Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-23
From the st. Johnsbury Caledon'l n
Senator EdmInds and the Crane Case.
THE CASE OF A. J. CRANE, LATE COLLECTOR
OF INTERNAL REVENUE.

THE CASE OF A. J. CRANE, LATE cOLLkcIoS
| 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 public de-
faulter, and in the proceedings which nave
followed the announcement OF his delaica
ten, which demand explanation.
We understand that Mr.. Crane was both
appointed and re-appointed on the recon-
incubation of Senator Edmunds. During A
portion of his first term, Edward a. Jewett
was his deputy. Senator Edmunds was one
of MIR. Cranes sureties on his official bond.
Some time before the expiration OF Ny
Cre se's first term. Jewett resigned, ana al
ter remaining some months IN. Burlington
openly removed to Chicago, where he en-
gagged in business, and has ever since rt-
sided.
In the winter or spring Of 1873. upon the
re-srran cement OF OF the Internal Revenue
system. Mr. Crane was rt-aDPOinted upon
Recommendation Of Senator Edmunds to an
enlarged district. lie procured new sure
ties, Mr. Edmunds not being one of them
In the autumn of 1872, Mr.. Jewett 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 deialcatiOn was az
that time known to many persons. MIR. I'd
munds included. Mr.. Jewett openly LETT
Burlington for Chicago, no intimation
having then been made that he was re>poI-
sble for the delalcation.
After Mr. Jewett had left, 1t became pu5-
| liely known that Mr.. Crane had been de-
iaulter to the amount Of more than fifteen
| thousand dollars. for more than TWO years
before his disappointment, and that he had
been repeatedly called np0n to make the
deialcation good. Then Cor the FIRST time
the charge WAS made that Jewett was the
| guilty person and it was openly claimed
| by Mr. Crane and his friends that Crane had
| been re-lppointei in order to give Inn time
and opportunity 10 make up ms de'aica-
| ton.
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 70 do 50, the friends of MIR. Crane
procured a warrant and sent the United
| States Marshal to Chicago to arrest Jewott
| The Marshal found him ready to start Tor
Vermont: he came back anG found the
| friends OF Mr.. Crane using every effort to
make the public believe him guilty. lie
was compelled to give heavy bail, with res
dent sureties of undOubted responsibility.
Although the records made a complete
case against Crane, no proceedings what
ever were taken against him until the next
| term of the court when the grand jury IL
dieted him. Jewett was also indicted, CON-
pelled TO renew his bonds. and the case was
| pressed against him most vigorously. In
! the case OF Crane, NONRESIDENT bail va, ac-
cepted, and the statement that one OF his
counsel as out of town suifc6d 10 put his
case over to the following tenn.
Since then two terms have passed ana no
effort whatever has been made to bring
| Crane to trial. The simple production cd
the official records at Washington,lt Is sad,
would make the case against him completl :
his trial would bring out all the facts con
corning his appointment and de'aIcation,
and show who is the party really guIity.
| The impressi0n l. very strong that DO Will
never be BROUGHT to trial
senator Edmunds must he held response
bic far Cranes original and appointment.
VIII he explain how 1t happens that de-
faulter. for whom he was bail, whose deia--
cation was well known at the Treasury was
re-appointed and allowed to enter upon an
enlarged sphere OF duty and to procure
other persons who were not aware OF ms de-
falcation 10 become his Official SIrctlcs ?
] Will he also explain why Mr.. Crane is not
brought to trial and Why the case J. pressed
/ against a Young man in q distant State,
! destitute of means, anu the eTpcn-ts %
whose deicure have 70 be borne bg friends
/ who believe him innocent? W u De ai~'
explain whether il l. true that Nj. Crane
was re-appointoi in order TO give him time
! OF opportunity to make up his old deia.ca-
ti0l2