The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-03-07
WANTED, $500, 900.
Likewise the Postmaster who Carried Ii
on What Thrifty and saving Young
Man Cam Accomplish.
Granville N. w Cor. New York world.l

The facts OF the life that am giving
as briefly and tersely as possible have
startled this section Of the State far and
wide.
Last Friday Thomas Cree-commonly
known hereabouts as "Tom" Cree-was
put in bankruptcy at Buffalo. Born on
an island of Lake Champlain, spending
his early days in poor house, cared for
III boyhood 10y n kind benefactor, he now
turns up as one of the boldest adventu-
rers whose deeds have ever been record
ed in this State. Mr.. J. NJ. Northrup,
of North Greenville, was the foster-par,.
ent of Tom Cree, brought him up in his
own family, and amid surroundings that
were pleasant and pure. Even as lad
Cree developed a speculative spirit, and
finally became widely known as dealer
in "horse gold" by selling cheap imita-
ton gold watches at horse races and fairs.
He developed as n Spectator after sew
eral attempts to continue in a fixed and
permanent business, and soon blythe bold
ness of his transactions and the prodi-
gality of his expenditures became widely
known as man of wealth. This
broughtinhuence and increased business,
and in the end made Tom Cree one OF
the foremost men in this section OF
Washington county Carrying out his
operations with still bolder endeavors he
announced, few years ago, that he was
going West as banker. He took with
him the fruits of his extensive specula-
tons Tin which he had made much
wealth., and really established several
banks III Iowa--one at Belle Plains, an
other at Tama City, and still another at
Nevada City. These operations only
improved his financial standing with his
creditors here, and his borrowing opera
tons were almost unlimited He is al
legged to have received heavy loans on
forged and fictitious mortgages. One of
these was on an extensive tract of land
in Iowa, which an investigation show
ed was the property of Cakes Ames.
To another bank in this section he pre-
scented a mortgage for so, 900 on an en-
tire section of land in Iowa. Develop
ments Just made Indicate that no such
section mo such number) exists In that
State While in the confidence of our
bankers he represented that Henry l..
Smith, a distinguished Western tinancier
and capitalist, was his partner, and SO
completely had he won the confidence of
his numerous friends that his story was
believed, and the Endorsement of the
mythical Henry l.. Smith" brought
thousands of dollars. When the notes
of Cree came due he presented others,
and when these finally went to protest
he made such representations that set
Element was delayed until he could hear
from his "agents" in the West. On small
sums borrowed from farmers and others
he paid extravagant rates of interest,
frequently returned the principal some
time before it was due, pretending that
he had too much money on hand. VIM
ming the confidence of the leaders in this
way he would, it is said, on the next oc-
casion borrow all that would be given
him, and then payment was not thought
of. He was, four years ago, thought to
have been worth quarter of million
of dollars, and he borrowed money to
pay the tax on pretended enormous In
come, and he was then rated by CONNER
cial agencies as "a No. l." He was for
years postmaster, and made this position
conducive to his speculative plans. In
credulous ones were told that if Tom
Cree was good enough to be postmaster
he ought to be trusted Within n year
the bubble has burst, and to-day hun
dreds of rich men are made poorer, some
of them almost penniless and hun
dreds, yes thousands, of poor men as
well as widows and others, find their lit
tie bank accounts in the hands of an
absconding Spectator. The banks are
heavy losers by forged notes, mortgages,
etc. The banks at Poultney, Vt, White
hall, Granville, Fort Edward, and, it is
said, one New York bank, suffer The
losses to banks alone foot up fully $780,
600, and not less than $50, 900 is due to
farmers and others. His accounts as
postmaster are now being investigated
by Detective Spencer, of the Postal De-
partment, and it is generally believed
| that they will be found in surprising
condition. a peculiar and distressing
feature of the case is the fact that his
early benefactor, Mr.. j. II. Northrup,
OF this place, who had always reposed
implicit confidence in Cree, is almost
ruined financially. The operations of Cree
have swept away handsome competen-
cy which Mr.. Northrup had few years
ago. He was a heavy indorser for Cree,
and stuck to him till the last moment,
saying, III the end, when the full wreck
of his fortune was revealed, "Wel.
Tom, you have at last sent me where |
took you from" Within a year the al
legation was made that Cree had taken
to drink, and that before his sudden dis
appearance he was evidently endeavor-
ing to drown his SORROWS in the tempo
rary oblivion of intoxication. 1t has
been asked what became of the immense
sums of money which he received. His
fast life consumed everything. His per-
sonal expenses exceeded $4,000 per
annum. He had the fastest horses in
the county, and was the most liberal man
IN all things. He was known by all, and
liked by all for his openhandedness and
hberality on all occasions. Some time
ago he erected n costly monument in his
lot III the cemetery-so costly and mag
nifcent that it was an object of attrac-
ton to visitors from the city. Cree is
supposed TO be out West, specializing
again. He is about thirty-five years OF
age, light build, blue eyes, and not of
an impressive appearance IT is re-
ported that he was seen last week in
Essex county, where he was travelling
under the suggestive name of "Shift "