Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-06-04
Mnchen Arrested md rtreA

y ulSpalcn from Washington says:
A. W. Machen. superintendent OF the
! free delivery service, who was relieved
from duty some time ago, was arrested
at the instigation OF the postoiiice de-
partment. charged with receiving
brbes from contractors. These brides
are supposed TO aggregate $4,000
Postma ster-General Payne dismissed
Machen in the following order: "A.
W. Machen Is this day removed from
the position OF general superintendent
of the free delivery service. His re-
moval Is made by reason of malfeas-
ance on his part in the discharge OF
the duties OF his Office"
Fourth Assistant Posma ster- G General
Bristow this afternoon issued the fol-
lowing statement:
\. w. Machen. general superintcnd-
ent of free delivery system. was ar
rested at / o'clock today. lie Is
charged with receiving brides amount
ing In all TO about S22,0 in connection
with a contract held by Croft Bros. OF
Washington, ID. c.. for a patent fast
ener used on street letter boxes. known
department in the past 10 years has
used about SlsO.000 worth OF these
fasteners and II In shown by ample evil
dcnce that for the past three years. at
least, MT, blaCnSn mas Dten receiving w
per cent OF the amounts paid 10 the
Groffs The transaction OF tho buT-
ness was conducted by Diller Il. Gron.
who controls the patent OF his brother
Samuel NJ, policeman.
The arrest OF Machen was the con-
Guiding act OF an examination OF him
conducted for three hours by Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow.
Inspector FOsnes. who relieved Ma
TEN. and Postoftice Inspector Myer.
At the conclusion OF the examination
Deputy United States Marshal Spring
man was called into Gen. Bristow's Of
flee and made the arrest.
The warrant on which Machen was
arrested charges him with receiving
II bribe 1t is understood that other
arrests are To follow. Machen was
Immediately dismissed by the post
master general. The amount Of money
paid during the past 10 years 10 Gron
Bros, in Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General BrtStow's statement. was sub
sequently changed 10 Sl40.0O0
The arrest Of A. W. Machen, under
whom the annual appropriation for the
rural free delivery grew in five years
from $1,000 TO Sl2.00O.0O0, and who
had sway over 10000 men OF the car
rier service. and who. few weeks
ago defied the postal inspectors to find
any trace OF crookedness In his record.
has created the greatest sensation OF
the year. That he accepted brides Is
freely asserted by the inspectors who
say the evidence they have is Of the
most comprehensive nature. Ii IN
cludes many drafts OF an alleged in
eliminating character bearing the sig
nature of Mr.. Machen. The warrant
charges that Machen asked and was
paid Aug. 8. 1902. the sum OF $3,020,74
as his 40 per cent Of the amount paid
by the government for the mail box
fasteners and other payments az fol-
lows: Sept. 20, 1900, S2,5O1; Dec. Il,
1900, $4,000; Aug 81, 1901, S1,271;
Sept Q. 1901, $3.50; Jan. II, 1902,
$7949S; Jan. 20 1902, $1,000; April 8,
1902, $2,3605G; Aug. 22. 1902. $3.50.
The postoffice sleuths are now on the
track Of George w Beavers, former
superintendent Of the bureau OF sup
plies. who retired early in the post
office investigation, and Harrison j.
Barrett. the nephew OF Judge Tyner,
who was formerly an employee Of the
assistant attorney-generars office, and
who was suspected Of giving aid 10 the
turf investment companies in Guiding
the laws. There is only a thin con-
cealment of the fact that the same re-
suits are expected in the case Of Beav-
erS as have been secured against
Machen.