The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1903-05-28
SUPERINTENDENT OF FREE DE.
LIVERY SERVICE ACCUSED
OF ACCEPTING BRIBEs.
AMOUNT PLACED At ABOUT s22, 2,OOo
POSTAL AUTHORITIES ASSERT
EVIDENCE IN THEIR POSSES
SION is CONCLUSIVE.

Washington. May 28.--A. w. Mach
en-. superintendent Of the free deliv'
cry, who was relieved from duty some
time ago, was arrested during the day
at the instigation Of the postofiice de.
partment charged with receiving
bribes from contractors. These bribes
are supposed to aggregate $4,000.
In connection with the arrest
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bflstow issued the following state
ment:
''Mr. A. w. Machen, general super
intendent OF free delivery service, was
arrested at l p. m. He is charged
with receiving bribes amounting in all
to about $4,000 In connection with a
tngtOn. ID. c., for patent fastener
used on street letter boxes, known as
the. Groif fastener. The pOstoffice de-
partment In the past ten years has
used about 100000 worth of these
fasteners and 1t Is shown by ample
evidence that for the past three years,
at least, Mr.. Machen has been receiv-
Ing 40 per cent OF the amounts paid
to the Groffs. The transaction of the
business was conducted by Dillon B.
Gron, who controls the patent Of his
brother. Samuel NJ, policeman"
The arrest of Mr.. Machen was the
concluding act Of an examination OF
him, which was conducted for three
hours during the day by Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Bristow; In
spector Fosnes. who relieved Mr.
Machen as chief of the free delivery
System. and Postoffice Inspector Myer
at the conclusion Of the examination
Deputy United States Marshal Spring
man was called into General BristOw' 8
O.iice and made the arrest.
Other Arrests May Follow.
The warrant on which Machen was
arrested charges him with receiving
q bribe. 1t is understood that other
arrests are to follow. Machon was
immediately dismissed by the post
master general. The amount OF money
paid during the past ten years to
0ro6 Bros. in Fourth Assistant Pest
master General Bristow's statement
was subsequently changed to $4,000
Mr.. Machen was taken before United
States Commissioner Taylor and,
through his attorneys. Douglas &
Douglas, demanded an immediate hei-.
ing. The district attorney said he was
not ready to proceed and asked for
poatponement for ten days. The pre-
liminary hearing was set for Friday
June s. Bond was fixed In the sum
OF $4,000 and Mr. Machen made ar
ran9ements with the Union Security
and Guarantee company OF Philadel'
phia to secure bond to that amount.
He declined to make any statement
but his attorneys stated that they felt
confident that they would be able tc
show conclusiyely ct the proper time
that their client had been guilty OF nc
wrongdOing In connection with the
GroR contracts, but, on the contrary
Mr.. Machen's administration OF the
1rse delivery had been honest and up
right.
The members OF the Groff concern
were subjected to severe examina
tion during the day by the police ON
cialo and the post0ffice inspectors Al
police headquarters. 1t is stated that
they furnished little information on
the subject. but the questioning contin'
Ned throughout the morning hours.
Machsn Makes General Denial.
when under examination by the
pOst0Gice ofiicials Mr.. Machen made z
General denial of the charge. He said
that he had accepted no money what
ever from the concern. He declined
20 answer many OF the questions pro
pounded to him on the ground that
they related to his private affairs. Mr
Ma&hen had been notified to come tc
the once Of the fourth assistant post
maGter general ct $40 q. m. He wa
not uniformed q 70 the purpose Of The
vtaik He appeared on time and VA
Immediately taken into the private
once of Mr.. Brist0w. whore 10 VA
nut through : ravara exAmlna1iQn