The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-12

SHEET.
POLxIIcs AND PRcULATlON IN MAINE.
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The Robbery Of the state Treasury Of
Maine - Curious Confbssion Of Elder
Benjamin ID. Peck-Report OF the Conn
mlttee.
The committee appointed to investigate tho charges Of
default against Tho Treasurer of the STATE Of Mane to Tho
amount Of sol 900, have made Mo following report
AT the time the oommAtes appointed the late Teea-
surer, Benjamin D. Peck, confined Ia jail at Bangor
on charge brought against him BY the receivers Of the
N0rumbega Bark Az a. he Was released from their
CUSTODY January H. sub committee consisting OF Aessrs
Drummond, Porter and Blanie was despatched 70 Bangor
tendance at the capital He arrived here tho next day
and though manifssing perfect Willingness to give bis
S 20 ps uuess placed q
Of bis private papers and memoranda, deposited In an
iron safe At Portland which, a. no svered had been for
chilly removed from his house without bis consent ana
against his wishes Hon George Shepey appeared DO
fore TIE committee his counsel and gave ADDITIONAL as
referred to- and the impossiby OF any clear state
ment being made without them. Mr. Shepley also volun
n sds a inc s.os S D.psfs IN
his pcesesson here every fact and figure OF any
pernenoe significance would be most freely exhibited
and exposed. Preferring 70 have Mr. Peck remain at
Augusta tho COMMITTEES accepted the second proposition,
ana appointed three their number Messrs Robe Com
S Peck might Is and the
papers referred to Mr. Peck selected Mr. Charles A.
Ssckpole his representative and on FIR day the 18Th
OF January, the parties named proceeded 70 Portland
and found the safe deposited at the Manufacturers and
Traders Bank 70 which place they repaired immediately
in the bank until Mr. s.acKpce had gone oa, and pro-
cured the key TO the safe, which, hls return,
unlocked by him in the presence Of the com ni.tec,
all the papers carefully removed, securely wrapped in
several focs OF paper and 30 sealed that 1t was poss
hQ - In kha vau1t NJ
the bank and the cashier instructed lot 70 deliver 1t
until called for by Mr. stackpoe and the sub committee
together The call made tho next day the pack ago
brought 10 Augusta by the pares and In presence
OF Mr. Shepley delivered 10 Mr. Peck TIE committee
before deiverrg the to Mr. Peck But TO tas neither
he bis counsel would assent and the declaration
Of rights in State constitution sets forth that
rant TO search any place, seize any person thog
shall issue without special designation of the place 10 be
serched and the person or thing 10 be seized, was
quite apparent that 10 have opened package whose
tents were utterly unknown 10 the committee would
have been violation OF this constitutional provision Tue
committee therefore, confined their TO the delivery
OF the papers TO Mr. Peck, relying the personal pro
OF himself and his counsel 10 the honorable
that should be made OF them.
On the ensuing Monday morning, Jan. 10 (the papers
havrg been delivered the previous Saturday evening",
Mr.. Peck, accompanied by his counsel Mr. Shepey ap
peared before the committee and submitted the folio
JANUARY 1e, 1850.
stand before this Committee and before the rAople of
this State, charged with Incorporating tue public
funds, which Treasurer Of State have had In trust
acknowledge the charge 70 be true aud shall pro iced
make such statements and explanations Of my transas
tons are demanded by my convictions Of truth aud
duty do not deem necessary In this connection
offer any for my conduct but 70 state the facts
you TO Judge reference each all Of my
trAneactops have wish to involve other parties and
other men in any Of my questionable wrong financial
oper ations only state what has been done, and
others connected with me must vndcae themselves
they can, suffer with me the consequences of wrong
doing.
have been accustomed from my rrst connection with
the Treasury, to loan the States money In largo and small
sums TO Of my bondsmen AMI TO Others who, from
time TO time, solicited aid from that quarter Some Of
these pa ties have paid mo- and some have not Some
rhen have s, s.nsa my they have endorsed
own and their credit ut the banks Names OF parties
with amounts loaned and payments made from time to
time and what remains unpaid now, can be given when
| desired.
had got warm in my seat a. Treasurer Of State b.
o.s ~ ~ sos my
ressonthat could In this way add 10 my Income from
the oiceo,her ueasurers had done 1t, and well
known that ali teasurers would do IT, This, at least,
public men OF apartiee knew full well do not plead
these things TO up my faults but tho
| ry, make them az simple statement of facts, giving
names If desired that the committee may have ali mat
tens before them which material 70 this investigation
There are persors who in the days Of my prosperity
funds, who could approach me my weak side and
me for their purposes, but who now cenounce mo in
newspapers and elsewhere, and who would not even
all my available property their hands an security
consent to sign bail bond for my deverance from JAIL
into which was cast upon Irmped Up case while I
IN the hands OF my bondsmen security for the loss
they had Incurred on ny account. do mot mention this
In epirit OF complaint retaliation, but pa
tent TO all who Understood much OF this painful affair."
will be seen upon an investigation into al my trans
pereons and papers," you have power to do and By
my giving names can, that whafI was doing With the
shrink from no responsibility in this matter neither sha
anti ON my shoulders aey blame which rghtuly be-
longs 70 me 70 bear am the sinner IN these matters DO
fore all others ought to have had hrmnsss enough TO
have resisted all temptations to inappropriate the pub
lie funds, whether these temptations came from my
rs year q my occupancy q the treasury loanea -
nave said large sums Of money to some Of my bondsmcn
bond and had .vors Of This sort paid me- VIII the
two others Who owed me small sums, but msdo my
sum; and had I been called upon 70 have set
tied my account finally that year with the State,
80 there 1.S TsnS BEEN NO o. Z e
bondsmen The second year pursued pretty much the
sane Sousse 01rDg money 70 some q my bOndsmen
mentioned n, lion a. above, as owing me a. the end
now regret to be obliged to say, not only to
keep back what be owed at the end Of the first year
y you %y good
sum out OF me-, which he sl owes Whether there was
any design on hi; part 70 dersud The State
you TO ucge All the facts connected with this particular
transaction can lay before you, II you desire il.
AT the end Of the second year short $50 900
loi6ev Subsequent teSlm0nyl which
made good by discounts at the banks, which carried
over SO that the committee appointed to settle with tina
Treasurer found my accounts correct the books and
sufficient vouchers for al The State funds, at tho
close OF business, December 81, 1858.
mention the tact that was accustomed to loan the
State funds to Of bondsmen and othere not for
the purpose Of eliminating others, but simply to show
that what was doing with the public funds was not
wholly unknown to psrues who had deep interest in
the safety Of these moneys and also TO show that others
were willing TO risks well myself and that this
matter between myself and some Of my bondsmsn has
more Of business aspect Of venture Of loss and profit
than is generally supposed
i come to the Canada speculation, in which
l was unfortunately engaged. l became q partner
IN this business in July, 1885, and my associates are
all Of them, gentlemen in high social and po-
iiucal standing in this State. The purchase Of the