The Washington times., 1903-05-28
DEPARTMENT AROUSED BY THE
COMING OF GEORGE w. BEAVERS
Postmaster General Fore
casts Further Action In
yeStigation May Be Near
an End - Mr.. Payne's
Statement.

Following the arrest of A. ". Machen.
formerly superintendent of the division
OF free delivery Of the Postoffice De-
partment. which was first published In
yesterday afternoons Times. the police
Croft and Samuel A Groff on the charge
OF having offered the brides to Mr..
Machen-
This arrest was followed by the sus-
pension from the police force OF Samuel
A Croft. the inventor of the mail box
device involved in the charges, pending
the disposition OF his case. Both Sam
uel A. Croft and Diller B. Grcff obtained
bond and were released overnight. The
latter appeared for preliminary hear
ing before United States Commissioner
Arson S. Taylor this morning, and by
arrangements with Hugh T. Taggart. As
sistant District Attorney. renewed his
bond to appear again June TO- 4 COR
responding postponement in the case OF
Samuel A. Croft is expected to be made
tomorrow.
After Mr. Machea's arrest he went 10
his home and practically denied himself
to all callers except intimate friends.
He made no statements to newspaper
msn. He seemed much gratiied thai yes
terday afternoon several tenders OF bail
We're made by his friends He was. how
ever. manifestly disturbed and his bear
ing lacked entirely the bravado which
has characterized him through the ear
lier phases OF this investigation
Excitement in the Department.
An air of subdued excitement per-
vaded the Postofice Department this
morning There was tendency to talk
in whispers. and worried looks were
plentiful. The arrest of Mr. Machen
yesterday on the charge of accepting
brides from DiIler E. Croft and Samuel
A Croft. followed by the arrest OF the
Groffs for giving brfbes, was such q
startling series of events that the en-
tire department was upset
Now that Miller and Machen have
been arrested. Judge Tyner has been
dismissed. and George A C. Christiancy
has been suspended, the whole Office
force is specializing as to further de-
velopmentS
This speculation was given direction
by the discovery that George W. Beav-
eIs. formerly superintendent of the d.
vision of salaries and allowances, was
Seen in Washington. II was said that
he has aged considerably since his resig-
nation. has lost fifteen or twenty
pounds of flesh. and has a worried look
Probing Machen's Political Career.
The inspectors are going thoroughly in
to Mr.. Machen's political history. X Is
known that several other charges have
assumed an ugly aspect recently. and
1t Is not impossible he will be rearrested
for dealings other than those with this
Grof brothers.
When Mr.. Brlstow and the inspectors
began TO question Mr. Machen so CLOSELY
about the purchase of the
mail-box fasteners from the Groffs he
was manifestly startled. He lost the cool
which has been so won-
derfully sustained for the past five
months. His answers were hating and
uncertain. and at times he refused to
answer at all. saying that the inspectors
we're prying into his purely personal
bU--ness.
The arrest itself was a still worse
shock TO him, and while he did not
break down. he was much more visiblY
affected than was. anticipated by thoss
who have observed his unrufIied appear
ance in the face of charge after charge
Investigating II. J. Barrett.
The fate of Harrison j. Barrett is
another subject of speculation in the
department. Mr.. Barrett is the son OF
Judge Tyner's sister-in-law. and was
law clerk when Judge Tyner
vas Assistant attorney General for the
Postofice Department.
When the turf investment companies
and the get-rich- quick companies be-
came involved with the postal authori-
ties in the course OF the past six or
light months Mr.. Barrett was prominent
as the attorney fer some Of them. An
coalition of affairs has been
'evecled In Judge Tyner's office. and be-
cause o: his strong influence with the
)f.ce. the inspectors are making a care
ul examination of Mr.. Barrett's actions
within and without the department..
Postmaster General Payne saw the re-
porters today at noon. but gave out