Litchfield enquirer., 1867-10-03
The New Milford Dedication.

a mOSU aSGOunQlnS case Ol cmpeAAleucH' and dedication, with it's attendant iniquities of false entries and false swearing has just come to light in New Milford MT. John J. Conkiin, cashier of the First Nationa Bank of New Milford and Treasurer of that town, proves on examination to have em bezzled funds of the Bank to about the amount of $52, 900 and of the town to the amount of about $4, 900. Some few weeks since the suspicious of the Teller of the Bank were aroused by discrepancies iii the bank accounts and on Friday night last Mr. Conklin was charged with his crime Dy the Bank officers and made full con. 1esslon of his guilt. It appears that he had become engaged in stock speculations in New York in some of which he was s1c. cessful while in others he lost heavily-as much as $3O,000 in one venture. He was compelled to make false entries and false statements to make his accounts appear correct, hoping all the time to be able to retrieve his losses.
 Mr. Conklin had always borne an excel lent reputation, was universally esteemed and respected, and his manner, bearing, and business qualities were such as to ins- plre entire confidence in all who dealt with him. He was deacon in the Conerega- tional church, and there was pro bably no person Ill the town in whose honesty peo- pie wohld- have had fuller confidence than in that of Mir. Conklin. There WAS g great dislike to proceeding to extremities with him on the part of even those who had suffered most and we learn that on Sunday night 8 sort of informal meeting was held of those interested and of the members of the church to which he belong. ed, before whom he made full confession and expression of his penitence for his crimes. Such was the compassion felt for him that they consented to his leaving without prosecution, and when he propos- ed going away that very night it is said that he was even advised to stay ':and go i away like a man ill the morning." Accor- dingly he waited and left in the down train on Monday morning. To secure the bank in part against loss Mfr. C. made over all his property to them amounting it is sup posed, to about $15, ,0O0 Even then there is sufficiently ugly deficit out of capital of $125,OO
 Since Conklin;s s departure the following telegraphic correspondence has occurred concerning him.
 Po'KEEpsIE, Oct. 1st, 1S67 To ,Gterif LitclJield County
 Arrested John J. Conkn Cashier First Na- tional Bank of New Milford. What shall I do with him?
 GEO. LAlIOREE, Sheriff.
 LITCHFIELD, Oct. 1st, 1867 To Geo. La,noree, Sherif, Po'keepsse, ". y.
 Hold Conklin until you hear from me ill the morning.
 II. 4. BOTsFORD, Sheriff
 LrTcHFIELD, Oct 1st, 1867. To Daniel Marsh, NeW Milford.
 have received despatch from Pokeepsia. saying they had arrested Conklin; Do you want him held !? Answer.
 H. 4. BOTsFORD Sheriff, On Wednesday morning having received 8 reply to his telegram of the evening be- fore, MT. Botsford telegraphed as follows to Pc o'keepsie
 LITCHrIELD Oct. 2d 1867 10 Geo. LGheoTee, Sherit, Po'keepsie, ". y.
 The Officers of Bank say they have not or dered Conklin's arrest, you can communicate with Daniel Marsh, New Milford, President Bank
 H. 4. BOTSFORD Sheriff