The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-14
TIE DEXTER CASE.
The Mirrors Reply to Mr.. Bradbury.
The Christian Mirror today will contain the
following anent the Dexter case:

The Christian Mirror today will contain the
following anent the Dexter case:
We see this morning statement in th pap.
ers that "President Bradbury of the D-xter
Savings Bank says he forbade Detective Dear
born making his statement pu lie, but said the
detective could not stand the pressure He
says it was jealousy of detectives which caus.
ed the publication" But we have the Dexter
Gazette of Jan. 81, in double loaded column
declaring: 1--WE are authorized by the bank
officers to state 10 this public manner that the
detectives who have lately been investigating
the matter of the death Of Mr.. Barron have
come to the conclusion that it was case of
suicide" The Gazette adds, evidently upon
like authority:
1t may not be out OF place to say here tina. the
bank officers tor reasons OF their own, would not just
now bave published ANYTHING as above but for the
fact that some in their confidence had evidently
acted dshono' able part which ,esulted in the APP
pearance in an evening paper in neighboring city
Of matter bearing upon the case and which caused
such feeling OF unrest and suspense tnat it
ed adv-able not to longer withhold the conclusions
which had been arrived at Besides, the fact Of the
detectives being here together with the County At
torney, and all in consultation wita the bank repre-
senlaIives, couli but leave the people to suppose
that something was ,ranspiring of an imp rant
character. and very soon the ar was burdened with
all sorts rumors and everyone seemed impressed
with the feeling that heavy blow Was soon to fall
somewhere and the suspense had become painful to
the last degree.
The reason thus alleged for the appearance
of the detectives story is for substance precise
ly what tn At gentleman gave us in conversation
with him last week. We submit that 1t is al
together too late for him now to attempt an
evasion of responsibility for the publication by
laying it upon the detectives The latter may
have been under "pressure" instigating him
to rush iuto print with his story, but we think
that it was "Dressure" from some other
source than a fellow detectiye
We are exceedingly surprised to find also in
the morning papers, this:
That insut ance policy about which much has
been said (Mr. Br4dbury states) assigned 70 the
bank.
The inference of the reader would be that
the bank held note against Mr.. Barron, to
secure which he turned over this life in
surauce policy. But the truth is, the bank
then held no such note whatever, and did not
till at least two years later. The assignment
was made, as Mr.. Barron himself stated, to
cover the possible loss on the "Leavitt Loan. "
Two years after ward Mr. Barron executed
hote for $4,000 as gift to the Bank, which che
very reluctant to believe that President Brud-
bury willfully would have SO misrepresented
this matter We prefer 10 believe that he has
himself been unsupported.
At this point we think it important to
remark that the said note was paid 10 full to
from the following Endorsement upon it:
"This note was paid this day. July 16,
1873. GEO. HAMlLroN,
Treasurer"
Our readers, therefore, will perceive that at
the time when the bank officers authorized the
publication of the datective's charges of detail
| cation aud suicide, they had in their own vaults
the cash, $4,000, and had it some six months.
Now If Mr. Barron owed that money they can
show it. II he did not owe it, then it was q
gift, and if gift It had replaced any deficiency
OF that amount. Yet knowing this they still
| allow the charges to be made of "de6cit,"
| "defalcation," etc. Did they do this because
there was pressure upon the detectives?
We beg leave to say 10 conclusion that these
bank officials staud before the community 10 q
| position of no small responsibility. It will be
very 10th to believe ausht of them inconsistent
with the highest veracity and honor At the
same time, it is not 10 mood to accept from
them any quibbling evasion much less any mis-.
representations of facts concerning the matter
which by their means has been spread before
the public. The stories which have been Sent
out respecting their deceased associate are il
the highest degree d+famarory. They who sent
| them out or aided aud sbett-d 1t, have either
| to prove their truth in manner to satisfy q
vig,lant public, or they will have to meet the
consequences-we trust 10 all legal ways-of q
wanton and cruel sander.