The Washington herald., 1907-01-08
SAMUEL CROFT dies
Invalid Since Release from
MOundSViIle.
4 VICTIM OF MELANCHOLIA
Convicted with 3Tachen. LOrenz. and
Brother for DefraudiHE Postal De-
partment In Sale of Letter-bOx
FasteBers-Freed from Institution
in West Virginia Last September.

Samuel A. Croft indicted and sentenced
with his brother. Diner B. Croft. A. w.
Machen, and George +. LOrenz. as the
result OF the investigation of the fraud
in the sale Of letter-box fasteners 10 the
government. 10 two years in the peniten-
tiary at Moundsville. IN 1904. died yester-
day afternoon AT his home. 6l5 North Car
olina avenue northeast, as the result OF
melanch0lia
He was ffty-Hine years old and had
suffered mentally ever since his incarcer-
alton in the prison. during which he
spent most OF his time IN the hospital
He returned 60 Washington last Sep
tcmber and has been an invalid since that
time
Mrs. Louisa c. Croft. his wife and John
M Croft, a married son. survive him.
Funeral services win be held at his late
= asideuee Thurstsy afternoon at 0'ei0ck.
and intermeut win take place at Rock
Greek Cemetery. The Rev. George Z.
MaydWeH, pastor OF Waugh NJ f.
Church, and the Rev DIS Smith, OF Grace
NJ. f. Church, Of which Mr. Gron was
member. will oficiate ut the obsequies
The pallbearers viii be d selected from
among the lodges and societies OF which
Mr. Gron was a member.
Began a. Factory Hand.
The deceased was born in Lancaster,
Pa. April 80. lS4I and began his career
as a factory hand Having a natural
aptitude for the trade of machinist he
worked one year at that trade in Read
Ing Pa. In 1854 he enlisted as private
IN the I95th Pennsylvania Regiment, L. s
V. for ninety days. Before his term Of
service had expired he re-enlisted. IN
1855. at Summit Point, then a lad OF
eighteen. he was promoted 10 the position
Of first sergeant for meritorious services.
After leaving the army, he engaged IN
various enterprises. Being of an inventive
turn OF mind, De produced a number Of
appliances which are in general use TO
this day. chief among which is the Croft
letter-box fastener. Safeguards for street
cars, a crab scooper, street sign Indicator.
and other inventions aided Croft TO amass
a small competency.
In 1SS5 Croft was appointed a member of
the Metropolitan police force. and he re-
mained with the force until 1893 when.
by order of the Commissioners. he was
suspended. During his term Of service on
the police force Croft occupied many re-
spOnsible positions. and the faithful per-
fOrmanCo of his duties invariably received
the commentator Of his superi0rs in
office. For three years he was clerk Of
fines imposed by the Police Court. and
as such had the care of large sums Of
money, every penny of which has been
accounted for.
Refused Police Pension.
On May q. 1868. Croft made application
to be retired on n pension. and his request
would have been granted in June follow
ing. but as result of his troubles he
lost what he considered he was justly
entitled to after having contributed from
his salary TO this fund for over twenty
years
Croft was a resident of this city for
over twenty-five years, and was a men,
Der of B. =. French Lodge. F. \. \. NJ;
Hancock Command. No. ]. L. Y. T.;
Grace VI. r. Church. the Prisoners Aid
Society, and other organizations
Early in the spring of 1903. he was ar
rested with his brother, Diller 3. Croft.
A W Machen, and George Z. Lorenz on
charge of conspiracy TO defraud the
government I'm connection with the sale
of letter box fastener. At the ensuing
trial in January and February following
Croft testified that the idea Of this fast
ener had come TO him as far back at 1883.
and that he patented il some time after
this. and that it had been used by the
Washington city post-ofiee as early as
1898
Indicted with Three others.
In the fall of 1903, the grand jury re-
turned an Indictment charging the -four
named above with conspiracy. Substan-
TALLY the Indictment charged that Dmer
3. Croft and Samuel A. Croft as owners
of the patent controlling the letter box
fastener, had entered into an arrange
ment with August W. Machen, who was
superintendent Of rural free delivery. tc
supply these fasteners. The price agreed
upon was largely in excess of its value
It was charged that George Z. Lorenz
whom Machen had known in Toledo, was
the intermediary who transacted the bus
mess between Machen and the Groffs. and
CONTINUED on SEVENTH PAGE.
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