The Portland daily press., 1881-02-09
SWAN.
Crookedness in His Town Busi-
ness.
OVER $4,000 RAISED BY HIM ON UN-
AUTHORIZED TOWN NOTES.
Especial Despatch to the Press J

Special Despatch to the Press.)
MECHANIC FALLS, Feb. S.-The village con-
tinues full of wild rumors and sensational bits
of gossip in reference to the Swan affair which
has become the all absorbing topic of converse
ton. A large majority of these rumors cur
rent on the street are without foundation, but
to-day we have followed up report which we
have every reason to believe is true. 1t has
not as yet been given to the press so we hasten
to forward to you. Washington Dean, a
worthy citizen of this place, has in his posses
sion town order for 81 $50 signed by"Thomas
B. Swan, Town Treasurer The order was
given Mr.. Dean by Swan personally in ex-
change for Buckfeld town bonds of similar
value. A significant fact about this order is
that through the printed line "Town Treas
urer," light pencil mark is drawn which is
not appreciable except under the closest in
spection and would never be- noticed unless
particular attention was called to it. Mrs.
Wallace, a widow lady, and a Mr.. Cotton,
have also town orders of like character to the
above, and it has been ascertained that there
are about $4,000, outstanding orders and notes
against the town issued by Swan for which no
appropriation was made and no official author
ity given for their issue. So much for that
Another interesting fact in connection with the
case is that Swans family yesterday received
package through the mail from an unknown
point, which package contained the combina-
ton to his safe. This combination has been
applied and repeated efforts made to open the
safe but all such have been fruitless and the
contents, if there are any, of the safe remain
still among the unknown. The whereabouts
of the swiddler are still mystery
AUGUSTA, Feb. S.-Mr. Getchell, Messenger
of the House, who was sent to leave sum-
mons at Swans house for him to appear before
the special committee to examine the charges
against him, returned this afternoon. He
left the notice with Swans wife who appeared
considerably affected, and desired to know if
she could be of any service to the committee.
She has the sympathy of the community in
which she lives
Later developments show Swan to be
greater scoundrel than his corn shelter fraud
represents him. It appears that for the past
year he has been borrowing various sums of
money of people who took from him what
they supposed to be town notes. OF Mrs
Cotton he hired $400, and of Mrs. Wall he
hired $500, in each instance giving note in
which it was represented that the amount
would be paid by the town of Minot, and sign
ing his name ''T. B. Swan, Clerk and Treas.
urer." Washington Dean of Oxford holds one
of these notes for $3.50, signed by T. B.
Twan, Treasurer, but through the word
Treasurer a blue pencil mark has
been drawn This note was obtained in
the following manner: Mr.. Dean had town
of Oxford bond for $500 bearing per cent,
and on a long term. Swan told him he would
cash it for him less the discount, which was
some $170, and would take the money and give
him 6 per cent for it. Dean consented, and
supposed Swan gave him town note. Other
parties, it is believed, let Swan have money
took what they supposed to be town notes,
and reports already place the total amount as
high as $4,000 which he has obtained in this
way. These notes, however, are illegally
signed, as Swan had no authority to borrow
as treasurer, from the town Of Minot.
The package which Swan forwarded from
Toledo, heretofore referred to in these des-
patches, was sent to his wife's father, O. W.
Hawkes., one of his bondsmen. 1t appears it
contained the key to Swans safe, an old fash
ioned one, which stood in his Office, and which
contained the towns books. Swan wrote to
Hawkes. that his accounts were all straight,
but that remains to be seen. This morning
the selectmen of Minot, with Mr.. Hawkes.,
opened the safe, and have entered upon an
examination of the books.