Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-05

MACHEN INDICTED
Grand Jury Reports to Crimi-
nal Court.
SEC. 550l, RS, VIOLATED
CORRUPT AGREEMENT WITH THE
CROFT BROTHERS ALLEGED,
Nine Counts in the Document-What
His Friends Say Will Be His
Line of Defense.

against August W. Machen former gen.
, eral superintendent of the free delivery
system of the Post Office Department,
shortly after o'clock this afternoon. The
conclusion Of the jury was reached this
morning in a session which lasted just ten
minutes, when an adjournment was taken
until afternoon for the purpose of making
report to Criminal Court No l. Precisely
at O'Clock the jury filed into the court
room and reported the indictment to JUS
tce Barnard, who was sitting in the tenn
porary absence of Justice Pritchard.
No witnesses were heard by the jury in
connection with the Machen case today,
and the fact that the jury concluded It's
investigation In short time occasioned
some surprise. When an adjournment was
taken yesterday afternoon until this MORN
ing it was expected that the out-of-town
witnesses would be called today. Two of
these witnesses were j. w. Herring of
Westminster, Nd, and Harry j. Halstead
CT Toledo, Ohio. Mr.. Taggart decided,
however, to rest the governments case
upon the testimony of the witnesses who
appeared yesterday. Justice Pritchard pre-
siding over Criminal Court No. 1, was nou-
fed last night that the jury would report
at IL o'clock today, and he was promptly
on hand but he was told that the submis-
sion of the report would be deferred until
o clock and the jury was excused until
that hour. Word quickly spread about
the court house that a true bill had been
found against Mr.. Machen. The fact that
the indictment had to be prepared and
could not be presented before that hour
was given as the occasion for the postpone
ment of the announcement
1t is learned on the best authority that
the grand jury will continue its investiga-
ton of the post office scandals next Week.
with particular reference to the case OF the
Croft Bros. the contractors who furnished
the letter box fasteners to the government,
and who were arrested at the same time
Mr. Machen was taken into custody.
Across the street, overlooking the court
house, sitting In the Office of Charles
Douglas his attorney, was Mr.. Machen
When informed that the jury had con-
cluded its hearing OF the evidence against
prise and said that perhaps later In the
day he would give out statement.
The Indictment.
The indictment against Mr.. Machen is of
unusual length. 1t embraces nine counts,
and consists of about twenty-five type
written pages 1t sets forth that before
and on the 1st of July, 1880, there were and
have since been in use in the postal service
of the United States great numbers OF let
ter boxes, which We're each fastened TO a
post or other support by device called a
letter box fastener. To the first assistant
postmaster general, it is stated, was as
signed the general management OF the post
offices. and the furnishing of supplies. in
Guiding letter box fasteners for the postal
service. Under the first assistant post
master general was the DIVISION OF Tree oe-
livery, to which was assigned among olner
duties the consideration of allowances 1or
such letter box fasteners, the division being
under the management of the superlntend-
ent of free delivery.
Continuing. the indictment states that be-
fore and on the 1st of July, 1899. one Au-
gust w. Machen held the position of super
intendent of free delivery, and until the lst
of May 1903, had the management or the
division of free delivery. Mr. Machen, 1t Is
pointed out was charged with the duty or
considering and determining In good falth
in his official capacity whether the pur-
chase of the letter box fasteners referred to
was required for use in the postal service,
of ascertaining and determining the num-
ber required, the lowest price OF the same
and of recommending that purchases pe
made and of examining and approving all
bills and recommending payment OF same.
During the time referred to, according TO
the Indictment, one Samuel A. Gron ana
one Diller B. Croft, under the name or
Croft Rrothers were engaged in the busi-
ness Of vending letter-boX fasteners, known
as Croft fasteners. The Gron Brothers
from time to time furnished TO the united
States such letter-box fasteners. upon the
advice and recommendation of Mr.. Machep.
Asked for 40 Per Cent.
The grand purors, upon their oath, pre-
sent that on June 80. 1900, Mr.. Machen,
as superintendent of free delivery in regard
TO a purchase of the Groff fasteners in
f1uenced 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 Post Office De-
partment in payment of such fasteners, the
purchase of which might be procured upon
Mr.. Machens advice; and did receive the
promise Of the Croft Brothers in accord
ance Herewith
Pursuant to such collusive understanding
between Mr.. Machen and the Croft Broth
ers, 1t is charged in the first count that Mr..
Machen, July 2, 1900, procured the pur-
chase of 5000 complete Croft fasteners and
of 2OS7 half fasteners; that upon the ad-
vice of Mr.. Machen the bill of the GroT
Brothers for the same was approved by
the first assistant postmaster genera! Tor
the sum of $,551.S7. and that sum paid to
the Croft Brothers by the United States
July 80 1900; land that pursuant to the
said collusive understanding, the said part
ners did. on the sth day of August In the
year last aforesaid. and at the District
aforesaid. pay to the said August w.
Machen $3,02O.74, against the form of the
statutes in such case made and provided,
and against the peace and government Of
the said United States
The second count alleges that In pur-
suance Of a similar collusive understanding
II.
ers, September 20, 1900. s., sol.
Under the third count Mr.. Machen is ac-
cused of receiving October q, 1900. 50. 600.
In the fourth count 1t Is alleged that
Mr. Machen was paid by the Groff Broth
ers 81 .271. August 81, 1901.
In the indictment the fact is cited that
prior to July 1. 1901. Mr.. Machen held the
position of superintendent of free deliv-
ery," but that on the date mentioned he
was made general superintendent OF the
free delivery system.
a. nr,taf
received $753.5O from the Croft Brothers
December 8, 1901.
The sixth count charges that Mr.. Machen
was paid $72A96 January 3, 1902.
BY the seventh count Mr.. Machen Is
accused of receiving So. 500 January 8. 1902.
Under the eighth count II is alleged that
Mr. Machen April o, 1902, was paid $2.-
360 SO.
BY the ninth and last count 1t is charged
that August % 1902, Mr.. Machen was paid
81 $50.
The total amount embraceA by the in