Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-13
BEAVERS ENTERS
PLEA OF GUILTY
Unexpected Action Today in
Criminal Court.
GOES TO THE PENITENTIARY
Sentence of Two Years Imposed by
Justice Gorld.
ADVISED BY HIS ATTORNEY
One of the Cases Growing Out of the
Post Office Department
Irregularities.
Sentence of Two Years Imposed by
Justice Gorld.
ADVISED BY HIS ATTORNEY

George W. Beavers. formerly chief of the
division OF salaries and allowances, Post
Office Department, indicted in connection
with the Post Office Department irreg ulari-
ties, today entered plea of guilty as to
the indictment charging conspiracy. He
was sentenced to Imprisonment for two
years in the penitentiary at Moundsvle
w. We. Mr.. Beavers Is now in the custody
of Warden Harris of the United States jail
In this city, and will probably be sent to
Moundsvle with the next batch of prison
ers to go from the District, probably next
Thursday afternoon.
Accompanied by his counsel. Attorney A.
A. Birney, Mr.. Beavers appeared shorty
after 10 O'Clock this morning in Criminal
Court No. /. Soon after Justice Gould had
taken his seat on the bench and court had
been formally opened United States Attor-
uey Baker arose
Il understand the United States attor-
ney said, that Mr.. Beavers is in court and
] ask that he be allowed to plead as to
indictment No. 23940.
Mr.. Baker suggested that the iudict-
ment contained many counts and was
luminous, the reading be waived. He said its
provisions We're well known 10 the court
and all parties concerned, remarking that
the charges therein contained were found
ed on section 5i4o of the revised statutes of
the United States.
Plea of the Defendant.
Clerk Hawken then read the title of the
Indictment. the defendant standing In re-
sponse TO the question of the clerk as TO
whether he waived the reading. Beavers
said in distinct tones that he did.
How do you plead?" he was next asked
Il plead guilty. was the response.
United States Attorney Baker again ad-
dressed the court, saying that in view of
nh lfaf 4rut Of Tna .llfa ffRa
government would not ask that any fine be
imposed the desire being that he be
fenced to serve the maximum term of i'm
prsOnmeut provided by the law. The pros
ecuting attorney explained that the plea of
the defendant had saved the government
much time and expense. On behalf of the
defendant Attorney Birney assented to the
suggestions of the United States attorney.
Mr.. Birney told the court that it was upon
his advice that MIR. Beavers had decided
TO enter the plea of guilty.
Justice Gould then pronounced sentence,
saying: The sentence of the court is that
you serve a term of two years in the PEN
itentiary at Moundsvlle w. Va. TO take
effect upon your arrival at Moundsville.'
Mr.. Beavers was then conducted from the
court room and subsequently was placed IN
the custody of Warden Harris. Before leaV-
irg the, city hall Beavers made brief
sta tement, in which he said.
What / did today was done without
prejudice 10 any OF those indicted jointly
with me. | took the course as regards my
person He decIiI>sd TO say anything tur-
ther.
The arraignment. the plea. the sentence
ana the conducting Of the prisoner from the
court room consumed very little time.
Effect of the Action
What effect this disposition of the one
case will have upon the others pending
against Mr.. Beavers is not publicly known.
]: is generally understood however. that the
government will eventually abandon the
prosecution OF the other indictments
against Beavers When asked abou< the
matter after the hearing in court today,
United States Attorney Baker declined 20
make a statement. lie said that he could
not give out any information In addition
TO that which was secured In open court.
Upon this point Attorney Birney also
fused TO make statement. Mr.. Brncy
was asked II Mr.. Beavers would testify IN
behalf OF the government against the otneJ'
persons indicted jointly with him. iln
stated positively that Beavers would not
take such action. Counsel added that Mr.,
Beavers would be perfectly willing to tcs-
tify In behalf of the defendants In those
cases should they desire his testimony.
The indictment which was today disposed
OF was reported by the grand jury July 1.
1901. 1t set forth that Mr.. Beavers unlaw
fully conspired and confederated with
George r. Green for the purpose of de-
frauding the United States In the matter of
certain appliances sold TO the government
for use In the Post Office Department. 1t
made plain that Beavers held the office OF
chief OF the division of salaries aud allow
hnces under the first assistant postmaster
general Most of the money which It was
alleged was used in the fraudulent trans
actions belonged to the post office appro-
priations for the fiscal year ended June Is,
1892
The indictment charged that It was the
duty of Beavers In his official position to
obtain supplies for the government as
cheapiy as possible, bat that instead he en-
"a - lRl will vtaar.l llatr
the interests OF the government were not
only neglected, but were actually damaged
in order that Beavers might obtain for
himself personal benefit IL was declared
that Beavers entered into fraudulent
agreement and compact with Green the
latter being president and agent of the In
ternatioual Time Recording Company of
New York state, to furnish the Post ONCE
Department with time recording devices.
Time-Recording Devices
Many OF these time-recordng devices. it
is charged, were furnished upon the agree
ment that for every apparatus accepted by
the government Beavers was to receive 10
per cent of the purchase price for his own
personal use. The charges specify a num-
Der OF dates for the alleged criminal trans
actions. The first date named Is November
l. 1901, this city being the place assigned
for the formation of the alleged conspiracy.
Other dates are in December OF the same
year; January, April, July, September and
October of the year 1902: the last one be-
fng October 8. Beavers, Ii is alleged, re-
teived his consideration In the form OF
checks from Green.
The demurrer 10 the Indictments against
Mr.. Beavers was overruled by Justice
Gould two weeks ago. at which time the
court also sustained the demurrer of tho
government to the pleas in abatement fled
IN the cases of Green and Doremus
The court then set the cases for trial
Monday. February II. but in view OF the
engagement of counsel for the defense In
important cases elsewhere. the hearing was
postponed until next Monday. 1t is under
otood that the cases OF Green and Doremas