Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-04

<absoEcIs
The Jewish festival of Pesach or Passover
began last evening, the fourteenth day of the
month of Nissan in the Jewish calendar, and
lasts for seven days, the first and last of these
being holy days, on which public services are
held. The celebration is in commemoration
of the passing over" the Jewish houses by
the Angel of Death at the visitation of the
last of the plaques upon the Egyptians when
the first born in every house died, as well as
| in remembrance of the delivery of Israel
| from Egyptian bondage after 43O years of
| servitude. During these seven days no leav-
ened bread or other article is used in Jewish
| families. Aside from the public services
very interesting family service is generally
| observed on the first evening, when the
| children are instructed in the objects of the
| festival by the head of the family.
| PIainville's Missing Tax Collector.
Tax Collector Frank L. Beach, who so
mysteriously appeared from Plainville two
weeks ago, has not been heard from. Tele-
grams of inquiry to Chicago, where he has q
brother in the lumber business, and to other
points brought negative reply. For some
days before his departure he had appeared
| respondent. Mr.. White, owner of the trot-
ting park says he saw him that night just
before o'clock crossing the track in the d.
rection of the depot, and as the train for
Hartford leaves at that time it is probable he
went off on it. Beach is IS years old, q bach
elor, was of rather dark, sallow complexion,
of about medium height and build, and had
lost two fingers on one hand. He was rather
| bright and was known throughout the town
| as q good fellow" He had $4,000 left
him some years ago, but became fast" and
ran through all he had in few years.
| It is said he lost much money in horses,
always paying large sums for old frames.
Beach used to go off on spree to Hartford
| or somewhere else often without telling any
| body, and stay several days at time, SO that
his absence this time was unnoticed for six
days. The officers of the Frederick Lodge
of Masons, of which he was secretary. on
| investigating his books found deficiency of
| over $500, but this will be considerably in
creased. Then his Masonic friends thought
he had committed suicide and secured the
woods. Quite breeze is raised by the dis
covery that First Selectman Hills delivered
the tax book to Beach without the latter CIV
| ing bonds It is claimed that he did it with
| out the knowledge of the other Selectmen,
and it is believed that Mr.. Hills is response
| BILE for any deficiency which may be found.
| This was the case in Southington, the next
| town, few years ago when the tax collector
! failed and a deficiency was found in his tax
| accounts The collectors bonds had been
approved by the Selectmen and on investiga-
| ton it was found that the bonds were not
sound, and the Selectmen were held respon-
sible Two of the board were found to have
| no property, and the other man had to pay
| the whole amount The Plainvll1e Select
| men met Saturday afternoon to receive taxes
| and many receipted bills were discovered.
| Doubtless the deficit will amount to 81 900.
| Interest is now added to unpaid taxes, Satur-
day being the last day of grace. Many peo-
! pie had paid Beach, and to cut off suspicion
he deposited over 5000 of taxes in the safe
| of the Plainville Manufacturing company.
It is believed that Beach had dabbled in
stocks, and, seeing no way of retrieving his
losses, ran away.-Sp'Saatteld Republican.
AChapter of Maritime Experiences
| The schooner Mary E. Higgins, which
sailed from New London June 7, 1880, ar
rived at New London Sunday. The Higgins
cruised about the sealing grounds off the
| coast of Terra del Fuego for seventeen
months. During this time, says the Day,
she enjoyed but thirty days Of good weather,
the remainder of the time being rainy or
rough. The Higgins lost four of her crew by
| browning. Iney were Jonn FIX, an Aus
trlan, who shipped from New London, two
Chilianos and one Portuguese. The third
mates crew deserted the ship in June: 1881,
off the west coast taking small boat and q
full equipment They were picked up by a
steamer and landed at Valparaiso, from
whence it was learned they had scattered.
At the time of the wreck of the Wanderer,
in Hope harbor, Wakefield channel, Captain
Rogers and a boats crew of the Higgins
were on board the lost vessel. Three of
the Wanderers men, Larkin, third mate,
VIM. KRONER, steward, and Tobias Wen
gold, cooper, were brought home by the
Higgins together with two Frenchmen
whom the Wanderer had picked up. The
Higgins secured 1000 fur sealskins, which
were shipped from Sandy Point to London.
The Higgins was in the vicinity of the
Thomas Hunt and the Express, both of
Stonington, during her stay at the sealing
grounds. The Hunt, Captain Lynch, left
Stonington one month after the Higgins
sailed on her outward passage, the Express,
Captain Dennis Mahoney, leaving two months
| later. The Hunt secured about 1000 skins
and the Express J. 200. They were both to
sail from Sandy Point for home on the day
after the Higgins left. Both of these vessels
were expected to arrive at Stonington yester-
day.