Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-08
A. CROFT DEAD
FORMER POLICEMAN SUCCUMBe
TO ILLNESS AND MELANCHoLIA.
His Recent Conviction in Connection
With Post Office Conspiracy Al
legged to Have Been Unjust.

Melancholia and broken heart are given
as the causes of the death af Samuel A.
Croft, late a trusted member Of the metro
politan police force, which occurred yes
terday afternoon, at the home of his family,
COS North Carolina avenue southeast 1t is
the opinion of those who knew him best
that he has been slowly dying from grief
since the day. little over two months ago,
when he stepped from the door of the
West Virginia state penitentiary at
Moundsville. after serving a two years
sentence on the charge of completely in
fraud against the government.
Arrangements for the funeral were COM
pleted today. 1t was decided to hold the
services at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon
at his late residence in East Washington
Rev. George f. May.well of the Waugh NJ
E. Church will be N charge, and will oe
assisted by Rev. Joseph E. Smith of Grace
NJ. E Church. The interment will be in
the family lot at Rock Creek cemetery.
membership of B. B. French Lodge, F. A
A NJ, and of Hancock Command, No. 1,
Union Veteran Union, of both of which
organizations he had been an honored
member
Until the shadow came into the erst-
while happy life of Samuel Croft he was
noted for his good cheer and his equally
good health. He was a man of fine ply
sique and had the faculty of making friends
because of his even manner and genality
During his last days he constantly referred
to the injustice" that had been done him
by his conviction. He asserted to the last
his innocence of the crime for which he was
indicted and punished, and it is reported
that he said once during his incarceration
in prison:
me of my liberty, but 1 fear it has also de-
prived me of my life"
Feared He Would Not Recover.
Mr.: Croft was quite i'll at the time and
constantly said he feared he would never
regain his health. The attending physician
gave "melancholia as the direct cause of
his death. 1t is said the deep melancholy
which settled upon his life like blight
began in the loneliness of the grim peni-
Tertiary and grew in intensity until the
end came yesterday.
The feeling that Samuel Croft was inno-
cent of the crime charged against him was
widespread among his friends, who believed
he was the victim of circumstances rather
than of any desire to defraud the govern
ment. They recall that both August w.
Machen and George E. Lorenz said he was
innocent. and that Major Holmes Conrad,
the special counsel employed by the De
partment of Justice to prosecute the con-
spirators believed in the innocence of Sam
uel Croft and appealed to the President to
pardon.
The deceased was convicted and sentenced
January 16, 1895 When he reached his
home September 16, pale, dispirited and
emaciated his friends predicted that he
would not live long. From the time of his
homecoming he had never left his bed
room.
Native of Pennsylvania.
Samuel A. Croft was born at Lancaster,
Pa, April B. 1S47. In his boyhood he was
employed first in wooden mill and later In
machfnist's shop in Reading In 1864 he
enlisted for ninety days in the 195th Penn
sylvania Regiment, United States Volun-
teers, and re-enlisted before his term of
service expired For gallant and merito-
rious service at Summit Point he was pro-
NOTED to be first sergeant, although less
than eighteen years old.
He was appointed a member of the police
force in 1880, and during his career on the
force he filled the position of fine clerk of
the Police Court He was noted for his
charity, and is said to have been one of the
founders of the Prisoners Aid Society. He
was man of an inventive turn of mind
Among his inventions were projectile. a
safeguard for street cars, a device for catch
ing crabs, street indicator, and the letter
box fastener which he was charged with
selling to the Post Office Department