Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-20
VIM, G, CRAWFORD
DECLARED GUILTY
Jury's Verdict in the Post
Office Investigation
CONSPIRACY CHARGE
COUNSEL GIVES NOTICE OF MO-
TIoN FOR NEW TRIAL.
Result of Second Trial, the First End
ing in Disagreement Of
the Jury.
CONSPIRACY CHARGE
COUNSEL GIVES NOTICE OF MO-
TIoN FOR NEW TRIAL.

A verdict of guilty was rendered
by jury in Criminal Court, No. I,
at 8 o'clock last evening in the case
OF William G.. Crawford, indicted in
connection with the Post Office De-
partment irregularities. Attorney
A. S. Worthington, representing the
defendant, Immediately gave notice
of the fling of motion for a new
trial. Pending the determination OF
the motion the defendant was re-
leased on bail in the sum of $4,000.
Crawford was convicted under the first
count of what is known as the second con-
spiracy Indictment, the jury deciding that
he conspired with August w. Machen and
George e. Lorenz to defraud the United
States in relation to contract for supply
ing the Post Office Department with letter
carriers satchels. He was also convicted
under the second, third and fourth counts
of an indictment for fling false vouchers
for payment for satchels and straps. when
no straps had been furnished. As regards
the first conspiracy Indictment. which
charged conspiracy and referred to straps,
a verdict of not guilty was rendered by d.
rection of the court.
In Courts Discretion.
Under the first count of the second con-
spiracy indictment, If the conviction stands,
the court has the power to impose penalty
as high as penitentiary Imprisonment for
two years and a fine of $4,000. Under the
conviction for fling false vouchers the pun
ishment could be more severe, but in view
of the fact that the penalty imposed on
others convicted in the post office cases has
not exceeded Imprisonment for two years
and a fine of $4,000 in any one case 1t is
assumed that Crawford, should his motion
for a new trial be overruled, will receive a
similar sentence.
The trial that ended last evening was the
second time Crawford had faced a jury, his
first trial, last spring, resulted In a disa-
greement Of the jury 1t is generally under
stood that of the jurors who served during
the first trial nine voted In favor of acquit-
tai and three for conviction The standing
of the jury on the first ballot last evening,
it was stated today, was eleven for convic-
tion and one for acquittaI.
Goes to Jury at O'Clock.
The case went to the jury about 5 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. and after waiting
snort time the court directed recess.
At 7:3 o'clock the court and counsel were
notified by telephone that the jury had
agreed, and all interested had reached the
city hall by O'Clock, when the verdict
was received. at stated, notice OF the fl
ing of a motion for new trial was given
and Crawford retained his liberty on bail.
The seconnd trial, while 1t covered a pc
riod of three weeks from beginning to end,
was actually in progress about fifteen days.
1t was the first important case conducted
by Mr.. D. w. Baker since his appointment
to office as United States attorney fo. the
District of Columbia. Mr.. Baker was as
sisted by Major Holmes Conrad special
counsel for the government in the cases
growing out of the Post Office Department
irregularities. and Assistant United States
Attorneys Stuart Mcnamara and Harvey
Given, both of the latter being appointees
of Mr.. Baker. Attorney A. s. Worthing-
ton conducted the defense. He was assist
ed by Attorney Charles L. Frailey.
At the Office of the United States attor-
ney for the District of Columbia It was
learnel today that the next of the Post Of
fee cases to be called for trial will be that
of George w. Beavers formerly chief of
the division of allowances OF the Post OF
flee Department. The Beavers case will
probably be called next month