Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-20
LAID OFF WITHOUT PAY
s. A. Croft Suspended From
Police Force
PEN DING HIS APPEAL
ORDER ISSUED BY THE COMMITS
SIoNERs TODAY.
Officer Was Convicted of Conspiracy in
the Post Office Gases and Ap-
pealed to Higher Court.

Private Samuel A. Croft has been sus-
pended from the metropolitan police force
without pay, pending the final disposition
by the Court of Appeals of the appeal from
the Judgment rendered against him by tho
District Supreme Court In connection with
the Post Office Department cases. This or
der was Issued by the District Commission
ers today, upon motion OF Commissioner
West, who has supervision over the police
department.
The question as to what to do with Pri-
vate Croft has been before the Comnlis-
sioners since early in March. whel Major
Sylvester requested Information as to
Groffs status in the police department
Major Sylvester's question was referred to
the corporation counsel and later Private
Croft was arraigned before the police trial
board on charges Of conduct unbecoming
an officer, and tending to bring diScred1t
and disrepute upon the police force, in that
he was convicted In the Criminal Court of
conspring to defraud the United States
government. The trial board found the Of
fcer guilty as charged, and In view of the
pending appeal recommended that Croft be
fined the sum of $40 month. In this find
ing and recommendation Major Sylvester
CONQUERED.
When the matter came before the Com
missioners for final disposition. however,
there appeared q diversity OF opinion
among the three Commissioners. 1t Is I'M
derstood that Commissioner Biddle agreed
with the trial board In it's finding and
recommendation. Commissioners Macfar
land and West. however. both disagreed
with the decision of the trial board, and
also with the opinions OF each other in
the matter.
After numerous conferences and consid-
cradle discussion of the matter in board
session the Commissioners finally arrived
at decision. and the action taken today
was unanimously agreed to by the authori-
ties.
The order issued in the case is as fol-
lows:
THAT the finding of the police trial board
in the case of Samuel A. Croft, private
of the metropolitan police force of the
District be, and the same Is hereby. ap-
proved and affirmed; and that the recon-
Inendation of the trial board in the case be.
and the same is hereby, disapproved And
further that Samuel A. Croft be, and he Is
hereby, suspended from the Office of private
of the metropolitan police force, without
pay, pending the final disposition of the
appeal from the Judgment rendered against
him by the Supreme Court of the District
in criminal cause No. 23S10
And it Is further ordered, That in the
event said judgment is finally affirmed and
forthwith removed from the police force"
Position Of the Trial Board.
The position of the rolice trial board in
the Croft case is stated in substance as fol-
lows:
Private Croft was charged before the
board with having been convicted Of con-
spiracy TO defraud the government. The
merits of the case were not entered into by
the board only the records of the court be-
ing considered. The records show that the
jury in the Criminal Court returned YER
dict of guilty against Croft and that the
Judge sentenced him to serve two years in
he paDjteptiarV and fine of So
600 Notwithstanding these matters of rec
ord. the execution of the sentence has been
suspended because Of the appeal now pend
ing in the case. This arrest of judgment
also raises the question as to whether or not
the verdict of the jury will be finally and
definitely sustained in tie future. Since the
question has not been definitely determined
by the courts the members or the trial
board did not feel justified In deciding the
question. nor in taking arbitrary action in
the matter.
In arriving at their decision as to what
should be done in Private Groffs case inc
members Of the board. 1t is understood,
took into consideration the fact that Croft
had served the department we'll and faith-
fully for about twenty years up to the time
of his arrest. AS a reward for his long
and efficient services the retiring board
had previously decided to retire him on a
pension of $50 a month. Circumstances in
terfered with the carrying cut of this de-
cision. however. and Croft continued to
receive a salary of $50 month Even IL
Croft had not been arrested. it is stated,
he would be physically unable to earn more
than 500 a month from the department and
in view of the fact that his case Is still
pending before the courts, the trial board
concluded that the most equitable and fair
disposition Of the case would be to fine
Croft $40 a month. which would leave him
salary of $50 month or an amount equal
to the pension he would have received had
he not been arrested.
Record Considered Excellent.
The records of the police department
show that Private Samuel A. Groff has
been a member of the District police force
for about twenty years past, and his record
during that period has been considered as
excellent, inasmuch as he was never
brought before the trial board to answer
to any charges whatsoever until this recent
incident His conviction by the jury in
the Criminal Court. 1t is stated is the only
dement, recorded against the officer.
About a week or ten days before Private
Grofs arrest, it is learned. the police re-
firing board had considered his case and
had recommended that he be retired from
active duty on pension of $50 month
because of long and efficient services.
1t is said that the papers in the case were
on Major Sylvester's desk awaiting his
concurrence in the recommendation OF the
retiring board when Croft was arrested
In connection with the Post Office Depart
ment cases. Had the arrest been deferred
for few days it is likely that Private
Croft would now be on the pension rolls Of
the department drawing $50 a month.
The retiring board recommended that
Croft be retired on pension because of
physical disabilities incurred in the line of
duty. 1t is stated that some time previous
to the action of the board the officer suf-
fered quite serious injuries by being at
tackled by footpads in Garfield Park late
one night. while on duty Because of these
injuries and for other reasons it was pro-
posed that he be placed onathe pension
rolls.