The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-07-31
Charles G. scraaora.

CnarleS Gs Scf8MOF0s
The second trial of C. @. Scrafford, for COM
plicity with Samuel Lappin in forgery of bonds
and embezzlement, closed at Topeka, last week,
and the jury, afer being out several days, re-
turned verdict of "Not Gnilty," on Friday
night.
The many friends Of Mr. Scratford will rejoice
at this result for he has very many friends
many more than he had when his troubles over
took him, nearly four years ago. We can send
our compliments to those who were go liberal
with their slurs about going on the bond Of
q fugitive from jnssiicr, year ago. Many of
his friends never lost faith that be would como
out all right. The cnly feature that stumped
them was his fight; but he explained how that
came about, in bis testimony. The officers Of
the State worked faithfully to convict him.
They had all advantages in securing testimony,
and unlimited financial resources to carry on
their side Of the case, for they had the State
Treasury back Of them while Mr.. Scraford
went into the trial without dollar of his own,
depending upon friends for means to defray the
most necessary expenses. The verdict, under
the circumstances, must be taken as just. Great
credit is due to the tact and ability of Mr.. Scraf
fords attorneys, Judge Webb, of Topeka, and
Judge Price, of Troy.
Even if Mr.. Scraford had been guilty, be had
undergone double the punishment that he would
have received by four years in the pententiary.
Away from family and friends, in foreign and
barbarous country, without means, undergoing
severe labor and privation, in prison, robbed,
starved and finally turned loose without cent
in his pocket, he worked his way back home,
gave himself up, and for year has waited for a
trial, laboring under all the harrassing uncer-
tainties and doubts incident to such condi-
tion for he was not free to engage in any perma-
nent business or make any calculation for the
future, as long as the case remained undecided.
The moment it was settled that he had fed, q
regular system of plundering him Of what he
had left behind commenced. His plunderers
were satisfied that he was guilty, and reasoned
that he would never willingly come back, and
therefore they were safe in trumpiug up any
sort of account against him. They plnndered
anything that was lying around loose, and as
sailed the rights that the law gave his family,
to rob them of what little was secured to them.
IN this, they were assisted by an imbecile and
dishonest Judge, who entered SO zealously in to
their scheme, that it gave an appearance that
uc uau ptTsOual Iuttrcst III tuo Dub
the people put crushing quietus upon him, in
short order. But the plunderers succeeded iu
despoiling him of all his property, and no doubt
stole thousands of dollars from him outright.
The State of Kansas has taken large amount
of his property, to replace Lappin's embezzle-
ment. As he has been acquitted of all compile
ity with Lappin, he is no more bound to the
State than any Of the others of Lappin's bonds
men, and it seems to US that the State would
have TO disgorge. As to the individual plumber
ers, it may be set down as fixed fact that
Scraford will stay by them, and make it too
warm for their comfort. The tables are turn
ing, and the next move will be this gang dis
gorging their plunder. No wonder they swarm
ed down at the trial, anxious to furnish evil
dence to his disadvantage.
Another class were men whom Scrafford had
picked up out of the dirt placed upon their feet,
and given start that led to their prosperity.
At the very outset of his troubles, many of these
at once arrayed themselves among his most un-
relenting enemies, used every means to accumu-
late suspicious against him, delighted in herald
in every new assault and success of the plum
derers against him, and lent their assistance to
despoil him. Those will doubtless come fawn-
ing back, now that he is on his feet again. Mr..
Scrafford was known as the most liberal and
public spirited man in the community. Others,
who aspired to be leaders, but whose miserly
souls were proof against liberality, were jealous
of his position, and they did all in their power
to turn his mishap into total wreck. The day
is not far distant when he will again climb over
their heads.
Mr.. Scrafford is man of untiring energy, who
knows no such thing as let up. He v i'll recover
all that rightly belongs to him by law, and will
build up reputation, business and fortune
equal to those he enjoyed in his pamiest days.
And the community in which he lives will be all
the better for it. So mote it be, is the wish Of
all his friends.