Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-03-05
+" GUILTY AS IS indicted >
wAslTERDICT IN POST OFFICE
'--' CONSPIRACY TRIALS.
Same.Verdict for All Four Defc~ dauts
A. ~ "a
\, 1t Is said They Charged uncle
snm Several Times as Much as They
Charged Private Parties Stole Many

Guilty as indicted" was the YER
dict announced by the jury in the post
ficc.conspiracy trials, The jury had
beenPout nine hours. 1t stated that the
verdict was the same Us to all four de-
PENDANTS, August w. Machen, late sup
erinteudent Of the rural free delivery
division; George f. Loren1 of Toledo,
Samuel A. Croft and Diller b. Croft of
Washington.
The crime charred was that Of COZ.
spiracy to defraud the postoffice de-
partmeut by selling Croft fasteners at
prices several times in excess Of that
charged private parties Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow, in
his sensational report, charged that the
defendants have stolen thousands of
dollars In the dimly lighted room
sat the four defendants who, after the
case was given to the jury had been
placed in the custody OF United
States marshal, and confined to the
limits of the city hall. Each wore an
anxious look, and deathlike silence
been permitted TO enter the room as the
clerk inquired OF the foreman if YER
dict had been reached. The jury to a
man rose, and as the words "guilty as
indicted fell from the foreman's lips
the detendandts and THAR counsel
seemed appalled,. During the time the
jury was out the four defendants had
paced up and down the hallway outside
the courtroom and had given expression
to the belief that each hour the jury
spent in discussing the case brought
them nearer to acquittal. There was
general astonishment that the jury had
included in the conviction Samuel A.
Croft, Washington policeman and in-
ventor of the Croft fastener, as TO
Holmes Conrad, special counsel for the
government, the day before informed
the jury he did not expect a conviction,
and that he personally did not believe
in his guilt.
Five ballots III all We're taken. On
the first ballot the vote stood z to for
conviction on the second s to 4, on
the third 8 to 3, On the fourth 10 to
2 and on the fifth the vote was
unanimous.
Immediately after the verdict was
rendered Charles Douglas, in behalf OF
all four defendants, filed motions Tor "a
new trial, for an arrest of judgement
and for an appeal for she purpose of
having the defendants admitted t.
bail Bail was then fixed at $50 .OrO
each, the bond of Lorenzo and the
Grotfs being increased from $4,000.
When Mr.. Maddox, on behalf of the
Grotfs, inquired as to the amount If
bail to be required of them, Justice
Prichard said:
Il know no difference betw en- these
defendants. The jury has said they
are guilty, and | can not discriminate.
but will treat all alike
Next to Samuel A. Croft. the most
surprised man was Machen, who SAID
he was thunder stuck at the verdict.
Justice PTiehard later sentenced
Machen, Diler b. Croft and LorenZ
each to two years Imprisonment in
the penitentiary and to pay fine of
$4,000 each, the beginning of the SEN
tence 70 be made from the time of their
arrival at the penitentiary.
The court decided TO make the sew
eral counts in the Indictment constl-
tute one otfeuse.