserved. His first great prom
inence came with the steps taken a few
years ago to inaugurate a general and COM
prehensive system of rural free delivery.
Machen became perhaps the most popular
and best known man in the government
service in Washington. Perry s. Heath
was first assistant postmaster general and
placed implicit confidence in him, giving
him carte blanche to control his bureau as
his judgment dictated.
Through the interest OF senator's and
representatives in the extension of rural
free delivery in their States and districts.
Machen became closely associated in a So
cial and Official way with the most promi-
nent men in the United States. His Office
after a time became almost a clubroom
where representatives and senators would
gather and take their turn In presenting
to him the petitions of their constituents
for rural free delivery.
"A GOOD FELLOW"
Machen is big. hearty. whole-souled
sort Of fellow. bubbling over with good
humor. well read, of pleasing address, of
wide business experience. and altogether
the sort of man who makes firm and en-
during friendships. When the first charges
were made looking in his direction, the
most influential public men in the country
expressed their absolute confidence in him,
both publicly and privately. Machen
showed rare nerve and self-possession In
season and out of season he declared his
innocence Of any wrongdoing and said re-
peatedly that he courted the most search
ing investigation. While there were signs
Of panic among other officials of the Post
office Department, Machen, while never
discounting the seriousness of the allega-
tions made against him. preser, ed his good
humor and assured his friends that he had
nothing to fear. 1t is not a reflection upon
tic poSihdStcA eShSf al of upon a group Oh
the most experienced men in public life to
say that one and all were willing to sus-
pend Judgment until Machen's affairs were
closely scrutinized. When Machen was sus-
pended from Office few weeks ago he re-
piled to the letter of suspension by say
ing that he welcomed the opportunity
which this offered for his vindication and
would assist the department officials in any
way within his power. The manner in
which the department officials became con-
vinced of Machen's guilt will not be made
public until Friday. June 5. when the pre-
liminary hearing will be held before the
United States commissioner.
MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED.
Postmaster General Payne says that when
the fun story is told IT will develop one
of the cleverest pieces of detective work
ever done by an officer of the government.
While much of the evidence is documentary
in character, the links in the chain have
been forged with information gathered I'm
nearly every State in the Union. How
sweeping il has been and the confidence
which the government has In establishing
its case is shown by the summary arrests
to-day of all concerned In the bribe- taking
and the bribe-receiving.
The arrest of Machen is expected to be
tx oth thar