Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-11
THEIR TERMS EXPIRE
RELEASE OF DILLER B. AND SAM
UEL A. CROFT.
From District to West Vir-
ginia Prison for Completely In
Post ONCE Conspiracy.

Diller B. Croft and Samuel A. Groff. his
brother, who were convicted in the Grim
inal Court of conspiracy to defraud the
United States In connection with the sale
of letter box fasteners to the Post Office
Department, and sentenced to impri5on-
ment in the Moundsville penitentiary for
two years and to pay q fine Of $4,000 each.
will be released. 1t is expected. next Sum
day. 1t is probable they will be discharged
from custody Saturday evening. since I'M
der the prison rules those whose terms ex-
pire Sunday are given their liberty the day
before.
Payments on account of the fnes have
been made to District Attorney Baker, and
the friends of the two prisoners are ar
ranging for the payment Of the balance in
each case, SO that no delay may occur in
the liberation of the brothers when their
terms of Imprisonment expire next Sunday.
The government was indebted to the
Groffs for fasteners furnished and not paid
for at the time of their Incarceration in the
sum Of $13, 1880. This sum has been paid
over by the Post Office Department and will
the share Of Diller b. Croft in the amount
due from the department, 81, III so has been
paid to District Attorney Baker by counsel
for Diller B. Groff. leaving only about 81, 800
to be raised before Diller B. Croft may
stand forth free man.
Nearly $500 Is yet to be secured on be-
half Of Samuel A. Grofr. but. it is under
stood, that the payment will be arranged
before next Sunday.
Both Slightly Ill.
Diller B. Grofr suffered stroke Of paraly-
sis few months ago. but is said to be re-
covering rapidly. His son has arranged to
meet his father at the prison gates Sunday
and to send him on a months vacation to
the Thousand Islands before his return to
Washington.
Samuel A. Groff. 1t is said. has never been
entirely well during his Imprisonment but
Is not considered seriously ILL
Protests His Innocence.
Samuel A. Croft will return home from
MOundsville protesting his innocence. His
host Of friends have never deserted him and
in referring to his case they seldom neglect
to call attention to what was said of his
case by Holmes Conrad. special counsel for
the prosecution. In his closing address to
the jury. During the time Samuel A. Grof
has been in prison he has received hun
dreds of letters from friends in which the
writers expressed their belief in his guilt
lessness of the offense charged against him
and of which he was convicted and sem
fenced. Ever since the day that the Groffs
reached Moundsville and tramped over the
slippery pavements from the railroad sta
ton to the prison Samuel A. Croft has ex-
pected that the President would listen to his
appeal for executive clemency and grant
pardon.
He has expressed himself as being per-
fectly satisfied ii the President would act
favorably upon his petition. even after the
tie OF the expiration of his sentence. The
question of remaining in prison did not
seem to trouble him as much as the Ques-
ton Of his having verdict Of guilty stand
against him.
II am innocent" he always told his
friends, even after his conviction by a jury
land don't believe I'll be sent away"
Up to the very day he was taken from
his sick bed and started toward Mounds
vile he believed something would happen
which would relieve him of the stain that
had been placed upon his good name by
the jurors who sat at his trial. During
the time he has been in the prison he has
been In the hospital looking after those who
were sick and unable to care for them
selves. No member of his family has Wis.,
tied him at the prison, he having expressed
a desire that they remain away. They have
not neglected him, however. for they sent
him letters and deiicacies from time to
time. Many Of his friends also sent him
the old prisoners and with those who were
in the hospital
Wants Quiet Homecoming.
1t was the intention Of some Of his friends
to have small delegation meet him at the
train upon his arrival here, but the pan
sire that his homecoming be done quietly.
friends will be at the railroad station TO
meet him and escort him to his home.
Friends Of the former policeman are ar
ranging to renew the application for a mar