Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-06
FOR GROFF'S PARDON
PETITION PRESENTED TO THE
PRESIDENT BY MR. CAssELL.

Representative CaSSell of Pennsylvania
called on President Roosevelt this morning
and presented a petition for the pardon of
Samuel A. Croft one of the men convicted
of conspiracy in the post office cases. Sam
uel A. Croft Is the inventor Of the fastener
about the sale of which 50 much trouble
occurred. He was connected with the po-
lice force for many years. For several
years he handled the money paid in fines
imposed In the Police. Court and had per-
sonal dealings with both Judges. AS soon
as the case was settled in the Supreme
Court of the United States friends of Croft
set about to prepare a petition for a par
don, and 1t was this petition that was pre-
scented this morning. The petition recites
that the applicant is a resident of this city
and sets out the court proceedings. showing
that he was sentenced on the 9th day OF
March last to serve two years imprison-
ment and to pay fine of $4,000 Eleven
bankers, nineteen ministers, twenty-eight
members of the bar and two dozen promf
nent business men signed the application.
1--WE. the petitioners. who have here SUBJ
scribed our names. do most respectfully and
earnestly ask that you will most patiently
consider. with the frankness and thorough
ness for which you have a national repu-
tation. our petition for the pardon of Mr..
Samuel A. Croft, who was one of the par
ties indicted. tried and convicted in the
above entitled cause
justifies us In coming to you with great
assurance that you Will hear our prayer
and grant the pardon Of Mr.. Samuel A.
Croft as we recall your broadness and fair
ness IN all matters of public policy.
Mr.. Conrad Quoted.
Permit us to cite at this time the declara-
ton of Holmes Conrad. special counsel for
the government. In his able argument, in
closing the aforementioned trial. Mr.. Con-
rad said:
"'Now I have a personal duty to dis
charge here. l have examined the evidence
as dispassionately as ! know how. l have
read 1t over and over again and searched
It, and a grave doubt has arisen in my
mind i have considered what | ought to
do, and have not consulted with any one
of my associates. l have not consulted with
single one of them, and they do not know
of the doubt, but the doubt IS this: l find
that Samuel A. Croft was not present when
tr" contract was made. I find that Samuel
Croft has never seen or met LorenZ from
that day until he met him here. 1 cannot
find in this evidence anything that war
rants me In saying to you, as lawyer and
as an advocate here, that think the evil
dence would warrant the conviction OF
Samuel A. Croft l do not know whether
my brethren share in this doubt. have
not disclosed it to them because I choose
TO take the responsibility of 1t alone.
have no right to impose my responsibility
on them in a doubt In which they may not
SHARE, out uiScUdTSt my personal duty
to you when 1 convey that doubt
Mr.. President we submit this candid ut
terance from so worthy honorable and
unprejudiced source believing that 1t is the
result of the careful weighing and consider
alton Of the voluminous evidence presented
by distinguished counsellor whose ability
no one will question.
Other Grounds Cited.
There are other grounds on which we
might base our prayer-a life of integrity
above all suspicion. previous to the present
allegations. an honorable soldier record in
the great war of the rebellion and an I'M
blemshed record as police officer Of about
twenty years-but special plea Is our
| belief in the innocence of Mr.. Samuel A.
| Croft of the charge OF conspiracy as set
| forth by Mr.. Holmes Conrad, special coun-
| sci for the government.
Having presented our most respectful re-
| quest we would ask you, Mr.. President to
grant US that for which We pray. the par
| don of Mr.. Samuel A. Croft which we be-
| lieye will meet with the most hearty ap-
prevail of the great bulk of the people of
| our national capital.
| In signing the application Judge Kimball
| took occasion to write the following in
| dorsement:
II most heartily concur In the above
| recommendation. The defendant Samuel
| A. Croft was for several years detailed for
| duty at the Police Court and had the op-
portunity for personal observation of him:
| from that observation 1 believe him to
| have been thoroughly honest and incapable
| of attempting to defraud the government -
After receiving the petition the President
told Mr.. Cassell that he would send II to
| the Department of Justice for careful con-
sideration and that he would go over the
| case with the Attorney General when the
| latter had made his examination.
Case Of D. B. Croft.
District Attorney Beach has recommend
| ed to the Department Of Justice that the
| application for pardon Of Diller B. Grofr of
this city. who was convicted with Machen.
l-Lcrenz and Samuel A. Groff in the postal
| conspiracy cases. be denied.