The Washington times., 1908-03-08
Machen in Home Circle;
Plans Book on Parole;
Took Walks in Country
Convict, Once More With His Children, Tells of
Liberty He Enjoyed-F1is Pleas Obtain
Release for Slayer

| To return to the bosom Of his family,
to receive kindly messages from scores
| Of friends, to experience once more the
| joys of life unres trained by prison reg
uIations. however lightly enforced; to
greet an aged father and mother who
| had prayed that they might live TO see
! the return OF their son and to feel that.
/ despite the dark past, the world held
/ for him a bright outlook-these were a
few of the experiences and emotions
which went to make up the first few
| hours of a new life taken up yester-
day by August W. Machen, formerly
( superintendent o. the rural free delivery
division of the postofhce. who finished
/ a three-year senter-1 IN the Mounds
vile penitentiary a. midnight Friday
The unusual experiences OF Nfachen
in the penitentiary are strikingly inter
esting but the best chapter of his
career occurred yesterday at his home
at 2O26 Fifteenth street northwest. and
al the home of his aged parents. A
little more than three years ago these
two households were plunged in sor-
row because a son and father had
been convicted OF conspiracy TO defraud
the United States Government.
scene at EAIeSiues
There was a new note sounded last
night. Four happy girls danced and
pranced in front of their father and
gave 10 him the love. and kisses and
happy chatter that hal been denied
him so long. Mrs. Machen. who had
never lost faith in her husband from
the moment he was placed under arrest.
watched the scene with no attempt TO
conceal her emotions. And Machen sat
In his familiar rocker and drank deep
from the cup Of happiness which had
been placed to his lips by tender lit
tie hands. The vision OF Moundsville,
its ugly prison walls, it's stain. its dis
agreeable associations paled and faded
away and instead OF the gloom and
sobbing voices which wounded his heart
as he passed through the doors three
years ago, there was happy-almost
hystericaI-laughter in which Machen
Joined on the slightest prOvocaton.
At the other homo. the home OF Ma
chen's aged father md mother, there
was happiness Of another kind. Laugh
ter did not echo through the rooms. but
the happy, old couple sat together with
contented smiles on their faces. Now
that their son had returned 70 them they
were willing to look into the future with
a degree Of confidence.
"Great Joy" Says Machen.
1T Is a great joy to be home again.
said Machen last night. 1T pleases me
beyond expression 10 find that every
member of my family IS well and
happy"
Then followed a long description Of
the events which followed from the time
Machen left Washington until he re-
turned here yesterday. Throughout the
recital he referred to his Imprisonment
in the most delicate manner, as though
he were anxious not to speak aloud any
word that would sadden for the moment
the happy evening being spent by his
children. When making reference to
his confinement in the MOundsvile pen |
itentiary Machen used the words dur
ing my absence" or while I was
away" His speech, although free. was
guarded ia a similar manner throughout
the evening.
Machen maintains, as he has always
done. that he was innocent Of the crime
OF which he was convicted He re-
jterated that statement last might with |
much emphasis. When asked II he had /
any fears about the legality Of his re-
lease from the penitentiary, he said:
Declares His Release Legal.
81 was released after the entire mat
ter had been carefully considered by /
the prison officials and directors and I
after they had obtained lesaI advice on /
the question. The decision OF Judge /
Dayton, Of the United States court OF 1
the northern district OF West Virginia, 4
was the precedent on which they acted. 4
So far as the fine is concerned I could /
not pay It If I wanted to because 1 /
haven't the money 10 do so. dm free /
now and so far as / am personally con- !
cerned the matter is ended. 1 do not /
anticipate, however, that there VIII be 1
any difficulty because Of The manner in 4
which l was released
Machen did not attempt to deny that
his liberty at NIOundsvilIe was unusual 1
because Of the peculiar position held /
by ME IN the prison Office" he said, 81
was permitted many privileges which
were denied other prisoners. In many
instances this was necessary in order
that I might perform tire duties which
mad been assigned to me. For instance.
/ frequently went to town to transact
ten months ago I began TO exercise a
great deal in order that might harden
my flesh and get into good physical con-
dition.
Enjoyed Walks in Country.
Il gradually extended my program
until Just before my departure I was
about seven CT eight miles a
day. The country outside tia prison
walls is beautiful and I enjoyed my
traDlps thoroughly. 1 want 10 deny,
however, that che restraint or my lib
erty was so slight that I was a fire.
quent visitor at the theeters at Wheel
ing. Such statements are untrue. I
did have the liberty of the town of
Moundsville ana frequently was out at
night, but I want TO say in justice to
the prison officials that never abused
any liberty granted me"
1t is probable that in the near future |
Machen will begin work on a book
which win contain observations made Il
by him during his stay at the peniten-
ffrfv- Ia hoe a