The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-30

ency of Free Delivery-Alleged Bribers
Give Up-Machen Said to Have Received
Forty Per Gem. on Total Purchases of
$780, 900.
The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Ledger, under date of May
p. writes: At o clock this afternoon.
by order of Postmaster General Payne, A.
W. Machen, late Superintendent of Free
Delivery in the Postoffice Department, was
arrested on the charge Of accepting brides
from Diller D. Croft and Samuel H. Croft
to the amount of SIS, 1872, in connection
with the purchase Of fasteners for city let
ter boxes.
1t is alleged, however, at the Depart
ment that this amount does not represent
all that Machen obtained in connection
with these contracts, it being charged that
he has protited by them for several years
prior to the date of the first contract men
toned in the warrant Other arrests are
to follow.
Immediately after Mr.. Macheu was
taken into custody, the Postmaster Gen.
issued an order removing him from office
The discovery of Machen' alleged in
terests in the contracts was made accident
ally by the inspectors some three weeks
ago. and since then their energies had
been directed toward making out a case
Maehen was taken by the deputy mar
shall directly to the office of United States
Commissioner TAYLOR He communicated
with his attorneys, and In a few minutes
Charles A Douglass, Of the firm, arrived
and demanded an immediate hearing. ~
sistant District Attorney Hugh Taggart
who is conducting the case for the Gov
eminent, replied that he was not ready 10
proceed. and asked poStpouement of the
hearing for ten days.
Commissioner Taylor thercupon fixed
Friday. June ). for the hearing, and after
brief discussion of the bond Commits
sioner Taylor fixed bail at s20, 0od The
| zion Surety and Guaranty Company, of
Philadelphia, went on his bond During
these proceedings Mr. Maehen was called
to the telephone several times by personal
friends. who offered to 20 on hi bond in
any amount that might be- demanded. and
several friends called at the Commissioner
ofkce To make similar tenders Mr. Ma
chen informed all ur them that be pre-
ferre,l to give bond through the guaranty
company.
DiIler b Croft, one 81 the partners ia
the drm Of Croft Bros who are accused
Of having bTibed Machen called At palicc
headquarters tonight. stating that he had
heard = warrant for BIZ arrye, was out
lie was served with the warrant, aud was
released on $40. 300 bond pending hear.
ing before the United States Commissioner
tomorrow
Samuel \. GroH. the ether member
of the Croft iirm. was taken inta rI-tasiy
later. and Wa released GA sl3 600 bail.
tie denied auy knowledge Of corrupt trans
actions
The posioiEee Departments IN the past
ten wears has used about $3.50, GOO wuTth
Of these fasteners, and il = sho~n by am-
PIE evidence that for the past thrc years,
Al ls-ass. Mr. Maehsn has beea receiving
30 per cen. 81 the amaaats paid o. she
GYoffs The transaction u the business
was conducted by p1llcF u GroH. who
controls the patcn, Of b.. brother, Samuel
A, a pahcenAn.
To all newspaper mea Mr. Maehen said
that he had no extended siAtemras 10
make for publication. lie and
This will come cut all right Ms ar.
~. ! merely a grand stand play
He declised 70 make further state
usca, saving that Mr. pougiAs> hts At
toTpey. woald speak for him
III attorney made this s,Aieasens
Several day, ago nv trm Wa rriainsi
by Mr. Machca 10 ioak after his Interests
Ia connection with the investigation Of
Affairs at the po-sofhcc Department. |
am. therefore. c,zgniEant al the -ltuatian
IN detail am confident that, a, ,he
prorcr time. Ne shall BE- able "a shoa. 10
the mos conclusive way, that not only
has Mr Machen besn guilty 1t 40 urcns
IN eoancc,iun With the Department trans
sr,,ans with Croft Br4hers. but thar he,
administration Of tho AFFAIR." Of the irec
delivery system has bys.a characterized ~
uIrightns=S. integrity and ability
Il have neg determined vet whether a
FOIL preliminary hearing on Friday, June
). viii b. insisted upon, ~ whether *.
animation will h. waived aud band E,rra
for trial before the SupEruse tourg Il the
Dis,rict Of Columbia The probabilities
are however. that fall preliminary beat
lns will be demanded
Maehen Wa requested ha night in a
brief personal note from Postmaster Gen-
eral PAYNE 70 come 20 the Department tins
morning 10 consult with Mr. Brisyow IA
regard to matters that had come ap IN 'hr {
investigation. AZ 10 clock this morn
ins Marhcn called on Bristow and re
manned about three hours answering ques
tions pat a. him by Brtaow. Assistant
Attorney General Rpbb, Chief Inspector
Cochran anil Inspector FoSncs- Maehen
denied having received any motley from
III, GrotT., aud resented the inquiry into
his private affairs Toward the end Of
the conference he remarked, with some
show uf anger, 10 Mr. Bristow You /
have 90 right to 20 into my private bust !
ness affairs. and do not intend 10 submit
to such an inquisition He was asked to
remain. and Mr. Bristow withdrew 10 the
Office of the Postmaster General and laid (
before him the facts that had come to his /
knowledge, together with the answer that
Machen had made to the charge that he !
had been paid money BY the Groffs. Mr..
PAYNE said at once that the denial was
unsatisfactory, and directed the Assistant
Postmaster General TO order the arrest of /
Machen at once. Mr. Bristow returned |
to his office and called in Deputy United /
States Marshal Sprngman, who served /
the warrant.
II i understood that Detective Mayer /
succeeded in getting hold Of the books and
checks in the vaults of trust company in /
Philadelphia, which covered the payments /
from the Groffs TO Machen. He and an
other inspector went to Philadelphia and |
spent night in the bank going over the
vouchers. and were able to secure dates |
L I