The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-28
MACHEN ARRESTED
.ANATHER TRICK TURNED IN POST
OFFICE INVESTIGATION.
STIFF RAKE-OFF is CLAIMED.
NACHEN ALLEGED TO HAVE OBJ
TANNED NEARLY 100000.

within "a Brief Time the Superin-
teudent of the Free Delivery Serv-
ice Is Alleged to Have Drawn
Down Large Amounts for His
services in Having Patent Pos
tai Box Fastener Used by the
Governme Has Been
Fired.
washington, May 27.-By far the
most sensational development of the
nostoffice investigation up to this time
occurred to-day, when August w.
Machen, the general superintendent of
the free delivery service, was arrested,
on warrant issued upon the informa-
tion of postoffice inspectors, charging
him with having received "rake-ofts
from contracts made with the local firm
of Croft Bros, for a patent postal box
fastener.
The warrant specifically charges him
with receiving $1S,9S1.7S since Aug g.
1900. It is alleged, however, at the de-
partment that this amount does not
represent all that Machen obtained in
connection with these contracts, 1t be-
ing charged that he has profited by
them for several years prior to the
date of the first contract mentioned in
the warrant. Other arrests are to fol-
low.
Immediately after Machen was taken
into custody Postmaster General Payne
issued an order removing him from Of
fee He had practically been under
suspension for a fortnight, pending the
investigation into his bureau.
The discovery of Machen's alleged
interests in the contracts was made
quite accidentally by the inspectors
some three weeks ago, and since then
their energies had been directed to-
ward making out case.
Machen Had Sweating"
Last night, after the authorities had
become convinced that they were in
possession of the necessary evidence,
Mr. Machen was notified to appear at
the department this morning He did
so, and was subjected to a sweating"
process by the inspectors and Mr..
Bristow for three hours. but no adj
missions that he had prOtited by the
contracts could be secured from him.
He declined to answer many ques-
tons on the ground that they related
TO his FAriNnate- business, hut insisted to
the end that he had not received a cent
improperly. Nevertheless. he was ar
rested on the warrant which had been
prepared and taken before a United
States commissioner when his attor-
ney Immediately demanded a full hear
ing. Assistant District Attorney Tag
CART, however, was not ready to pro-
WITTY he h.
was set for June ).
Mr.. Machen gave a $4,000 bond, fur
nished by Philadelphia bonding
company, for his appearance, declin-
ing to accept the proffer of friends to
go on his bond. After his release he
declined to make any statement be-
Yond the single declaration that the
whole thing was a grand stand play
and would come out albright" His at
torneys declared that at the proper
time they would show conclusively
that he had been guilty of no wrong
IN connection with the contracts. and,
on the contrary, they would be able to
show that his administration of the
free delivery service had been charac-
terized by ability and integrity.
The department officials claim that
their evidence is conclusive.
May Bring n Civil Suit.
be entered to recover from Machen the
amount he is alleged to have received
on the contracts.
The warrant for Machen's arrest was
drawn by Assistant District Attorney
Taggart on a sworn statement made
to-day by Walter S. Mayer, a postof-
flee inspector from the Chicago dis
trict, before United States Commits
sioner Taylor in this city. Inspector
Mayer, in the several counts in the
complaint alleges the receipt by Mr..
Machen of several specified sums, ag-
gregating $1S9S1.7S in connection
with the purchase for the use of the
department of letter box fasteners.
After setting forth Machen's official
position as superintendent of free de-
livery in the Postoffice Department,
the complaint says that as such Super
intendent Machen was charged with
the duty and invested with the power,
under the supervision and with the ap-
prevail Of the first assistant postmaster
general. of purchasing for the use of
the department certain articles, among
them letter box fasteners.
Inspector Mayer then states that one
Samuel B. Croft and one D. B. Croft
are the owners of a patented inven-
ton for such letter box fasteners and
were engaged in business as Croft
Bros. The statement then says that
VII July Z, lJUU, SuDl. MdC0eH pTOGuTeQ
the issuance of an order by the First
Assistant Postmaster General for 5000
complete and 2.0S7 half fasteners of
the Croft variety, at the rate of Slips
for one complete and 81 25 for two half
fasteners, and that as superintendent
ne recommended and the Treasury
paid $7,551.SS to the Croft Bros. for the
fasteners aforesaid. The statement
then proceeds:
An Agreement TO Divide.
The said order was procured by the
said August w. Machen upon a collu-
sive understanding and agreement be-
tween him and the said ID. B. Croft,
mat he. the said August w. Machen.
was to be paid certain proportion of
the proceeds of any warrant to be is
sued in payment Of the articles sup
Piled under said order and the promise
OF him, the said ID. b. Croft, to pay
such proportions: and that thereafter
and on the eighth day of August, A.
D., 1900 the said August w. Machen
did ask, accept and receive OF and was
paid by said d. b. Croft. pursuant TO
such colusive understanding and
agreement the sum Of S3020.74."
Then follow number Of other
counts alleging the receipt by Machen
~ the following specific sums In con-
nection with sales Of letter box fast
eners 10 the government. Sept. 20,
1900, g., 50l: Dec AZ. 1900. $1,000. Aug
"a. 1901 Si.27lf Sept. 0, 1901, 1888. 90.
Jan "A 1900 4ggf a. Ian % 1NO2 A.