The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-05

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS.

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS.
The arrest created profound sensa.
tion at the pOStotIice department.,
The news spread rapidly and within q
few minutes after the arrest the fact
was known generally. Postmaster
General Payne lost no time in com
nunicating the news to the public
summoning the newspaper men and
saying:
Mr. Machen Is now under arrest
III tlfis building. lie has received q
large sum Of money from the contrac
tors who supply the government Will,
certain articles. The amount he is
charged with receiving is over s20,-
600. The department. will make a
statement later in the day, as soon as
1T can be prepared"
Subsequently Mr.. Bristow gave out
the following statement:
\. w. Machcn, general superin-
tendent free delivery system, was ar.
rested at ! O'clock today. He is
charged with receiving bribcs amount.
Ing In all to about $22 900 in conncc.
ton with IA contract held by Gror
Bros, Of Washington, ID. c., for Il pat.
cnt fastener used on Street letter
boxes, known as the Croft fastener.
The postOlice depal tment in the past
ten years has used about Sl4O. OOU
worth OF these fasteners and it is
shown by ample evidence that for the
past three years, at least, Mr.. Machcn
has been receiving 10 per cent. of the
amounts paid to the GroiTs. The
transaction OF the business was con-
Quoted by Diller B. Grolr, who con
trolls the patent OF his brother, Samuel
a., a policeman.
VERY SAD AND SERIOUS
Postmaster General Payne said that
the evidence against Machcn was of
the most conclusive character. st is
a very sad affair" Mr.. Payne added.
1T Is very serious business. The
probabilities are that the end is not
yet" The postmaster general said
that the department was running
all the charges that have made con
ocrning postal administration, that
many charges had been made which
are not known to the public, and that
where few we're substantiatcd great
numbers Of the allegations proved
without foundation.
lie made the significant suggestion
that there we're many other charges OF
irregularities in the free delivery Of
flee now being investigated. Com
menting on the arrest OF Daniel Y.
Miller, the assistant attorney, which
preceded by As hours that Of Machen,
Mr.. Payne said that he had akscd AS,
sistant Attorney General Robb
whether the Ryan decision which Mr..
Christiancy signed at the instance of
Miller, was proper under the law and
under the facts. Mr. Rnbb's answer
has not been received.
Mr.. Payne was asked whether the
department. was keeping in touch
with George w. Beavers, the former
superintendent OF the division Of sala-
ries and allowances. of the department
who suddenly resigned some weeks
ago., He replied satiirmatiyely. L
lmlaye,no; la doubt, =. he SSal Id 5sbliatt tthede=
partment is keeping -traclizof him., RI
Postmaster General Payne dismissed
MIR. Machen in the following order:
"a. w. Machen is this day remoy-
ed from the position Of general super
intendenJ of the free delivery service.
Ills removal is made by reason of NAL
fcaiance on his part in the discharge
OF the duties of his oiiicc.n
GRoFF BROS, UNDER ARREST.
Diller B. Grotr Of the firm of Grotr
Bros, went to police headquarters and
gave himself up, saying he had heard
that warrant had been issued for
him and he had come to headquarters
to present himself. Mr.. Croft was
taken before United States Commits
sioncr Taylor and gave $4,000 bail
pending a hearing before the commits
sioner tomorrow. Mr.. Grotr did not
make any statement rcgardigg his
connection with the charge against
him. The warrant served on hin,
charges violation Of the section ol
the revised statutes making bribery ol
officers Of the government Il crimina
otfenSe. The information upon which
the Warrant was issued was sworn tt
by Walter S. Mayer, postotfice in
spcctor. This information alleges the
payment BY the partners Of various
sums of money to August w. Machcr
in pursuance OF the alleged agreement
between them in connection with the
purchase OF letter box fasteners. Sam
ucl a. Grolr. the other partner, wa.
arrested tonight. Arrangement were
Immediately made whereby he was re
leased on 80 900 bail being given fol
his appearance before United State:
Commissioners fTaylor when rpnuirol