The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-29
g. WILMINGTON n. c. MAY 90 1903

two half fasteners and that as super
intendent he recommended and the
treasury paid $7.551.SS to the Croft
Brothers for the fasteners aforesaid.
The statement then proceeds:
The said order was procured by the
said August W. Machen upon a COL
lusive understanding and agreement
between him and the said Diller 3.
Croft. that he, the said August W.
| Machen was to be paid a certain pro-
portion of the proceeds of any warrant
20 be issued in payment of the articles
supplied under said order and the
promise Of him. the said Diller B. Croft
20 pay such proportion; and that there
after 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 Diller 3. Croft. pursuant
| TO such collusive understanding and
agreement, the sum of s3,O2O.74.''
| Then follow a number of other counts
alleging the receipt by Mr.. Machen of
| the following specific sums in connec-
ton with sales OF letter box fasteners
| to the government: September Goth
| 1900 81, sol; December 17tth, 1900. So. 900:
August 81. 1901, s., 81; September 9. 1901
$685. 30; January II, 1902, S724 9S: January
20, 1902 $500: April 9. 1902, 50. 800. .56:
August %, 1902. $3.50"
| According to the statements of a post
| office department official there was
gO-between for the alleged transactions
| in connection with the contracts The
| identity of this person is withheld by
| the department and the officials refuse
| TO say what steps, if any, have been
taken looking to his apprehension. 1t
| Is stated that he does not reside in
| Washington and is not here at present
| Postmaster General Payne was asked
| tonight for the name of this maan, but
| declined to discuss the subject, adding
| that he knew nothing about it. The
| inspectors, however, it is stated, know
| the identity and movements of the in
termediary. He may be arrested al any
| time The inspectors say the evidence
| they have is of the most comprehen-
siVe character bearing the signature
IOf Mr.. Machen. The evidence was
worked up principally in Washington,
| though much of it was obtained in other
parts of the country. The final decis-
ion TO make the arrest was reached at
o'clock this morning, after a protract-
ed conference between the United Sta tes
district attorney and the inspectors.
| The arrest created a profound SEN
sation at the postoffice department.
The news spread rapidly and within a
few minutes after the arrest the fact
was known generally. Postmaster
General Payne lost no time in commun1-
eating the news to the public, summon
ing the newspaper men and saying:
Mr.. Machen is now under arrest in
this building. He has received large
sum of money from the contractors who
supply the government with certain
articles. The amount he is charged
with receiving is over $4,000. The de-
partment will make a statement later
in the day. as soon as it can be pre-
pared"
Subsequently Mr.. Bristow gave out
the following statement:
"A. w Machen, general superinten-
dent of the free delivery system, was
arrested at l o'clock today. He is
charged with receiving bribes amount
ing in all TO about so 900 in connection
with a contract held by Croft Brothers,
OF Washington, d. c., for a patent faS-
| tener used on street letter boxes. known
as the Croft fastener. The pOstOffice
department in the past ten years has
used about $40, 900 worth of these faS-
teners, and it is shown by ample evil
dence that, for the past three years at
least, Mr.. Machen has been receiving
40 per cent. of the amounts paid 10 the
GroffS. The transaction of the business
was conducted by Diller B. Croft who
controls the patent of his brother Sam
uel A. a policeman.
Mr.. Machen was taken by the deputy
marshal directly to- the office of United
States Commissioner Taylor, where ar
ransements to gite bail We're made. He
communicated with his attorneys
: Douglas & Douglas, and in a few min
| | utes, Charles A. Douglas, senior mem
: Der of the firm, arrived at the commits
sioners office and assumed charge Of
| the case. On behalf of his client. he
demanded an immediate hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Hugh
Taggart, who is conducting the case
: for the government, informed Commits
siOner Taylor that ne was not ready tC
5 proceed and asked for a postpOnement
OF the hearing for ten days
II To this request Commissioner Taylor
? accaGed and fixed the hearing for Fri
! day. June 5th. After the brief discus
sion of the bond. Commissioner Taylor
5 announced that he would ask bail in the
: sum of $40, 900. This was satisfactory
I TO Mr.. Machen and his attorneys. anG
J. the Union Surety and Guaranty Com
e panE. of Philadelphia, gave the bond.
$ To all the newspaper men Mr.. Macher
: said that he had no extended state
i ment to make for publication. To
= representative of the Associated Pres:
: he said:
: This Will come out all right Ny ar
e rest is merely a grand stand play
X Attorney Charles Douglas made thi
| statement:
: Several days ago my trm was re
. tanned by Mr.. Machen to look after hi
interests in connection with the investi
n cation of affairs at the postoffice de
4 partment- I am therefore cognizant o
e the situation in detail. 1 am confiden
n that. at the proper time, We shall b
: able to show, in the most conclusiv
= way that not only has Mr. Macba,