Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-03-06
WANTED, 100000.
Likewise the Postmaster who Carried 1t
Of-What a Thrifty and Saving Young
Man Can Accomplish.
[Granville On. w Cor. New York "

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 s'Tom" Cree-was
put in bankruptcy at Buffalo. Born on
an island of Lake Champlain, spending
his early days in poor house, cared for
in boyhood by 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 speculative spirit, and
finally became widely known as a dealer
IN "horse gold'' by selling cheap imita-
ton gold watches at horse races andfairs.
He developed as Spectator after sew
eral attempts to continue in a fixed and
permanent business, and soon by the bold
ness of his transactions and the prodi-
gallty OF his expenditures became widely
known as a man of wealth This
broughtinhu and increased business,
and III the end made Tom Cree one of
the foremost men in this section of
Washington county Carrying out his
operations with still holder endeavors he
announced, a few years ago, that he was
going West as banker He took with
him the fruits of his extensive specula-
tons Gin which he had made much
wealth., and really established several
banks in 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
lions 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-
sented a mortgage for $4,000 ON an en-
tire section of land in Iowa. Develop
ments just made indicate that no such
section (no such number) exists in that
State. While in the confidence of our
bankers he represented that Henry l..
Smith, a distinguished Western fnancier
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 a set
Element was delayed until he could hear
from his "agents" nthe West Onsmall
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 a 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 GA 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 a 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
e tie bank accounts in the hands of an
e absconding speculator The banks are
t heavy losers by forged notes, mortgages,
I ETC. The banks at Poultney, VT, White
: hall, Granville, Fort Edward, and, it is
said, one New York bank, suffer- The
f losses to banks alone foot up fully $3.50,
1 600, and not less than S150,000 is due to
4 farmers and others. His accounts as
e postmaster are now being investigated
v by Detective Spencer, of the Postal De
( partment, and it is generally believed
q that they will be found IN a surprising
t condition. A peculiar and distressing
V feature of the case is the fact that his
!. early benefactor, Mr.. j. Fl. Northrup,
!, of this place, who had always reposed
e implicit confidence in Cree, is almost
i ruined financially. The operations of Cree
V have swept away handsome competen-
s cy which Mr.. Northrup had few years
l. ago. He was heavy indorser for Cree,
It and stuck to him till the last moment
e saying, IN the end, when the full wreck
r OF his fortune was revealed, "Well,
Il Tom, you have at last sent me where
|. took you from" Within year the al
y legation was made that Cree had taken
It to drink, and that before his sudden dis
: appearance he was evidently endeavor-
r ing to drown his sorrows in the tempo
d rary oblivion of intoxication. It 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 pc,
y annum. He had the fastest horses IL
e the county, and was the most liberal mar
J in all things. He was known by all, and
liked by all for his openhandedness and
l. hberality on all occasions. Some time
K ago he erected costly monument in his
e lot in the cemetery-so costly and mag
It nifcent that it was an object of attrac
:. ton to visitors from the city. Cree is
e supposed to be out West, specializing
/ again. He is about thirty-fve years q
o age, light build, blue eyes, and not O.
:. an impressive appearance. 1t is re
u ported that he was seen last week il
6 Essex county, where he was travelling