The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-28
SUPT. MACHEN UNDER ARREST.
ACCUSED or ACCEPTING BRIBES
TO THE AMOUNT OF $4,000.

WASHINGTON, May III August W.
Machen. General Superintendent OF the
Free Delivery Division of tn, Post Ones
Department. WIS arrested this afternoon
in the Office Of Fourth Assistant Post
lnaster-General i}ristow on the charge OF
having accepte $4,000 in bribes from
the firm of Croft Bros. of this city. m
ventors and manufacturers of a patent
fastener used on street letter boxes. Machen
was taken into custody bya United States
Marshal and brought before United States
Commissioner Taylor. who later released
him on $4,000 bail furnished by a bonding
company.
Diller B. Croft and Samuel A. Croft, ~
last named member Of the Washington
police force, who compose the firm Of Croft
Bros, were arrested tonight and will be
arraignsd before Commissioner Taylor To-
morrow.
Civil suit will be entered by the aovsrn-
ment to recover the S22 900, which 1t Is Al
legged Machen received as a bribe. and
Machen aud the Croft brothers will b.
prosecuted criniinally on the charge OF
conspiracy.
Machen was arrested at O'Clock this
afternoon. A few minutes later Postmaster
General Payne issued the following order:
August W. Machen was to-day removed
from his position IS General Superintendent
of the Free Delivery Service. His removal
and arrest are due to malfeasance on his part
In the discharge Of duties In his Office
Despite the fact that Machen has been
under suspension for several weeks. pend
ing thorough investigation Of the aifais
of his office, his dismissal and arrest on
the specific charge in question came -
an absolute surprise to those officers OF
the Department who are not in a petition
to know the daily results Of the inquiry
conducted by Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow. This will be readily un-
derstood when it is known that it was not
until half past 3 O'Clock this morning that
MIR. Bristow and the other officers engaged
in the investigation were confident that
they had conclusive evidence Of Mr.. Machen's
guilt.
At 10 o'clock this morning Mr.. Machen
was summoned to the Department and told
that Mr.. Bristow wished TO ask him some
questions. Whether he had any intina-
ton of what was to come, or whether the
strain under which he has been for so long
has proved too much for even his iron
had had Its influence, and MIR. Machen
looked like nervous wreck,
While waiting for MIR. Bristow to begin
the cross-exa Examination his head jerked
back and forth on his shoulders, his fingers
and expressionless. But when the ex-
animation began hs- had pulled hiaself-
together somewhat, and his replies to the
questions put to him were very non-com-
initial. He even went 30 far as to say, in
answer to a question by an inspector, that
his private financial affairs we're no con-
Germ Of any one in the Government service,
and had nothing to do with the present
investigation.
At the close of the hearing Machen was
placed under arrest and conducted to tbs
City Hall, as the court house Of this district
has been called ever since the days when SUI
frage was enjoyed here.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Payne and Fourth
Assistant Postmaster-General Bristow both
assert with emphasis that there y tho
strongest kind Of documentary evidence
against Machen. Mr.. Bristow said this
afternoon after the arrest that there was
absolute evidence that Machen had received
the $22 900 in brides, and that this did not
by any means cover all the amounte which
ii is believed he had received, but OF which
the inspectors as yet have been unable to
find conclusive proof.
The complaint filed with the United
States Commissioner. upon which the
warrant for Machen's arrest was issued,
Depart Depa r,ment officers yRat detailed docu-
proof was in the hands Of the
Government. The complaint contains the
direct allegations:
That on July 2. 1909. Machen procured
the re, o. an order SSasE z TIE de-
lncnt. and of which sum Machsn received
That or Jply IT, 1922 q Msehen procured
a. 49, M MAJ Mses nsFe D9 s3
C hoy SrH $500. Maehea's share. ss.ios
m order for 1850 fasteners and li,ose half
Iastcners, which cost the Government 81. 800.
N9 fh"t on '9S ay T. 1901 Maehen procured an
order for six half fasteners on July 10. for
3 600 fasteners. and on Aug, % for eight half
for hch the I Ea a" paid siss
Me- hen s share, s753. so.
T aer Of for g half wcs eoss
the. Government si.sS2 Machen's share.
dS"i for os Ss Gov N
That on Dec; s, 1901. Machen procured an
en- neit $3.50 Maohe;s share, 1921
That or a. Jg sGy IL 1902: Ms che pr9cTred
5 600 half fasteners Mt ss.i?5. Machen = share.
81. $50.
After the reading OF the Govern ments
bond was fixed at $20OO0 and
furnished by the Union Surety and Guaranty
Company Of Philadelphia. Machen de-
handed an immediate exami nation, but
Ihis was refused, and upon request OF
Assistant District Attorney Taggert, the
hearing in the case was fixed for Saturday,
June @, at half past 10 o'clock. Mr.. Tag.
CERT said he desired the continuance in order
10 have time to secure the attendance OF
important witnesses who live outside OF
Mr.. Machen was very nervous during
the hearing and at its conclusion declared
that his arrest was merely a grand stand
play" and that things would come out all
right. He said he would not make a state
ment, as his case was in the hands Of his
lawyers, Douglass 4 Douglass, the firm
that achieved considerable reputation some
time ago by successfully defending Mrs
Lola Ida Henry BONNIE, in the sensational
murder trial. Attorney
Charles A. Douglass Of the firm made the
statement at the conclusion Of
lhe hearing:
Il was retained by Mr.. Machen "a his
attorney several days ago. Immediately
ipon his suspension from Office by the
General. and since that time
nave Investigated the facts Of the case.
am, therefore familiar with the details
Ipon which this prosecution Is based.
"Ihe result Of my investigation has sat-
sfiaJ mo TINT at tho ripht time and place