The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-06-03
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS.


The arrest created a profound sensa
tinn at the postotice department
The news spread rapidlya and within /:
few minutes after the arrest the fac
was known generally. Postmaste
General Payne lost no time in com
municating the news to the public
summoning the newspaper men ant
saying:
Mr.. Machen is now under arres
in this building. He has received
large sum Of money from the contrac
tors who supply the government witt
certain articles. The amount he i!
charged with receiving is over s20,
900. The department. will make &
statement later in the day, as soon as
it can be prepared"
Subsequently Mr. Bristow gave out
the following statement:
a. W. Machen, general superin.
tendent free delivery system, was ar,
rested at o'clock today. He is
charged with receiving bribes amount
ing in all to about 1000 in connec.
tion with a contract held by Croft
Bros, Of Washington. D. c., for pat
ent fastener used on street letter
boxes, known as the Croft fastener.
The postothce depal tment in the past
ten years has used about S140. .O0O
worth OF these fasteners and it is
shown by ample evidence that for the
past three years, at least, Mr.. Machen
has been receiving 10 per cent. of the
amounts paid to the GroffS The
transaction OF the business was con-
Quoted by Diller B. Croft, who con.
trols the patent of his brother, Samuel
A., policeman
VERY SAD AND SERIOUS.
Postmaster General Payne said that
the evidence against Machen was of
the most conclusive character. 1t is
a very sad affair."" MIR. Payne added,
1T is very serious business. The
probabilities are that the end is not
yet" The postmaster general said
that the department was running
all the charges that have made con-
cerning postal administration, that
many charges had been made which
are not known to the public, and that
where few we're substantiated great
numbers Of the allegations proved
without foundation.
He made the significant suggestion
that there were many other charges Of
irregularities in the free delivery Of
fee now being Investigated Com
menting on the arrest OF Daniel v.
Miller, the assistant attorney, which
preceded by IS hours that of Machen,
Mr.. Payne said that he had aksed AS
sistant Attorney General Robb
whether the Ryan decision which Mr..
Christiancy signed at the instance Of
Miller, was proper under the law and
under the facts. Mr.. Robbs answer
has not been received.
Mr.. Payne was asked whether the
department was keeping in touch
with George w. Beavers, the former
superintendent of the division Of sala-
ries and allowances Of the department.
who suddenly resigned some weeks
ago. He replied atfirmatively. Il
have no doubt" he said, that thede-
partment is keeping track of him.
Postmaster General Payne dismissed
Mr.. Machen in the following order:
A. w. Machen is this day remov
ed from the position Of general super
intendenJ Of the free delivery service.
His removal is made by reason Of NAL
fea:;ance on his part in the discharge
of the duties Of his office"
CROFT BROS, UNDER ARREST.
Diller B. Croft of the firm of Croft
Bros, went to police headquarters and
gave himself up, saying be had heard
that a warrant had been issued for
him and he had come to headquarters
to present himself. MIR. Croft was
taken before United States Commis-
sioner Taylor and gave $4,000 bail
pending a hearing before the commits
sioner tomorrow. Mr.. Croft did not
make any statement regardigg his
connection with the charge against
him. The warrant served on him
charges violation Of the section Of
the revised statutes making bribery of
officers of the government a criminal
offense. The information upon which
the Warrant was issued was sworn to
by Walter S. Mayer, postofflce in
spector. This information alleges the
payment by the partners of various
sums Of money to August W. Machen
in pursuance Of the alleged agreement
between them in connection with the
purchase of letter box fasteners. Sam
uel a. Croft, the other partner, was
arrested tonight. Arrangement were
Immediately made whereby he was re-
leased on $4,000 bail being given for
his appearance before United States
Commissioner Taylor when required.