The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-08
ARE CHARGED WITH
CONSPIRACY,
Alleged That the Conspiracy Has
Melted the Accused Men Nearly
O,OOO-Bristow Makes
Statement in Regard
to the Charges.

Washington, June 5.-As a result OF the
sweeping investigation of affairs at the
postoffice department. Thomas w. NC
Gregor a clerk in charge of the supplies
of the rural free delivery service. and G.
Ellsworth Upton, of Baltimore, one OF
McGregor's assistants today were arrest
ed on the charge of conspiracy. with
Charles f. Smith, of Baltimore, to defraud
the government In the purchase or the
leather pouches furnished the rural car
riers throughout the country. Their cases
make seven arrests In all since the lnVes-
LEGATION began.
Other arrests are expected later.
Statement by Bristow.
The story of today's arrests is best tod
in the following official statement given
out by Fourth Assistant Postmaster cen
eral Bristow this evening:
Thomas W. McGregor and c. EllsWorln
linton were arrested this afternoon upon
warrants sworn out in Baltimore by IN
spectors j. d. Sullivan and r. ID. sim
mons. charged with conspiracy, WIN
Charles e. Smith and others. to de1rauo
the United States government In the Pun :
chase of pouches from c. e. smith, ol
Baltimore The complaint sets forth that
McGregor and Upton agreed with Smith
to obtain for him orders for many tnou-
sands of leather pouches. such as are
used by rural letter carriers The price
agreed upon was 80 cents per pouch; the
actual value was less than 80 cents per
pouch. II is stated at the department tnat
the actual number of pouches Whlch We're
purchased exceeded 20, 000 for which the
government paid 80 cents each, or $4,000 in
all Smith received and retained Of this
for his own use $100 The remaining
5000 was paid to McGregor and Upton.
The government could have bought the
entire number Of pouches from the man
ufacturers for 5000
McGregor has been In the postal service
since 1891. He came here from Nebras-
Sa as a messenger and subsequently was
promoted to a clerkship and finally was
appointed by Mr.. Machen in charge Of the
supply work of the rural free delivery
service. Mr.. Upton is a Baltmorean and
has been in the postal service for thirteen
years Both the men arrested are mar
ried. They were taken into custody at
the postoftice department shortly before
the close of office hours. Upton asked to
be taken before commissioner at Bal
timore instead OF in this city. because
of his wider acquaintance there and bet
ter opportunity for securing bail. Accor-
dinghy he was taken to that city by two
postoffice inspectors shortly before G
o clock TINS evening. McGregOr was taken
to the office Of United States Commits
sioner Taylor.
McGregor has been under the close sur
vellance of the inspectors for weeks, and
has been subjected to a close examination
for several hours a day part of that
time.
The inspectors say that today they
completed the evidence they wanted be-
fore taking decisive action.
Postal officials after tire arrests would
not say whether their Investigations in
any wise implicated Mr. Machen, who
was general superintendent of the system
while tho alleged transactions occurred,
in the present matter Fourth Assistant
Bristow. when asked a question on this
point. declined to answer, saying that the
statement made public comprises all the