Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-05-27
Prom The Bangor Whg.l
The Way Of the Transgressor.

Our readers will remember that on the
second Of February last, the report came b,
telegraph that Israel Boothby, the cashier o.
the First National Bank of Augusta. had
committed suicide, being found dead in tn,
cistern in the basement Of the bank building
with a pistol shot through his brain. The
sequel to that story came to our reader,
some ten DAYS ago in the telegram an
nouncing tina, the miserable man wa,
| found to be defaulter in the sum Of $50
900.
1t was no surprise TO those who knew the
man and his habits. Although Of kindly ma
ture and genial disposition. he was a liber-
/ tine, gambler. and given to his cups. Why
was a man of that character kept in such a
| responsible position? The answer always
came-"Major Boothby is a model account
ant; his books are always right; whatever
he may be in other respects. he certainly Is
an honest man" He was held up as a man
who despised churches, reviyals of religion,
temperance and morality. but was able
to maintain the integrity Of his business
relations. How soon the delusion has been
| dispellcd
The Nome Farmer has an able article on
the subject, reviewing the whole case. Al
| though surrounded by board OF directors
composed Of careful and competent bust
ness men. Boothby carried on for eight wears
the operations of an embe7zler. This bank
vas carefully examined once a wear bV Hon.
Joseph Williams. and once a year by the
National bank examiner, who portion Of
the time was Hon. Noah Woods of Ran
gor. now Judge Humphrey Of the same CITY.
At each examination these gentlemen found
the accounts Of the bank correct a. per
the books. The examinations though crit
oally made hy Mr. Wood and Judge Hum
phrey. would not reveal the amount Of
funds in other banks. 80 skillfully had
Boothhv, the cashier. made false entries on
his books
In this case Mr. Williams on the frsi day
Of last Feh9 Iars, commenced his annual cN-
animation Of the bank. AR Boothby had
fixed his books making them conform 10 the
then condition Of the bank In his attempts
to conceal hi crime he left the trace which
led 10 his being discover and TO his
death. Mr. Williams discovered that the
cash was SloS5 short there beng fal.c
entry Of unpaid dividends for this amount.
He notified Nj Boothb, and aid 10 him
that he mus; account; for this on the morrow.
TUESDAY morning came, MI Boothby knew
exposure was inevitahc-hc knew that the
peEali, must be paid for the life Of crime be
had led. and IN the building where he had
violated his trusts aud BETRAYED those ho
had placed IN him implioi, faith. broken down
by fear and rrrnorsc. not having the courage
TO face the responsibilities Of his own acts.
he took his life and MS death was his CON
fc>sion.
For three months Nj Williams has been
examining the large business transactions of
this bank with all the dcposi;ors and custom
ers and o,hcf banks IN Boston and New York
from the time Mr. Booihb, became - cashier
until hi, death. The examination. has been
most exhaustive and ;horou- b and j; shows
defAcAiiun commencing eight YEAR ago.
and continuing uni! his death. of th.r;, one
thousand dollars. involving fal.c rE;rics.fur-
geries and ;h-f, which required the practice
OF the mot subtle ingenuity and ycrs.s'cu;
wrong do.Rg.
or the loss incurred the bank " ID losc AZ
thousand do,iar,. which can lee pad fur ou;
Of the -urpiu> faud. il. standing will not D,
affected. Mr. Boo,hhY's estate : ;hrr, thou
sand dol.ars. The surc,ics on h. bond ,wcu-
y two thousand dollar. during the period
OF his dcfalcatloa be gave ;vo bond. Of tvcn-
" thousand dollars each; while The fr,; bond
vas running there Vas j daial-A'lou - jwo
thousand doilar,. The ,lr,tic, upon ih..
bond We learn. arr Hon. ) T. Sprung Of
Portland Col Thomas l.4ushar,! Ncs,rs. J
/. Wyman and George VI Robinson Of Az
gusta-
Upon the other bond h.ch cover, a f,crioa
where the dcfAloat.on WAs ih.rr, thou .aud
do.lAr,. %; which the bond !. held for tveu-