The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-20
from the st. Johnsbury Caledonlanl.
SENATOR EDMUNDS AND THE
CRANE CASE.
The Case OF a. }. Crane, Late C0i-
lcctOr OF Internal Revenue.

There are certain facts connected with
the second appointment of Mr.. Crane as
collector of internal revenue, at period
when he was known to be a public defaul-
ter, and in the proceedings which have
followed the announcement of his defalca-
ton, which demand explanation.
We understand that Mr.. Crane was both
appointed and re-apponted on the recon-
mendation of Senator Edmunds. During a
portion of his first term, Edward A. Jew.
EFT was his deputy. Senator Edmunds
was one of Mr.. Cranes sureties on his
official bond. Some time before the eX.
piration of Mr.. Cranes first term. .Jewett
resigned, and after remaining some months
in Burlington openly removed to Chicago.
where he engaged in business, and las ever
since resided.
In the winter Or spring of 1873, upon the
Encouragement of the internal revenue
system, Mr.. Crane was rc-appointed upon
recommendation of Senator Edmunds ia
an enlarged district. lie procured new
sureties, Mr. Edmunds not beng one of
them.
In the autumn of 1872 Mr.. Jcwett came
to burlington on business, putting up at
the hotel kept by Mr.. Crane, where Mr..
Edmunds and his family were boarding.
The fact of Mr.. Cranes defalcation was at
that time known to many persons. Mr. Ed
munds included. Mr.. Jewett openly left
Burlington for Chicago, no intmation hav-
ing then been made that he was response
BILE for the dcfalcation.
After Mr.. Jewett had left, it became
publicly known that Mr.. Crane had been
a defaulter to the amount of more than fif-
teen thousand dollars, for more than two
years before his reappointment, and that
he had been repeatedly called upon to
make the defrlcation good. Then for the
first time the charge was made that .Jewelt
was the guilty person and il was openly
claimed by Mr.. Crane and his friends that
Crane had been reappointed IN order TO
give him time and opportunity 10 make up
his defalcaton.
AS soon as Mr. Jewett heard of the charge
he publicly stated his purpose to return to
Vermont and meet it. Instead of giving
him time to do so, the friends of Mr.. Crane
procured warrant and sent the United
States marshal to Chicago to arrest Jcwe,t.
The marshal found him ready to start for
Vermont he came back and found the
friends of Mr.. Crane using every effort to
make the public believe him guilty. He
was compelled to give heavy bail, with res
ident sureties of undoubted responsibility.
Although the records made Il comDcic
case against Crane. no proceedings what
ever were taken against him until the next
term of the court when the grand jury in.
dicted him. Jewett was also indicted
compelled to renew his bonds, and the case
was pressed against him most vigorously.
In the case OF Crane, nonresident bail was
accepted, and the statement that one of
counsel was out of town suiliced to put his
case oyer to the following term.
Since then two terms have passed and no
effort whatever has been made to bring
Crane to trial. The simple production of
the official records at Washington. IL is
said, would make the case against him
complete; his trial would bring out all the
facts concerning his appointment and de.
falcation, and show who is the party really
guilty. The impression is very strong that
he will never be brought to trial.
Senator Edmunds must be held RESPONSE
BILE for Cranes original anC re-appontment
Will he explain how it happens that a de-
faulter, for whom he was bail, whose de.
facation was well known at the treasury.
was rcappointed and allowed to enter upon
an enlarged sphere of duty, and to procure
Other persons who were not aware of his
defalcation TO become his official suretes ?
Will he also explain why Mr.. Crane is moi
brought to trial, and why the case is press.
ed against young man in distant state.
destitute of means, and the expenses of
whose defence have TO be borne by friends
who believe him innocent? win he also
explain whether ii is true that Mr.. Crane
was reapponled in order to give him time
or opportunity to make up his old defalca.
fiopD