The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-03
NO FURTHER ARRESTS MADE.

NO FURTHER ARRESTS MADE.
Washington, May 2s.-A large corps
of inspectors, including some Of the
veterans Of the service, were at work
probing into the alleged Irregularities
Of the postohfce department today, but
no further arrests were made. 1t is
said to be possible that the inter
mediary who it is alleged figured in the
transactions which led to the arrest Of
August W. Machen, the former gen.
eral superintendent Of the free deliv-
cry service, may turn states evidence.
His identity has not yet been dis
closed. Mr.. Machen's counsel issued
statement asserting his ability to
fully disprove all the charges The
investigating officials are equally Con-
fdent. The government is anxious to
expedite the trial Of Machen as much
as possible, consistently with the
proper handling of the case. 1t is ar
ranging to bave it's witnesses at
Maehen's preliminary hearing June
5. The preliminary hearing OF the
Croft brothers, the profits of whose
firm Machen is accusd Of sharing on
40 per cent. basis, has been set for
June 9.
Postal officials refuse to give any in
formation respecting the go-between
who, it is alleged, figured in the
transactions that caused Machen's
arrest. It is said there is a possibil-
ity, if not probability, that he will
be used as witness for the govern
ment. The postmaster general to-
night said: "That there is a third
party in this matter / have no doubt,
but cannot say anything further. I"
He was asked whether the delay in
making an arrest was due to failure
to locate the man. The postmaster
general replied in the negative and
added that sometimes there were
other reasons. He significantly sug
gested that sometimes it was found
best not to be too precipitate in taking
| action and there was an intimation
that the department. might desire the
go-between to turn states evidence.
Mr.. Payne was asked as to the nature
| of the charges on file against George
W. Beavers. He replied that they
might be summed up as the payment
| of extravagant prices for materials and
supplies used in his division, includ-
| ing time clocks and stamping ma
chimes. He said that there was only
one charge that Mr.. Beavers had re-
ceived commission on these supplies.
This charge, he said, is under in
vestigation.
A much more rigid overhauling of
the affairs Of Mr.. Beavers former Office
will begin shortly.
The investigation Of the affairs of
the free delivery division, it is stated,
has not been interrupted by the arrest
| of Machen. The inspectors who
brought about that result are continu-
ing their inquiry and will probe into
other charges against Mr.. Machen.
Some of the charges are of similar
nature to those on which yesterdays
arrest was, based. The overhauling of
the free delivery branch will be tho
| rough and Postmaster General Payne
today declared with emphasis that the
investigation will not end until all ir-
regularities have been thoroughly in.
quired into and eradicated.
Assistant Attorney General Robb of
the postofice department. had long
conference today with United States
District Attorney Beach regarding the
procedure in the Machen case. It 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 reviewed
by Attorney General Knox. The
federal grand jury is in session and
it is expected that the case of Mr..
! Machen will be presented Immediately
to that body. The suit and attach
ment proceedings to recover the
amounts alleged by the postoffce de-
partment to have been obtained from
the postoffice box fastener contracts
will be instituted at once. The proceed
ings will be similar to those instituted
in the Green-Gaynor case.
Charles A. Douglass of counsl for
Mr.. Machen today gave out the fol-
lowing statement: "Mr. Machen has
been a long time in the public ser
vice, and he is widely and favorably
known throughout the United States,
and it 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 clearest and
most satisfactory way, the charges now
! specifically made against him, and he
now generally and publicly invites
most rigid investigation into every
act and transaction connected with his
official life. More than this should not
now be said
A Serious Mistake.