The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-05-28
CRIME AND SUICIDE.

SNAMG AND OOlSkDGs
From the Norwich (Conn) Courier Of May 10
II is seldom we are called upon to record
such melancholy case Of crime and it's
wretched consequences a. one which has
recently ,ranspred in the neighborlng coun.
~ Of Windhsm. We have refrained from
any public notice of The matter until now,
because We were desnous Of frs. ascertain
ing accurately the facts instead Of given cur
rency TO flying rumors which nigh, not be
true.
On Saturday night, the 3lst ul.imo, an
old gentleman named Elias Mason. long a
resident Of the town of Woodstook;and one
Of its most respected and influential citizens
suddenly deceased under circumstances
which left no doubt on the mind of his a..
tending physicians that he had taken poison
But, ishing to spare the feelings of Mr..
Mason's family and friends, the physicians
refrained from communicating their
convictions IS 10 the cause Of Mr.. Ms
sudden death. 1t was supposed by the
family and others 10 have been case Of
apoplexy. and it was so reported abroad.
On Tuesday he was buried, and. in the
funeral discourse. Mr.. Ms character was
held up as model Of excellence. worthy Of
imitation by all. As man, and as Chris
,ian. he had, through long and busy life,
maintained an unsulied rsputa,ionfor integ-
rity and truth, and his death was mourned
as public loss. His business had been of
kind that rendered il necessary TO have q
good deal TO do with the banks; and it was
commoa rs m a.ka-of the -sirectors of -ths
mess. there had as many and 40 good en-
dorsers az Mr.. Mason.
But hardly had the multitude which fol.
LEVIED his remains 10 ,he grave dispersed
before one who had joined in the procession
--a Mr.. Carpenter--received a letter from
an officer Of She Thompson Bank informino
him that noie, which he was eodor.er
anu Mr. Mason the drawer, was protested
tor non payment This was The second
lpstance in which. within few weeks. he
had received such notice. The frs, one
awakened his suspicious that Mr.. NJ. had
been committing forgery, for he could net
remember ever having endorsed such 4.
note for Mr.. NJ, ye. thinking il possible
no might be mistaken, he resolved 70 saw
nothing abou, tho matter. but when m.
second notice Of protest came, there was no
longer room 10 doubt. He rode 10 The
bank Immediately, and satisfied himself. bv
actual inspection, that his name had been
forged TO the protested paper. This dis.
covery led the bank officers 10 general ar.
animation Of the notes Of the deceased, and,
as me result. it was found that he had in
the bank abou. ss.on0 of forged paper.
Subsequent examinations in the BROOKLYN
Bank show about $4,000 more of the same |
Kind OF paper; in Souihbridgs Bank % 600
ChiPa'che. Bank abou, $500. How MANY
other banks have been defrsuded in .he |
same way is not yet known.
Is not tho banks, however, thst have |
suffered mainly or most severely. Mr.. NJ.
was owing not less than go, 900 in Wood.
stock, mostly borrowed money, and a larpe
proportion OF il borrowed from peoole nj
mall means-from widows and guardians.
md persons Of that description, whose con.
idence in the integrity of Mr.. NJ. Joined
o The general beliefof his wealth. led them
o regard money placed in his hands a,
secure II i were deposited in the savings
sank u 10 now doubtful whether his estate
vii pay ten cents on tho dollar of the
claims against il.
FOR what length OF time Mr.. M. had car.
'ec on these forgsries, cannot be accurately
nown, but there 10 reason for believing ,ba,
was commenced IN 1897 year of unusu.
embarrassment in business and il is now.
aid' though We are not informed upon
Vhat ground lnat he has carried no;
on about him for years, evidsntlv. If
. should ever be de!eetsd.to die the death
suic lido r.,her ,hsn ssrvivs The Ysvel..
on Of his guilt.
his with reluctance thss We give public
y TO these facts through our colums, ,Su,..s
ley are already circulated widely. .snd with
xssesraiions and additions in many inst.n
es ~h'eh DO not belong 10 them. We have
OF lsft st liberty TO remain silent.