The Washington times., 1906-09-17
SAMUEL A. CROFT
PHYSICAL WRECK
Returns to Family Broken
in Health and Under
Physicians Care.
BELIEF IN HIS INNOCENCE
Brothers Released From MOundsville
Prison After Serving Two
Years Sentence.

Has Samuel a. Croft been more sized
against than SHINING.
II takes no penetration, no insight in
20 the working Of anOthers mind. to
sdiscover that the family of this un-
fortunate man. who. with his brother.
Diller 3. Groh. was yesterday sent
forth from Moundsville prison a free
man, after serving two years imprison-
ment for defrauding the Postonice De
partment, now hold and will hold
through ali time that their husband,
father and friend was made the victim
of the crime Of others.
This grief bowed family may never
make known 10 the public their defense
Of this claim, bat, like them, loyal and
long intimate friends may soon know
that had Diuer b. GTOn spoken at the
right time his brother Samueis vindi-
cation would have been complete and
. the memory Of that two years of prison
stripes would not now be with him rs a
torment and mental scar
Samuel Groff's Return Home.
Samuel Gron arrived az his old home,
Cos North Carolina avenue southeast,
last night. after serving "a two years
sentence in the Moundsville peuitentiary,
for defrauding the United States Gov
erment. and today he Is confined 10 his
bed and denying himself to any who
call The homecoming of Grou was
unheralded, and, save for an Old and
sTeadTdsJ friend. who met him at the
prison Yesterday morning. when the
. hour of his liberation came. and remain
Cd his companion on the journey 10
Washington, no one was at the BalG-
more and ohio station 10 greet him when
The train from MOundsville, W. Va,
reached THIS city ar lo % clock last night
The two were Immediately driven 10
. the Gruf home. and there the family
waited 10 cheer the heart of the broken
and melancholy man, and, as much as
g loving and devoted women can, 10 les
. sen the sting of the memory Of his last
two years Of acute mental suffering.
Mr.. Croft Broken in Heath.
Mr. Gron is a broken man. and it
will be a long time before he can Oe
restored to health again" was the m
formation given out by q sad-faced
woman at the Croft home in reply 20
q callers query this morning. He has
been done a great injustice and now
only wishes TO be let alone His plans
for the future are as vet undecided"
Other than this statement no mem
Der OF the Groff family would give voice
10 a single utterance against any of
the trio Of men who were convicted
with Samuel Groff OF defTaUdiug the
United States Government through the
sales of the Groff patent mail-bOX fast
home are all drawn, aad the sick man
Is being faithfully and lovingly guard
I'd from all intrusion. save for the
family physician. no outsider has been
allowed 10 enter the sick room, and
GrOff maintains a strict silence as to
the feeling ne is said 10 entertain that
his brother. Duler j. Gro1. by declin-
ing 10 speak the words at the trial that
would have indicated plainly his in
. nocence. has done him the greatest IN
jury OF his career.
Diller Croft Goes North.
On leaving Moundsvine prison yester-
day morning. Dnler B Croft. accom-
panied By his son. who met him at the
prison gate as ne stepped forth into
the sunshine again. boarded a north
bound train for il is said. a sojuurn at
the Thousand Islands. No word was
exchanged between the brothers. as
both were TO take their leave of Capt
c. @. Dawson. acting warden of the
prison. but DilleT Croft first spoke
farewell 10 August w. Machen and
George r. Lorenz his feIIow-cOnvicts
who are yet TO serve several months of
their sentences.
Samuel Croft. however. except for a
few words OF thanks 10 Captain Daw-
son for that officials unfailing kind
ness, said no farewells to any one.