The Portland daily press., 1882-02-03

An accident revealed to one OF our largest
business firms last evening the sad intelligence
that one of their smartest and most upright
salesmen-as they believed-had followed in
the path that so many had trodden for several
years back and fallen from righteousness. A
subsequent investigation disclosed the unwel-
come truth in most of its sad details and the
confession of the young man was free and
thorough.
About year ago Messrs. Twitchell, Chap
man & Co., the large wooden merchants on
Middle street, took into their employ young
as salesman by the name of George 4. Hoyt.
Mr.. Hoyt came from Vermont, where he is most
respectfully connected, his father occupying
an honored position on the bench of the
courts OF that State. Judge Hoyt is one of the
most eminent jurists, we understand, in Yer
mont, and it would seem as If a son, however
tempted, would have at least considered the
shame a dishonest course of life would inhict
on those whose fame he should have held dear
er than life. Mr.. HoyE is about % years of
age, with wife and child, and seemed very
happy in his home. He appeared one of the
steadiest of young men and remarkably apt
and quick in his business relations. He made
many friends, too, and, in fact, possessed all
those quail tiles that go to make up popular
salesman.
Some three or four months ago Mr.. John M.
Fiield, Of the firm, missed some rich black
silk and applied to Marshal Bridges to find the
goods if he could, hoping by that means to dis
cover the thief The effort, however, proved
fruitless. Since then goods have disappeared,
but such large stock is carried by the firm
that how much or what kinds could not easily
be ascertained.
Last evening, about o'clock one of the en-
ployes of the firm saw Mr.. Hoyt take large
piece of rich silk, containing perhaps fifty
yards, from the silk room up stairs He fol-
lowed him, without being suspected, and, on
the ground floor, saw him deliver it to gen.
tleman of the highest responsibility, who is en-
gagged in business in city not far from Port
land As soon as the gentleman went off with
the goods the firm were notified and Messrs.
Twitchell and Fifeld proceeded to Marshal
Bridges residence. Upon hearing their story
the marshal proceeded directly to the Preble
House, where Mr.. Hoyt had room, and pro
ceeding thither, entered. There he found
Hoyt and another gentleman occupying separ-
ate beds, and in an adjoining room the man to
whom Hoyt had delivered the silk.
Marshal Bridges found in the room the piece
of silk for which he was looking, besides
another OF fully as many yards. The silk is
valued at SLIGO yard, making the two pieces
worth over, or fully, $780, In the adjoining
room he found lot of other valuable goods
rich silk handkerchief etc. At first Hoyt de-
MED any theft, insisting that he had sold the
silk legitimately, and the other two gentlemen
with him stoutly insisted they had bought the
goods in the regular course of trade. As there
is no proof thus far that these gentlemen were
not telling the truth we withhold their names
this morning
Marshal Bridges took Hoyt to the station,
where he was interviewed by the firm whose
trust he had betrayed. There he failed to keep
up the appearance of innocence he had as
sumed and frankly confessed that he was
guilty. How long he had continued his career
of vice he could not exactly tell He admit
ted, however, that whenever he wanted any
money he would steal goods from the store.
Judging by the single haul he made last night,
and the property recovered at the Preble
dollars. Mr.. Hoyt admitted that he had &C
CURED taste for liquor since he had been
with the firm, and when the wine was in he
lost his sense Of business honor and dissipated
his lily got gains.
There was natural desire to keep an account
of the affair from the papers until the conduct
of all suspected parties had besn thoroughly
sifted, but, as will be seen, reporter of the
PRESS had already got knowledge of what was
gong on and believes he has confined himself
strictly to facts.