Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-29
FORGERY ADDED TO CHARGE
Maohen is Being Investigated for Alleged
Fs'ss Signature.
POSTMASTER GENERAL MAKES sTArEWtNT
Large Corps Of Assistants work
Steadily, but Nothing Further of
irregularities He's Been
Developed.

WASHINGTON, May pa large corps
OF inspectors, including some of the vet
Grams Of the service. probed the alleged ir-
regularities at the Postofice department
today, but no further arrests we're made.
1t is said to be possible that the inter
mediary, who, IL Is alleged, figured in the
transactions which LED to the arrest of
Augustus w. Machen, the former general
superintendent of the free delivery serv-
ice. may turn states evidence. His iden-
tity has not yet been disclosed. Mr..
Machen's counsel issued a statement as
resting his ability to d~isprove fully all
the charges. The Investigating officials
are equally confident. The government is
arranging to have its witnesses at Machen's
preliminary hearing June 8. The pre-
liminary hearing of the Gron brothers, in
the profits Of whose business Machen is
accused of sharing on a 40 per cent basis,
is set for June 9.
Diller r. Croft, senior member OF the
firm of Croft Bros, manufacturers of let
ter box fasteners, who was arrested last
night for alleged bribery Of former Su-
perintendent Machen, appeared before
United States Commissioner Taylor today
for preliminary examination.
After consultation with Assistant Attor-
ney General Taggare the preliminary hear
MS was poFNBullSu uHlil utSudyt June u
Mr.. Grof then renewed his bond OF s1O,-
600 given last night.
Samuel A. Croft, the Junior member Of
the firm, who was also arrested last night,
charged with the same offense as his
brother. will appear before COMMISSIONS
Taylor tomorrow. His preliminary hear
ing will be set for Tuesday, June Q, also,
as complaint against the Croft brothers
charges them Jointly with the onense.
Statement for
Charles A. Douglass of counsel for Mr..
Machen today gave out the Following state
ment of the status of the Machen case, and
also about the course of proceedings in the
immediate future:
Mr.. Machen cannot fight out his case in
the newspapers. but this much can, with
propriety,, be stated: The charges, SEEM
lngly made with great elaboration, are of
the gravest character, and If the govern
ment succeeds in establishing them Mr..
Maehen, II connected with the case, should
If, however, they nave been made i'm
p|rovidentially and without sufficient evil
dence, public cenSure, swift and strong,
should fall upon the heads Of the respon-
sible parties. Mr.. Machen has been a long
time IN the public service and he is widely
and favorably known throughout the United
states, and 1t is due him that the public
should not PREJUDICE his case but should
patiently await developments, which are
sure to come.
Mr.. Machen is ready to meet. in the clear
est and most satisfactory way, the charges
now specifically made against him, and he
nov, generally and publicly invites the most
rigid investigation into every act and trans
action connected with his official life. More
imam this should not now be SAID.
Mr.. Machen, under advice Of his counsel,
refused to discuss the case,
Assistant Attorney General Robb of the
Postofice department, had a long confer
anna tOdau NTH ITpgtad Gto,z. nsa..s.. A..
torney Beach regarding the procedure in
the Machen case. 1t is the wish of the
postmaster general that the trial of the
case be expedited as much as possible. The
evidence in the case has already been re-
viewed by Attorney General Knox, Solicitor
General Hoyt and District Attorney Beach,
and the prosecution now rests with the
Department of Justice.
The federal grand jury is in session and 1t
is expected that the case or Mr. Machen
will be presented Immediately to that body.
The civil suit and attachment proceedings
to recover the amounts alleged by the Post
office department to have been obtained by
the post box fastener contracts will be in
stituted at once.
This phase Of the case Is now In the
hands Of the district attorney. The pro-
ceedings will be similar to those instituted
in the Greene-Gaynor cases. The postmas-
ter general said that no further sensational
developments are expected To-Day. Never
theless, other arrests are believed to be i'm
minent.
A report was published here today that
George w. Beavers. the former superIn.
tendent of the division of salaries and
allowances was in the city, but the de-
partment denied having any such infor.
nation. Mr.. Payne was asked as to the
nature of the charges on file against Mr..
Beavers. He replied that they might be
summed up as the payment. of extravagant
prices for materials and supplies used In
his division, including time clocks and
stamping machinery. He said there was
only a charge that Mr.. Beavers had re-
ceived a commission on the supplies. This
charge, he said, is under investigation.
A much more rigid o~verhauling of the
affairs of Mr.. Beavers former office will
begin shortly