The Portland daily press., 1880-02-13
THE STOLEN CALCULATIONS.
How They Disappeared from E. G..
Moody's Carpet-Bag.
BEN SON BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL
1Snecial Desnatch to the Press.l

Especial Despatch TO the PreSS.J
AUGUSTA, Feb. 12.-Today John Benson,
Jr., the Fusion Deputy Secretary of State, and
member of "Gov." Smiths staff, was arraign-
ed before Judge True charged with the crime
of larceny Of the manuscript tatulation of the
legislative returns from E. c. Moody, Jan. %,
1880. The complaint also contained count
for melting, &C., some person or persons un-
known to commit said crime.
E. c. Moody of Garcelon's Council testified
in substance that he came to Augusta on or
about Jan. 90, from York, on the afternoon
train. He went to the Augusta House and oc-
cupied room 3S. Had with him valise
which contained the volume of tabulations
with other papers Some time between hisarrival
at the Augusta House and half-past o'clock
that evening, Major Frank Nye came into his
room and Moody showed him the tabulations.
Benson also came in that evening and he
(Moody) showed him the tabulations. They
were the only persons who knew that he
(Moody) had them in his possession at Au-
gusta Moody says he left his room between
and o'clock that night and went to the State
House, leaving his door unlocked with the
valise in his room. He also went to Secretary
Chadbourne's house He returned to the Au-
gusta House very late. Upon entering his
room and opening his valise he found the
tabulations gone, and had never seen them
since. He then went to a room in the Augusta
House, where he found Benson with other
parties, and told Benson that he had lost the
papers in his valise, and that somebody had
taken them. Benson denied any knowledge
of the papers. Moody held two or three con-
versations with Benson between that time and
the present time, and charged him with taking
the papers. Benson denied and said he didn't
take them Moody also charged him with
telling other parties where they were, and to
get them. Benson's reply was that he would
neither affirm nor deny the charge.
During the cross-examination of Moody he
stated that the tabulations consisted of the
vote given for representatives to the legisla
ture and other papers tabulating the members
of the Senate. These tabulations had been
made in part by himself, but mostly by other
members of the Council. They were never
made part of the record of the archives of the
state, but were made as basis for the tabula-
tons of the returns which were afterwards
adopted These tabulations he considered to
be his private property, and were in his drawer
at the Council chamber when the Council
dissolved, and were by him taken away. He
said they were worth 500 to him as relics
He said he never offered them for sale.
Maj. Nye testified seeing the tabulations in
Moody room. Brown came to the door while
he was there&tepped in and then stepped
out again without making any stop. When
Nye left Moodys room he saw Brown stand
ing at the head of the stairs
1t seems that Brown was on the alert to find
out when Nyc left Moody's room, knowing
that Moody had been summoned to appear
with the papers before the investigating COM
mittee of the legislature. The supposition is
is that when he found the opportunity he won't
to Moody 8 room during his absence and abb
stracted them.
Benson Omitted that he knew where the
returns were and offered to give them for Ger.