Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
Rural Free Delivery Clerks
Charged With Conspiracy.
MR.. TAGGART'S ACTION
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE q. s
COMMISSIONER ABANDONED.
No Further Developments in the Post
Office Investigation = Smith Ex-
.pected to Turn States Evidence.

TaEgart. Mr.. MaCnen anu q ESPA SoSAAS"~A'>
of the Philadelphia bonding company which
went on his bond. appeared before Umteo
States Commissioner Arson 8. Taylor at ms
office at 10 O clock this morning, which was
the date set for the preliminary hearing %
Machen. for the purpose Of abandoning the
proceedings In view Of the Indictment rem
dered by the grand jury yesterday. Ihe
bond was Cancelled and further proceedings
abandoned before Commissioner Taylor
Mr.. Machen appeared very much more al
ease this morning than when he was nrs'
brought before the commissioner the day
he was arrested. 1t will be many months
before he is brought to trial. His case will
doubtless come up at the October term OF
the court. and in all likelihood his attor-
neys will be able to obtain postponemen'
for six months or SO in the trial.
Dismissed From the Service.
Postmaster General Payne dismissed
Thomas w McGregor and G. Ellsworth
Upton from the service as his first ofhcia
act this morning. The Postmaster General
then went TO the White House to attend the
cabinet meeting, where, it is understood
the post office investigation was the prin-
cipal topic of discussion g = $50
There were no further arrests or develop
ments in the post Office investigation up to
late hour this afternoon. While ofhc1ais
will not say as much. 1t is the general I'M
preston that c. E. Smith Of Baltimore, the
manufacturer of the leather bags which
enter into the charge OF conspiracy, has
turned states evidence and that he will
not be arrested.
Machen's Mining Company.
The statement made by Machen to his
friends printed in The Star yesterday to
the effect that George E. Lorenz of Toledo
was his partner in mining enterprises. is
borne out by the articles of incorporation OF
the National Capital Copper Mining Com
pany, a corporation organized at Alexan-
dria. Va The board Of directors Of this
company includes several post office en-
ployes and also the name of Lorenz. The
directors of this company are given as fol-
lows:
August w. Machen Of Ohio, president
Henry H. Rand Of Wisconsin, confidential
clerk to the Postmaster General. vice presi-
dent; j. D. King of Wisconsin. chief Of d.
vision in the rural free delivery. secretary
H. M. Baker of New Hampshire, former
member Of Congress- treasurer; George E.
Lorenz. Ohio; T. E. Lee, District Of Co
lumbia David H. Fenton of Indiana. law
clerk in the office Of the auditor to the Post
Office Department.; Francis NJ. Gresweli
District of Columbia, and Samuel w. Scott
of Texas. The last meeting OF this board
of directors the records show was held in
Alexandria April IA last The statement is
made by officials Of the Post Office Depart
ment that the stock OF this mining COM
ONCE Department, to which the informa-
ton had been given Of the personnel of the
board OF directors Of the company.
Statement by Mr. Lorenz. 49,
George e. Lorenz. who Is now in Toledo,
Ohio. gave out the following interview
last night in view of what Mr. Machen
has said as to the partnership existing be-
tween the two: .-......-=.
Il am not in position at the present
time to discuss the Machen case for pub
LEGATION. Mr.. Machen's attorneys request
ed me to say nothing. and I must observe
their reqest. At some future time 1 may
be able to talk for publication, but am at
present disposed to comply with the at
torney's request. I am well aware of all
that has been given to the press by Mr.
Machen. but for myself must ask you to
excuse me from discussing any phase OF
the matter at this time
Statement Of Machen's Attorney.
Attorney Charles A. Douglas has made
the following statement relating to the
Machen case:
THE indictment found against Mr..
Machen by the grand Jury is such a
lengthy document that we have had neither
time nor opportunity to consider it. and
we cannot therefore for that and other rea-
sons say anything specific about the
charges contained In the nine different
counts. At the instance and under the
direction of the authorities a warrant OF
arrest against Mr.. Machen was asked for
and obtained from United States Commits
sioner Taylor. and a lengthy supporting aft
pxvfH Id T., l-L
criminal acts were made. Upon Mr..
Machen's arrest we demanded an imme-
date hearing. which was opposed by the
government, and at the request Of the gov
eminent q continuance was had until
June 6.
Mr.. Machen and his counsel had every
reason to believe that in the interim no
steps would be taken to deny him the pre-
liminaFy examination to which he was en-
titled The authorities responsible for the
issuance of this warrant have seen proper
to bring the same charges now pending
before Commissioner Taylor to the atten-
ton OF the grand jury. The grand jury
has. in consequence. indicted Mr. Machen
before the date fixed for the full hearing
before the United States commissioner.
II you want the reasons for this pro-
ceeding. you will have to seek it from the
prosecution. We do not know We can
only surmise. and that much the public
can as well do as counsel for the defense
Suffice 1t to say. that the legal effect of this
course OF pOllcy (Which Is unusual and IN
fair, II not unprecedented in this jurisdtc-
tom is to deprive the defendant of an
open public investigation into the truth OF
these charges, to which he Is fairly entitled
and which a sound public policy youch-
safes to him. This action may or may not
be technically legal. but there seems tn
have been no necessity for the course pur-
sued. ----------.--
Mr.. Machen has all the while been with
In the jurisdiction of the court under heavy
bond and ready to respond to any process
OF law. The course the defendants counsel
Will pursue in the matter cannot now he
made public, but sooner or later, and II will
be sooner than some people want the whole
matter Will be gone into and both sides
VIII be heard. where ex parte PROCEEDINGS
will be out of order"
Two More Arrests.
Following closely on the heels of the in
dfctment of Machen yesterday came two
more arrests in connection with the randi
ly developing post Office scandals. Thomas
w. McGregor and G. Ellsworth Upton the
former the clerk in charge of rural free
delivery supplies in what was Machen.s
division. and the latter hts assistant, were
taken into custody on warrants sworn out
in baltimore by Post Office Inspectors J.
d. Sullivan and r. H. Simmons The
charge is conspiracy with c. E. Smith. a
trunk dealer of Baltimore, to defraud the