Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-15
SWANS CASE.

TO Thomas b. Swans guilt and fraud IN
dealing with the farmers of the country,
and with the people Of his own town.
The following letter to his father-in-law
explains the situation fully. II seems
that be borrowed sums Of money from
various parties and gave them what pur-
ported to be town notes, but which really
were individual notes. Those are the
notes referred to at the close of his letter.
This latter confession shows him to have
been deliberate fraud, and tohave planned
deception for some time before this reve-
lation. 1t will be noted that he makes
no reference to the scythe sharpener and
corn shelter.
TOLEDO, Feb. 2, 1881.
| am under the painful necessity OF In
forming You of the state of my affairs, and
am deserving OF your severest condemna-
ton. Commencing at Mechanic Falls with
nothing, | was worth about $500 when 1
married your daughter. The next two
years l made, above expenses, $1,000 per
/ year so that got To be worth about SO,
I 600 above all debts. The tide then turned,
and began to loose everything. | kept
nv money and the towns money mixed,
and in the Casco Bank, so that In the
spring of 1878. found upon examination
/ that was about S50s short in town ac-
counts. Matters grew no better until the
/ fall of 1879 found was sl,700 behind,
and should have failed one year ago If |
had not received $500 from Mrs. Cushman,
Z ~. II. t,fr GU
when in fact she was getting my personal
note. also received $3.50 from Newton
Stowe. and 81 900 from W. T. White,
which made my accounts right last spring
| in settling with the Selectmen. On ac-
count of the While matter, things grew no
/ better. As my business fell off, being de-
sirous of getting even, | went into stock
speculatious, and made about $500 ut first.
| finally continued ard kept losing until i
lost -, 800. This loss has taken place
during the last three months. Ii seems al
most Impossible that | should have kept
/ up this speculation. Was IL the result of
desperation. or insanity! am amazed at
my own acts
am defaulter 10 the amount OF ST.
O76. or less Some cash and coupons may
| be found In Casco Bank. Aud TO secure
/ YOU from loss, send you by registered
/ letter. a deed OF one half the pump shop.
/ bin OF sale Of express wagon, pine timber
in Buckuam's mill. safe, law library,
pumps, also an assignment OF 1856 in
/ pump bills, and order on State OF Maine for
paw for travelling and attendance a mem
/ Der Of the Legislature. think what have
sent YOU will save you from loss. lfyou
have TO lose, certainly will make II mp TO
Won. You will also fiud safe combination
enclosed In this. Get from Millett Dwi-
nal A note of sll9 and sl36 in money or It's
equivalent You will md Dwinars note of
$50 and Libbys note in the safe. | send
in registered letter, deed. bill OF sale and
orders. which will save J. &. Walker from
loss. also send In registered letter a
/ drafl for Elva his wife enclosing SEQ for
her 10 live on. until can send her some
more money. only took 500 with me.
I owe Mrs. Cushman go
John Atkinson. l,u.
stow, -
" Dean. l.S>o
ts.is.
The above money never went into the
towns effects Notes are signed "ThoS.
u. Swan, Treas of Minot," making them
nv notes and not the towns. As town
! never had the money or any part or H. aud
/ A. Il Is nv note. the town nor you, a my
boudsman, src not held for Il. The case
Is similar to the Geo. Moore note. Judge
Morrill,. or any good lawyer, will tell YOU
that they src only nv private notes; and
Won can tell the Sclcctmen not 20 pay them.
| | shall sometime pay every dollar OF them.
You will nnd in the registered letter. a
! detail OF INV standing with the town, which
you will preserve. Please break this ter
/ riblc news 20 Elva n gently n possible
and give her NV letter.
Take possession OF property conveyed al
once II l. pail for, aud clear OF incum
hrance. Elya owns all the furniture In the
house. leave this city tonight. There
are some notes given 20 Z. u. Lord, Anna
Stowe. aud Newton stowe, which are
signed "Thos. b. Swan, Treas, for the
town OF Minot," which ARE entered upon
the town books. and credit given, for those
notes are all right. As YOU will see upon
! examination, they are charged TO me In my
town accounts. 4 note signed IT. b
/ Swan. Treas OF Minot," Is nv note. 4
note signed 1T. b. Swan, Treas. foT
Minot." is a town note All town notes
are properly entered on the town books.
The following are not town notes:
Mrs Cushman. 49,
/ ". Dean. -
| J. Atkinson, lW
| Anna y. stowe, -
From your ruined and disgraced son,
T. b. SWAN.
1t has been reported that parties in
Norway held some Of these bogus town
notes. but we have been unable TO ascer-
tain that there are any such in the
town. An examination of Swans books.
it is stated, reveals larger defalcations
than he admits in above letter.
NOW THEY WANT TO UNLOAD SWAN.
IfThamas H. swan, the Representative from
MinOr IL the rascal he appears 10 be, IL only