The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-01

TIE CRANE DEFALCATEON
Facts of the case.

of Vermont, substantially the same as APP
pearcd in the Burlington Free Press Friday
evening. We have since become possessed
of reliable information concerning the
whole matter and think it only due TO all
parties that the truth should be told, let it
fall where it may.
1t appears that Mr.. Crane was appointed
Collector in 1867 and succeeded Carlos
Baxter, Esq, of Burlington, in that posi-
ton. The chief clerk and bookkeeper un-
der Mr.. Baxter was Edward y. Jewctt
and he was continued in the same response
bic position on the succession of Mr.. Crane
to the collectorship. Jewett being entirely
conversant with the duties of the Office
having performed them in the employ of
Mr.. Baxter, and Mr. Crane being entirely
ignorant of the details of the same at the
time of his appointment, Jewett, quite
naturally, did the business and was trusted
to the utmost by Mr.. Crane. Jewett had
entire charge of the books and of the
money collected made all the entries of the
same and attended to the depositing OF
money in the bank There was, we are
Informed. at this time number of uncol-
lected and uncollectablc taxes in the hands
of Mr.. Crane, some of them OF large
amounts, levied upon corporations and
companies that had failed or become bank
rupt, such, for instance, as the St. Adams
Bank, that was pundered by the ia
nous raiders. These tax-bills of course
had to be abated by the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue at
Washington by certain forms prescribed
for the purpose, and which business was
attended to by Jewett for Mr.. Crane. The
duties of the Office were performed, rs they
had been begun, by Jewett. for period of
some three years and half, the latter hay
ing the whole swing, and Mr. Crane giving
him a loose rein with the most perfect con-
fidence. One day in the year II, about the
time mentioned above, Henry Ballard, Esq.
called into the office Of Mr.. Crane. walked
up to the desk where Jcwctt was writing,
and, announcing that he was the attorney
for Mr.. Baxter, demanded the sum of
81 900 be paid his client by Jcwett. as hay
ing been purloined by the latter while in
the employ Of Baxter. Jewctt denied the
charge In t0t9. Mr.. Crane, who was writ
ing at another desk, was struck dumb with
amazemcnt. and like flash the thought
came to his mind Of his own situation, in
the power of man accused Of robbery.
Despite the fright, the GOODNESS and self
possession of Jewett as he denied the charge
disarmed the suspicion Of Mr. Crane for
the time, and the suddenness of the attack
upon the honesty of this responsible clerk
was strong ground for disbelief in the
charge. Mr.. Crane, however, from that
moment was possessed with dread and
fear that his own business was not right,
and he began to investigate his affairs as
fast as possible without the knowledge Of
Jewett. At times he would be led to be
lieve that he was wronging his clerk by
such suspicion, and would attempt to put
the fear far from him, as human beings
are prone TOT do, the world over. But matters
began to eliminate, and the worst fears of
Mr.. Crane were soon confirmed. He soon
discovered by a little investigation that Il
number of bills had not been collected, or
if collected the money had not been re-
ceived by him. He at once inquired Of
Jcwett the whereabouts of those bills and
the reason of the dimnution in the rev
cnue. He would always be answered that
what bills We're not abatcd were in the
hands of deputies and that all money re-
ceived had been entered. This was soon
proved to be false by Mr.. Crane, and on
the LIST of July, 1871, Jewett was told that
his services were no longer required. Mr.
Crane was satisfied he had been swindled,
but to how large an extent he then knew
not. lie disliked to make the matter pub
lie and almost feared to discover the worst.
SO the matter rested for the present and
the duties Of collector were continued TO
be performed by Mr.. Crane.
In July last Messrs. Douglass and Rod
gers, the former n son of the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue, ana the latter the
special accounting clerk Of the Treasury,
came to this section on an annual inspec-
ton of all the Offices of Collectors, and on
arriving in turn at Burlington were met by
Mr.. Crane, who at once took them to his
office, explained the whole affair from be-
ginning to end as here related, and then
brought forward the books for their exam
nation. These gentlemen, with the asss-
lance of Mr.. Crane, spent some four OF
five days in this work, and as result,
found a deficit of over $1,000 in Mr.
Cranes account with the Government
They also assured themselves, as events
have proved, just how such defalcatior
was brought about without the knowledge
of Mr.. Crane. The latter expected tina
when they should close their examination
that one of them wolld be left in charge
of the Office until a collector to succeed
him should be appointed. On the con
trary, however, they left without any re
marks concerning the future. The mex
week, Mr.. MiXtcr, the clerk OF the super
visor of Internal Revenue for New Eng
land, who is w. A. Simmons Of Boston
presented himself to Mr.. Crane, sayinl
that the Supervisor had sent him for tn,
purpose of like examination as the ont
already made, of his books, and report o
the same. This was also done and every
thing possible furnished for procuring al
necessary information.
On or about October LIST, following
close upon the proclamation to that effect
Mr.. Crane was informed that he had bee
appointed Collector of the Consolidate
Districts, and received bond for sigma
ture, with information that the district fol
merly represented by r. j. Jones us colleC