Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-28
Accused of Having Stood in with Firm
Of Contractors.
BOND IS PLACED At TWENTY THOUSAND
Authorities Assert the Evidence Agains
Maohen is Conclusive.
SUSPECT PROTESTS he IS INNOCENT
Refuses to Answer Many Question:
Asked Him and Says His Arrest
f. Merely q Grand stand
Play.

was removed nom uuNy boIle hiihS abO'
was arrested today at the instigation of the
Postofice department charged with receiv-
ing bribes from contractors.
These bribes are supposed to aggregate
$4,000.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow this afternoon issued the following
statement:
NJ W. Machen. general superintendent Of
free delivery service, was srrested az l
ing bribes amounting in all to about $4,000
in connection with contract held by Croft
fastener used on Street letter boxes, known
as the Groff fastener. The Postofice de,
about siso.o worth Of these fasteners, and
II is shown by ample evidence that tor tne
been receivlne 70 per cent OF the amounts
paid TO the Groffs. The transaction OF ns tne
who controls the patent OF his brother
Samuel NJ, policeman
The arrest of Mr.. Machen was the con-
ciuding act OF an examination of him which
was conducted for three hours today by
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow, Inspector Fosnes, who relieved Mr..
Machen as chief Of the free delivery system,
and Postofice Inspector Meyer. At the
conclusion OF the investigation Deputy
United States Marshal Springman was
called into Mr.. Bristow's once and made
the arrest.
other Arrests May Follow.
The warrant on which Machen was ar
rested charges him with receiving bribe
II IL understood that other arrests are to
follow. Macheu Will Immediately be dis
missed by the postmaster general. The
amount OF money paid during the last ten
years to Groff Bros, in Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow's statement
was subsequently changed TO $4,000
Mr.. Machen was taken before United
States Commissioner Taylor and through
his attorneys, Douglas & Douglas. de-
munded an immediate hearing. The dis
trict attorney said he was not ready to
proceed and asked for a postponement for
tsn days The. preliminary hearing was
SET Tor Friday J6ne ih
Mr.. Machen said This will come out
all right MY arrest is merely a grand
stand play"
Mr.. Maohen was released on $4,000 bond.
given by the Union Security and Guarantee
company Of Philadelphia. Postofice in
spector Fosnes is trying to locate d. ].
Groff. one of the members of the contract
ing hrm.
Tho other members OF the Groff concern
were subjected to a severe examination to-
day by the police OF the city and the post
ofice inspectors at police headquarters. II
ton, but the questioning continued through
out the morning hours.
When under examination by the postofice
oflcials Mr.. Machen made a general denial
OF the charge. He said he had accepted nc
I money whatever from the concern. He de.
clined to answer many of the questions
propounded TO him on the ground that they
related TO his private affairs
Mr.. MAchen was notified last night &c
Postmaster General Bristow this morning
He was not informed as to the purpose oi
the visit.
When he appeared he was immediatelS
taken into the private once of Mr.. Bris
tow, where he was put through a severe
rigid examination. Meantime Colonel Coch
{ ran. the chief postofice inspector, and sew
eral OF his men. were busy and the offic,
Of the district attorney was communicates
with and Deputy Marshal springman dis
patched TO the Postofdce department Z,
AFFECT the arrest OF Machen. This was don,
at o'clock. The postal authorities asser
that the evidence In their possession q
complete and conclusive. but decline I,
80 into details.
Relations of Long standing.
The specific evidence in the possession o
the department covers four years, but
lations between Machen and the Grof
concern have existed for nine or ten years
No charges formed a basis for the inves
tigation Of the contract. The dlscoverie
were made by Postofice Inspector Maye
IN the court Of the general investigation
OF the affairs OF the division over whicl
Machen has had charge for many year
past The discovery of the alleged bribe
was made by Mr.. Mayer about three week
ha 81
General Superintendent Fosnes OF the fre
delivery system and Postofice Inspector
Mayer, Mckee, Thorpe, Rolfe, William
and Farrow have been concentrated on thi
case.
The investigation developed very rapid
late yesterday afternoon. Postmaster Gen
eral Payne was notified by Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Bristow that IN
facts warranted the arrest. This afternoo
Mr.. Bristow had another consultation wit
the postmaster general. at which Nj
Bristow announced that Mr.. Mache
would be Immediately arrested. The post
master general concurred in the views
the assistant and agreed that this ste
was necessary. Several OF the Inspector
were at work ell last night closing up IN
investigation preliminary to its sensa
tional climax today. Postmaster Geners
Payne made the announcement OF the al
rest at o'clock this afternoon in a voic
that trembled with emotion. Mr.. Payr
said: iMr. Machen Is now being arreste
IN this building" He had little TO ad
beyond stating that the charge was "pal
ticipating IN the profts of concern wit
his once"
Diiler B. Gron. one OF the partners
the hrm Of Gron Bros, who are accuse
OF having hribed August w. Machen fc
the purpose Cf procuring the purchase b
the government OF their letter box faster
N ers called at police headquarters tonigh
stating that he had heard that a warrar
for his arrest was out He was served wit
the warrant and was released on NOO
bond pending appearance before the Unite
States commissioner tomorrow.