The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-28
GREAT STATE TRIAL."
SAID THE DEFENDANTS

never stopping when once started on the
scent of crime. Mr. Bristow was given
direct and absolute control of the large
stan Of experienced inspectors who Were
under his bureau. and piece by piece be-
gan to accumulate the evidence on
which the Government hoped to secure
the conviction OF thirty persons who
were arrested as the result Of his Ia
bors.
One Of the first divisions to which the
finger OF suspicion pointed was that OF
free delivery. presided over by Machen.
Rumors OF malfeasance there had been
going the rounds for many weeks. but
nothing had been done by the authori-
ties. although The Times again and
again insisted that an investigation
should be made. Another division to
which suspicion pointed was that OF
salaries and allowances, presided over
by George W. Beavers.
Hard to Trap Machen.
Among those who believed there was
'scS-ething rotten in Denmark" the
opinion prevailed that IL would be easier
to place the finger on the cankers in
Machen's division than in that Of Bea-
vers. There the wise ones made the
mistake Of their lives. Beavers saw the
fate hanging over him and incontinent-
" resigned as soon as the investigation
was officially announced. Machen wac
made Of sterner stuff. Whatever HIS
faults may be. he is possessed of the
tenacity OF a bulldog. and has showed
under many trying circumstances that
he is always willing to put up a fight
and take a mans chances.
He resolutely refused to resign. and
steadfastly maintained that he would
remain 20 bring confusion upon his enc
mics. Evidences OF evil practices in tho
division of Beavers. who was consider
ed the "slickest" man Of the two. were
found several weeks before they were
unearthed I'm the free delivery division
| and so slow was the work Of exposing
the true conditions under Machen, that
Il was at one time feared that the IN
/ spectors would never be able TO obtain
sufficient evidence TO warrant an in
/ dlctment.
Led to His Arrest
| Newspapers all over the country print
/ ed charges against Machen. They were
in connection with appointments. letter
! boxes. painting letter boxes. giving ad
vance Information to firms selling rura
| free delivery wagons. distribution O
I
| cal influence. and a large number Of 9th
er subjects So hot did the campaign OF
newspaper exposure become that OF
| May s. 1903 Postmaster General Payne
summarily removed Machen from Office
and appointed NJ c. Fosnes. one Of tn,
most prominent inspectors. acting Gen
eral Superintendent Of Free Delivery
| under the Fourth Assistant POSTMASTER
General. J. L. Bristow. 20 whose bu
reau the division had been removed
from that 4 the First Assistant Post
| master General. r. j. Wynne
The removal had long been expected
but nevertheless created a sensation
Nothing more OF a startling nature be-
came public until on May q Macheu
was summoned from his home to Mr.
Bristow's Office. There he was inter
rogated by Inspectors Mayer, Thorpe
Fosnes. and Mr. Bristow A stem
ographer took down an exact account
OF what was said. At the conclusion
of the interview. which occupied tho
whole morning. Machen was arrested
by two United States deputy marshals
who were I'm waiting.
Grafters Described.
Warrants were issued the same day
for the two Grofs and Mr.. and Mrs
I LOrenz.
Samuel A. Gron is a member Of tn,
Washington police force, and was tn,
last man appointed on the old Metro.
pOlitan police force before Il was re
organized and placed upon its present
basis He is an inventor OF note, and
has made much money out OF devices
he has placed on the market. His letter
box fastener was perfected and patent