The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-08
UNITED rATEs COURT.
Cfane-Jevveft Case.


Crane-Jeweit Case.
CASE AGAINST A. J. CRANE.
AT the opening of the United Sta'es cir
cult and district court on Friday morning,
the case of the United States against Arson
J. Crane, late collector of internal revenue
was called up for consideration therein.
The two indictments which were originally
found against the rcspondent-th one
charging him with defalcation as collector
of internal revenue and making false en-
tries on the records of the office, the other
for embezzlement in his accounts as dis
bursting agent-had been consolidated. The |
consolidated indictment the respondent at |
the last term had pleaded not guilty. This
plea Cranes counsel asked leave TO with
draw, and he pleaded guilty to the second
count in the first indictment. District
attorney Ffield then entered a nole pros to
that part Of the indictment charging Crane
with the embezzling the deficiency in the
revenue account of ST., 0473S.
DIsTRICT-ATroRNEY FTriELD's STATEMENT.
The stict-attorncy then made state
ment to aid the judge in passing sentence,
and read the United States law on that sub
ject. He argued in relation to the disburs
ing account, that while it was drawn with
in the amount shown to he due by the
books in the office and by The reports that
were forwarded to the office at Washing
ton each month, still the fact remained
| that the account was overdrawn some
| $1,000 at one time and that to hia it was
| incomprehensible that it could have been
so overdrawn without the knowledge of the
respondent. In relation to the false enilirs
| he stated that Mr. Crane did not deny ili
that they were made under his dircction,
and that is a misdcmranor fur which the
respondent should be punished. The dis
trict-attorney disc'aimed having eny vim
| dictive feeling on the subject and sud that
he must own that the disbursing account
which was no doubt intended to have been
honestly kept furnished some excuse for
the overdrafts.
STATEMENT OF MIR. CRANES COUNSEL.
Messrs Henry Ballard and L. J.. Phelps
appeared az counsel for the respondent.
Mr.. Ballard said the case was of sufficient
importance to demand a full statement.
He had had no intimation from the district
attorney that the prosecution would ask for
or expect that the respondent should be
visited with the severe punishment which
had been suggested by the court. He then
presented in detail the history of the case
and concluded with the reading of the fol.
lowing affidavit:
(AFFIDAvIr)
UNITED ID STATES United States Circuit Court,
Al. CRANE. March Term, 1875.
la. ]. Crane, of lawfulEage, on oath depose
and say, that was appointed collector and dis
l,bursng agent March goth, 1867 At that time,
/ not having had any experience In this, or In any
| business OF a similar Kind. / appointed as den
uty collector one Z. A. Jewett, a man with
whom was at that time unacquainted, but
| who had been deputy under the former colec-
| tor of this district for period OF about four
years, and who was reported TO be In every re-
fRe position. aad SO i considered hin nj the
time. further say that said Jewett continued
In my employ as such deputy until some time
in August, ISL, period OF about four, years and
four months That during that time he had the
entire charge and control of the keeping of the
!, accounts and books OF the office, both those re-
, latng to the business OF collector and also OF
disbursing agent. That the manner and system
Of the keeping of the books that was adopted
| by said Jewett was, as ! was told by him, the
same as had been used under the former collec
| tor and that was prescribed by the regulations
| of the revenue department.
further say In regard to the deficiency In my
| account as disbursing agent, that each montl
said Jewett made out my account which was
. | forwarded TO Washington each month, showing
. | a statement rs to what was my due including
I both my salary as collector and the amount
that was due me as commissions on money col
I | lected and that at no time did draw from tn,
: disbursing account funds for myself any NOR,
than appeared to be my due, as shown by tn,
| monthly statements made out by said Jewett
. | That at all times / supposed and had the bes
| |
drawing my account. That at all times trust
ed and relied upon the statements upon tn
books as being entirely correct And when 1
| was discovered and made known TO me tina
n | there was balance against me in my account
i as discussing agent, never made any conceal
= that had drawn, or claimed that had no
drawn so much; but only claimed, as the fac
| was, In truth, that had drawn IL In good faith
q supposing, and having the best OF reasons 10
l., supposing, that 1t was legally my due.
v That the deficiency In my discussing accoun
: preparation OF the fund upon my part, bu
through mistake OF fact as to how much wa
!, entitled to, and was led into this mistake b
v relying upon the experience and judgment c
d one whom had every reason TO believe wa
|. competent to determine what was rghtfull
- entitled TO.
n An examination OF the records OF my accoun
as dsbursing agent, now in the collectors o.
~ tice. will prove the truth OF the statement here
" In made.
Is further say In reference TO the charge
=. making false entries In the books OF the cOllet
., tors accounts, that the facts are these Whe
~ IL was first discovered and made known TO III
10 in the summer OF 1871, that there was a dit
cheney in my account as collector, and before
was aware OF the extent OF the deficenc,
m which was not correctly ascertained until SON
re time In the summer Of 1873, after Mr.. Jewel
O left my employ, which was In August, 1871,
y directed my clerks to enter and apply som
D. monies that | had at that time collected
re places OF some which had been previously co
nt iected and which had not been entered upO
=, the books at all but had been collected and al
III propriated by somebody. l caused this 10 /
so done, not for the purpose OF covering up
conceallng an embezzeinent by anybody bl
OF caused It to he done for this feason--nC
of knowing the extent OF the deficiency at tn
IN time. or whether II was the result OF mlstal
p" or wilful appropriation OF the money! hope
us and expected TO be able to replace II out or III
n own funds and that 10 save the goyernmeI
IN from any loss In consequence Of It,
va further say that never appropriated or toe
D. from the collectors funds one dollar for IN
d, own use, nor was one dollar taken from It vii
sworn 10 this 9Th day OF March,
1g 1910, before me,
in Il, b. SMALLEY,
a. Us. Commissioner.
h In addition to the facts set forth in Il
~ affidavit, the counsel stated that in Il
or summer Ct 1878, the government sent tv
n special agents, who made thorough G
he animation of Mr.. Cranes books, both
m collector and disbursing agent. They q
M certained the deficiency in each case, al
made report which was put on record
10 the department at Washington, and whit
az completely exonerated Mr. Crane fro
~ IL guilt in the matter. Moreover, the autho
H., tiles in Washington had so much confiden
IN in Mr.. Crane, that, in the fall of 1878, thu
no enlarged his district aud retained him
~, nv collector of the enlarged district, which @
'hpa flee he held until the following sprin
, re when his resignation was accepted. M
he Ballard added that he had authority f
'n saying that the internal revenue depar
w, Nv ment would have been satisfied If n
=, 10 pros. had been entered in the entire case
'" Mr. Phelps followed. lie said that
was in Washington when the fact of 4
ay defalcaton was made public. 1t was wild
)m lY telerrnnhcd thrnnnh thu cnnniry