Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-06-11
MACHEN INDICTED
AND GIVES BONDS
Former Superintendent of Free
Delivery Is Held By Grand
Jury at Washington.
MACHEN DENIES THE CHARGES
Gives His Explanation of the Pass
ing of Several Checks From Croft
Brother, Makers of Box Fasteners,
to Him.

Washington, June 6-The grand
jury returned a true bill against Mr..
Machen, former superintendent of
rural mail delivery.
Machen is charged with illegally
receiving $1S,9S7.75. Mr.. Machen was
in court with mis- attorney and i'm
mediately gave bond, a number of
prominent citizens going his surety.
The indictment against Mr.. Machen
embraces nine counts and consists
of twenty-five typewriter pages.
1t follows closely the form Of the war
rant upon which Mr.. Machen was
originally arrested, reciting his con-
nection with the postoffice depart
ment, his duties in connection with
the purchase of supplies. etc. and
the fact of the sale of letter box fas-
teners to the government by Croft
Brothers upon his advice and recon-
mendation. The grand jurors upon
their oath find that on June 80, 1900,
Mr.. Machen with intent to have his
decision and action as superinten-
dent of free delivery in regard to a
purchase of Croft fasteners, infiu-
enced thereby, did ask of the Croft
Brothers promise that they would
pay to him 40 per cent of any sum
which might be received by them
thereafter from the United States
through the postoffice department in
payment of such fasteners, the pur-
chase of which might be procured
upon Mr.. Machen's advice and did
receive the promise OF the Groh
Brothers in accordance herewith.
The indictment then recites that in
pursuance of this collusive under
standing Mr.. Machen received on
various date specified in the original
warrants the sums stated at the time,
aggregating in all about $4,000.
In discussing the case with his
friends, Mr.. Machen says that certain
checks which 1t is maintained were
sent to him in payment Of his profits
in the Croft fastener, and which have
been secured by the postoffice inspec-
tors, were sent him by his business
partner, George E. Lorenz, OF Toledo,
Ohio, and formerly postmaster of that
city.
Mr.. Machen claims that his partner
ship with Lorenz was a strictly legi-
innate one, and that the checks trans
mitted to him by Lorenz were in con-
nection with mining business which
the firm conducted Although the
amount of these checks cannot be as
certained, 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 that he was not partner OF
the Croft Bros. concern, and that he
lid not receive 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 adj
ministration SO far as the Croft fast
ener is concerned is that the price
paid for the article may be excessive.
This was necessary, he maintains, be-
cause the article was a patented
affair, and the larger price paid for
Il was in line with the universal prac-
dee in the purchase Of articles which
are patented and where there is no
competition.