The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-06
MACHEN's INDICTMENT.
Charged by the Grand Jury with ViO-
Iating Section 1901, r.. s.

Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON. June 5.-The grand jury
to-day reported an indictment against Au-
gust w. Machen. former superintendent of
the free delivery service of the Postoffice
Department, who was arrested several days
ago. charged with sharing profits on gov
eminent contracts for letter-box fasteners.
The indictment was brought for violation
of Section 5501 of the Revised Statutes, the
penalty for violation of which is fine
not more than three times the amount
asked or accepted or received, and by i'm
prisonment not more than three years"
The amount which the indictment states
he received illegally is $1S.9S7.79. The in
dictment embraces nine counts. and con-
sists of twenty-five typewriter pages.
Mr.. Machen was in court with his at
torneys when the grand jury reported and
Immediately gave bond in the sum of s20.-
600 for his appearance in court. His sure
ties were o. G. Staples Davis Moore, F.
NJ Criswell and Emanuel SPEECH, of this
city. The trial will occur in October.
In discussing the case with his friends
Mr. Machen says that certain checks which
II is maintained were sent to him in pay
ment of his profits in the Croft fastener
and which have been secured by the post
Office inspector, were sent to him by his
Toledo, o.. and formerly postmaster of
that city. Mr.. Machen claims that his
partnership with Lorenz was strictly le-
Ultimate one and that the checks trans
mitted TO him by Lorenz were I'm connec-
ton with mining business which the firm
conducted. Although the amount of these
checks cannot be ascertained. Mr.. Machen
says that the one for the largest amount
represents a personal loan to himself from
LorenZ.
Mr.. Machen further states to his friends
Brothers concern and that he did not re-
ceve any OF the profits from the sale of
the letter-box fastener TO the government.
He says that no wrongdoing will be proved
against him and that the only possible
cause there may be for criticism of his
administration so far the Groff fastener
Is concerned vs. that the price paid for the
article may he considered excessive. This
was necessary. he maintains, because the
article was a patented affair and the larger
price paid for II was In line with the uni
versal practice in the purchase of articles
which are patented and where there is no
competition.
ing statement: THE indictment against
Mr. Machen by the grand jury Is such a
lengthy document that we have had no
time or opportunity to consider IL and we
cannot therefore. say anything about the
charges in the nine different counts. AT
the instance and under the direction OF the
authorities, Il WARRANT OF arrest against MI.
Machen was asked for and obtained from
United States Commissioner Taylor. and
lengthy supporting affidavit was filed In
which direct charges OF criminal acts were
made. Upon Mr.. Machen's arrest We de-
manded an immediate hearing. which was
opposed by the government. and at the re-
quest of the government a continuance was
had until June s. Mr.. Machen and his
counsel have evident reason to believe that
In the interim no steps would be
taken to deny him the preliminary exami-
nation to which he was entitled. The au-
thorities responsible for the issuance OF this
warrant have seen proper TO bring the same