The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-29
MOTIVES THAT LED TO THE UNFOR-
TUNATE SPECULATION.
The Recent Trouble at the Slade Mill.

FALL RIVER, July 2S.-The leading topics
of conversation today have been the irregular
transactions Of George B. Durfee at the Me-
chanics mill and the disturbance and shooting
at the Slade mill last evening. Concerning
the former statement was made by Durfee
this afternoon, which it is deemed best to give
give to the public although the facts differ
but little from those given Saturday night.
The Irregularities were discovered week ago
Saturday by the bookkeeper at the mill, who
found note at the Metacomet Bank to the
credit of the mill for $15 900. Not knowing
anything about it he took it to Dur
fee and demanded an explanation. Not get
ting it the clerk laid the matter before the
president and within two hours q meeting of
the directors was called at which Durfee was
present He had some months ago made an
experiment with new boilers, which proved
failure and very costly. Added to this he had
sold to, and just before the failure of, the
American Print Works, of which he was a
director, $4,000 pieces of goods, for both
of which transactions he had been
severely censured by the stockholders. He
states that seeing, as he supposed, an oppor-
tunity to make large amount of money by
specializing in cotton he was tempted to invest,
intending to turn the profits to the mill and
surprise his directors. He commenced his
speculations June II when cotton was almost
at its highest point He lost in all S35 600 in
margins. The directors believe that Durfee
and his relatives have turned over enough
property to make the mill secure. 1t is said,
however, that some of this property has been
attached by banks holding private notes of
Durfee and relatives. Many business men as
sert that the matter ought not to be settled by
the payment of the loss, but that Durfee
should suffer the full penalty of the law for his
crime. Durfee has rendered his resignation
which was accepted.
In regard to the Slade mill difficulty the
majority of business men sustain the course
taken by Deputy Sheriff Burlington in order
ing the officers to fire into the crowd. Frank
O'Neill, the spinner who was wounded, told
his grievances to tue city marshal this fore
noon. His wounds are not serious. Tonight
another of the dsturbers, striker, was ar
rested.
Another serious disturbance occurred last
evening. John Way in the employ of the I'm
ion Mill Co.. with fellow workman. was mis-
taken for a nobstick and suddenly sprang upon
and assaulted by q party of strikers. Both
men were knocked down. Ways companion
regained his feet and ran, but Way was badly
kicked and pounded. In view of the numer-
GUS disturbances an executive session of the
board of aldermen was held for the purpose of
confirming additional constables This pur-
pose was defeated by three Democratic alder
men, all liquor sellers One of them, Leonard
Openly, favored intimidation. The Mayor
will consult with Gov. Talbot at Boston to-
morrow to see if some arrangements cannot be
made to secure better protection of property
and citizens, an object desired and called for
by men representing two-thirds of the tax
payers of the city.