The Washington times., 1904-03-05
Judge Refuses New Trial
and Imposes Maxi
mum Sentence.
MACHEN NOT In COURT
CounSels Appeal for a Post
pOnement Not Granted.
FOND at $4,000.

Samuel a -Gron. who on last Friday
was convicted with Maehen. Lorenz. and
Diner B. Gron, his brother. of conspIr-
acy TO dceraud the Government. was to-
day sentenced by Justice Pritchard in
Criminal Court No. /. to two years i'm
prisonnent in the penitcntiary at
Moundsville. W. Va. and to pay fine
Of $1,000
The sentence viii take effect from the
date OF tho arrival OF the prisoner at the
peniten.iary. Croft was the last Of the
defendants convicted to bo sentenced.
the cth-rs we're sentenced week ago
today.
The scene today. however. was much
different from that presented on last
Saturday, when the other alleged con-
spirEtCrs were sentenced Then the court
room was filed with the friends of the
defendants. their counsel. and others
interested in the trial, which had lasted
for seven weeks.
Hachen Missing.
Today Sam Groff was. with the excep-
ton Of MS brother, Diller B. Cron. and
lis counsel. Samuel Maddox. alone. 1t
was noticeable that Aug,Isl q. Machen.
who throughout the trial was looked
upon as the ringleader in the conspiracy.
was absent
When the court convened Samuel
Maddox. counsel for the prisoner. re-
newer his plea Of yesterday. for a post
ponement Of the hearing on the mo-
lion Tor new trial, fer his client. on
inc ground that very grave matters
were Involved. and he asked time OF the
court TO permit him to investigate pos
sible errors OF law and evidence in tn,
record Under the practice as he un-
dcrstood II. Mr. Maddox said that the
defendant is allowed four days TO file
motion for a new trial. and that ar
gument might be heard at any time
within fifteen DAYS
Because Of his understanding with
Mr.. Beach. he said. ne was confident that
he would have had a longer time TO
prepare for the hearing He then said
positively that he was not prepared for
the argument today. and because Of the
absence Of Charles A Douglass. his as
societe in the matter District Attor-
ncy Beach. and special counsel for the
Government. Holmes Conrad. asked that
the hearing be postponed Continuing
Mr. Maddox said that since the case
=
time 90 f. to tho exclusion of other
business
Against Any Reversal.
Justice Pr.tchard said that as TO the
errors Of law which had been suggest
Cd he had disposed OF those I'm other
IhGses OF the case. and did not propose
&c reverse himself at this stage of Tie
Proceedings. lfr. Maddox. in reply. SAID
En rel to in Of
s1rucuons 20 the jury, and Justice Prit-
chard answered that those had been
ruled on when they were offered.
Continuing. the court said that he
would ike 10 hear from counsel on any
other grounds suggested for. a new trial
Al this stage. Mr.. Maddox Informed the
court that he had no desire to delay
the proeccdinga but d-d want time q
prepare FOR them. Had ne not believed
tnat the agreement between himself.
ard BIr Beach would have been con-
Cured ln by the court. he would have
made au effort 10 be pre- pared today.
Justice Fritchard-l would like to hear
what you have 10 say on the motion
To- new trial
ar Maddox-Thcn there will be no de-
lay
Justice Pritchard-No sir
AR MaddoN-Theu. as J understood the
court yesterday 20 consider Samuel
Croft ms guilty as the others ! wan say
TOthing except as iu mitigation Of the
sentence 90 be imposed
Explains Groffs Action.
Mr Maddox then went on 20 say that
Samuel A. Croft was the inventor Of the
patent letter box fastener. which had
been adopted by the Government with
great savings. Gron ne said was I'm no
way connected with the transactions
which led 10 the adotpion and sale OF
The fasteners. There was nothing 10
connect him in any way. with any dis
CCcntinled on Fifth Taee)