Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-15
Bully Asnnebst Journal.
Augusta, Saturday Morning, Mar TO- 1879
The Dexter Savings Bank and Mr..
Barron.

supplement- 10 tne Dexter Uazette VI
March IA has been issued, containing q
statement by the trustees of the Dexter
Savings Bank, concerning the affair,
of that institution as connected witt
the Barron case. 1t appears by this
that the books of the bank as kept by Mr.
Barron have been undergoing examina
ton by Mr.. Levi Murch. Assistant Treas
urer of the Bangor Savings Bank, who
finds in them evidences of alterations, in
GLIDING erasures and changes of figure:
made in the accounts of 1877, involving
the sum Of S2000-of which so much has
already been said-making the apparent
condition of the bank $1,000 better than il
actually was. The statement in regard to
this matter goes into details, and if true
makes out case of discrepancies and
Irregularities apparently amounting to
fraud.
But while the statement seemingly con-
victs Mr.. Barron of dishonesty in regard
to this affair, it also shows that he gave his
note to the bank tor $1,000, secured by an
assignment of life insurance policy for
$1,000, at about the same date the alterations
in his books appear. This note was given
to the bank to reimburse it in part for loss
which it suffered on account of loan
made to the "Leavitts, but tor which Mr..
Barron was not responsible, and not held
to pay dollar, and his giving the note
voluntarily and without the knowledge of
the trustees seems like an act of great
magnanimity and to forbid the possibility
that the man who did it could at the same
time be the author of villainy towards the
bank The bank has received the pay
ment of the policy and retained the $4,000
and interest. If swindling was intended
by Mr.. Barron he went strangely to work
TO do it. If he did take $4,000 from the bank
fraudulently-which as yet we do not be:
lieve--he gave the bank $4,000 for which
he was not holden to pay one cent, legally
or morally.
The report shows some discrepancies and
mysteries in regard to the keeping of the
cash book from Jan. 8 to Feb. %, 1873
the latter being the day of Mr. Barrons
death, Leaving apparently missing and
not accounted for the sum of $l203, Sc.
We have yet to have Bank Examiner Tit
combs report, which may give more
light on this dark subject. The trustees
conclude their report as follows:
So great are the difficulties about the books
that we do not undertake to state definitely
the amount missing from the Bank. Mr..
Bolster is reported to have said in substance
that Mr.. Barron's system of Book keeping
was easily understood, and he believed the
books to be correctly kept. After expanding
. great deal Of labor to ascertain the facts
from the books, we are compelled to say that
we cannot agree with MIR. Bolster and in
confirmation Of our opinion, we here give
the report Of Mr. Murch, Of March l, 1879
BANGOR, March l. 1870
To the President and Trustees Of the DEXTER Sar-
ings Bank, Derter Ne:
GENTLEMEN From the partial examination Of
the books Of the Dexter Savings Bank, more par
ticularly of the two cash books from Jan 1875 TO
Feb ~, 1873, and from the transcript and memoran.
d. Ihave Of the books, find some of the accounts,
10 me, 30 mixed complicated. such discrepancies
TO the other-some entries of the same amounts and
others not, and the entries very brief that they
are very dfncut for NE TO explain particularly the
account with safe. am yet unable to arrive at q
positive result.
am, Gentlemen,
Very Respectfully.
Your obi Serv't,
LEVI MURCH.
As to the many alterations in the books
can they have been made since Mr. Barron's
death All those who have had the custody
Of the books since that time have been ex
amined on this point and all have testified
under oath that none of the alterations were
made while in their custody, severally. We
regard it as the height of absurdity to insinu.
ate that any of the alterations have been
made since his death.
Our reasons for not coming out with pub.
lie statement before this time is found in the
extreme difficulties of the case in the ascer.
tainment of the facts and our great desire to
get definite statement from Mr.. Murch.
We did not wish to speak until we knew
what we had to say and so far as we
undertook to state facts, that they could not
be refuted. We regret that it is not in our
power to make more accurate statement.
We have employed Josiah Crosby, of Dex-
ter, TO draw up this report. 1t has engaged
his attention many days. We have given him
free access to the books and threw ali the light
in our power upon the case. We have com
pared the report with the books, and believe
that every point is correctly stated. In the
foregoing statement, we have endeavored TO
fairly show the condition of the books of the
bank as left by Mr.. Barron, as far as can be
done without thorough examination by an
expert, and We have drawn such differences
from the many alterations found in them as
we think are fully warranted. We do not
undertake to explain the motives that gov
erned Mr.. Barron in making the many alter
atoms found in the books, changing the fig
ures In the Trial Balance after the signing OF
the abatement by two of the Trustees, as he
evidently did; and making sworn return to
the Bank Examiner that did not represent the
true standing of the Bank From the well
established facts in relation to the cash Mr.
Barron had on hand on the 22d of Febv. we
cannot resist the conclusion that the amonnt
Of cash at the close of the dav must have
been very small, and that none was stolen on
that day.
From our long connection with Mr.. barron
in the management of the bank from its or.
ganization to the time of his death. and from
the high appreciation in which he was AWAY,
regarded by US, we should be as much graft
ned as any one if, on thorough examination OF
the bank by an expert the many irreguIari,;e,