The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-28
Three Men Must Spend
Two Years in Prison
and Pay $4,000 Each.
ONE CASE NOT SETTLED
Scene in Courtroom When
Accused Learn Fate From
Justice Pritchard.
"A. w. MACHEN, 1 SENTENCE
YOU TO TWO YEARS IN THE
MoUNDSvILLE PENITENTIARY
AND TO PAY A FINE OF $4,000"

/ ~ ~ wv AG3ANS AN AAG
MoUNDSvILLE PENITENTIARY
AND TO PAY A FINE OF 100000"
Thrice was this formula repeated by
Justice Pritchard yesterday afternoon.
each successive time substituting "A
name. until the full penalty provided by
| law for the crime OF conspiracy TO de-
fraud the United States Government
had been imposed upon A. W. Machen,
! George Z. Lorenz. and DilIer 3. Croft.
Sentence was suspended in the case of
Samuel A. Croft, also convicted Of the
offense. pending a decision of his ap-
/ peal for a new trial
With the recording Of this sentence in
the archives OF the court is completed
/ a victory for The Times in its long con-
| tinued and unsupported efforts to bring
20 Justice clique Of officials and en-
ployes in the Postoffice Department and
those in colmsion with them TO rob the
! Government The conviction is the vim
dication of The Times in the charges
made by it that the Government was
being robbed by employees OF the Post
Office Department
Climax of the Trial
The sentencing Of the accused was the
climax Of the postoffice trials, and was
dramatic because Of what the priscsers
had 10 fear. Just as court adjourned
for recess Justice Pritchard asked foR
authorities on the punishment. as he did
not think the extreme penalty Of two
years ana SlC.003 provided in the statute
was adequate for the offense At the
same time the justice expressed the
opinion that the verdict OF the Jury was
eminendy just and iR full accord with
his ideas on the subject.
Knowing the reputation of Justice
/ Pritchlrd for severe sentences, the
prisoners naturally feared the worst,
and the prediction was freely made that
should he decide each count was a sep
aratc offensc. he would give sentences
OF at least ten years in the penitentiary.
Considering the authorities during the
recess caused Justice P1itchard to come
to the conclusion that the utmost penal
~ he could safely impose was the limit
prescribed by the statute, and he acted
accordingly. The sentences were made
without comment. as the justice said he
did not think IL fair 20 make comment
when Sam Gron's motion for a new
trial was pending
Machen First Sentenced.
Machen was the first to be sentenced.
Not a sound was heard in the courtroom
as Justice Pritchard pronounced judg-
ment.
Words are inadequate TO describe the
lCok that came over Macheu's face as
he heard the justice ask for the authori-
ties which might show the way to "A
long sentence. and words are still more
inadequate 10 describe the expression on
his face whon be was sentenced. He
rose quietly from his seat. ON his full.
! a. .-rg- D.
OF despair and repressed hatred Of a
wounded tiger in the narrow confines
Of q cage. II was worn. hunted look
that of "a man helplessly at bay, and.
while shocked to the very essence Of
his being. ncrvilg himself 10 die gamely
and meet with defiance the triumphant
giances OF the implacable mea who sur
rounded him on all sides As ne re-
sumed his seat there came from lis
massive body q sigh Of relief mt hearing
: his fate and knowing that the worst was
over. AS when the justice asked for the
authorities his face was Of a dull. mot
tied crimson. and many Of those who
watched him closely would not have
been surprised 10 see him pitch head
= long to the floor. "a victim of apoplexy.
with mighty effort ne regaiued his
. composure and essayed a forced smile
, in speaking TO his counsel.
LoTe1z the Second.
George r. Lorenz. the Toledo manu-
+ facturer of perfumes and Machcu's
; closest friend, was the next man sen
fenced. He arose quietly from his seat
70 and while his long. narrow face dis
played no unusual emotion IL was mark
ed by the liAcs of mental suffering and
Ions continued strain resulting from the
seven weeks constant attendance at the
! trial. Looking squareIy AT Justice
Pritched he heard his sentence. and re-
sumed his seat with the same sigh Of
relief that marked the doom Of Machen.
Diller b. Croft tall broad shouldered
with white head and face completely
; enveloped in white whiskers. was the
last man 10 receive sentence. His
phlegmatic. indifferent nature stood him
IN good stead and ne gave no indica-
} ton Of the shock he experienced at hear
. ing himself condemned to a felon's cell
after "A business career OF more than
thirty years In Washington. the city in
which he was considered one Of the mOsl
exemplary and worthy citizens. Putting
his right hand 70 his ear IN order To
hear more distinctly. he inclined hi.
head forward as the words Of the SEN
tence were pronounced. and then re-
sumed his seat with "a sigh which was
but a slight echo Of those which came
from Machen and Lorenz.
Throughout Il all Sam Croft. the man
who was convicted against the reques;
CContinued On Second Page)