The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-03-25
THE OLD STORY.
A Prominent New Hampshire Of
fetal a Defaulter.
He CoNFEsSES TO MISAPPROPRIAT-
ING $4,000.

EXETER, N. H., March 24.-Gen. George e.
Lane. a member of Gov. Bells staff, the presi-
dent of a local savings bank and for some time
treasurer of Rockingham county, is default
or to the amount of $4,000. Gen Lane IS a
native of Exeter, 40 years of age, and has al
ways lived here. Up to the sad disclosure he
has borne an unblemished reputation and has
always enjoyed in a high measure the conn
dence and esteem of the community. lie mas
been for a long time the proprietor of large
book, stationery and newspaper store For
many years he was treasurer Of the Union
Savings Bank of Exeter, a very prosperous IN
stitution. When he was made treasurer OF
Rockingham county he was obliged by law 10
resign his position in the bank. Subsequently
he was made president of the bank, which po-
sition he now holds. In the legislature last
summer Mr.. Lane was friend of Gov. Bell,
and was elected commissary general OF the
State, which made him member OF His Ex-
cellency's staff, with the rank OF Drlgadler
general. Upon application OF Norris DOW OIL
Exeter, whom Gen. Lane was owing, he yes
terday drew a check in favor OF Mr.. DOW Tor
$4,000 on Boston bank. The check was i'm
mediately presented, and dishonored, ON the
grounds that he had no funds in the bank.
Mr.. Dow returned to Exeter by the next train
and placed an attachment upon Lanes stores
The attachment so alarmed Gen. Lane that he
Immediately went to Mr.. Dow and asked prl-
vate conference with him. He then made a
full confession, saying that he had embezzled
amount of $4,000. He also confessed that he
was defaulter to the county of Rockingham
| in the sum of 1875 900. He admitted that his
downfall was caused by speculation in stocks.
Lane then voluntarily delivered himself up to
| the authorities and was taken to Portsmouth
| where he now is in jail. His bondsmen to the
| county are Gov. Bell, William ID. Morrill,,
| Norris Dow, James W. Odlin, John j. Bell,
| Frank d. Cram and George w. Weston. The
| high character and excellent financial stand
| ing of these gentlemen shows the great conf
| dence that was reposed in Gen. Lane by the
| most prominent persons of Exeter and OF
| Rockingham county. 1t is stated that every
| business man in Exeter was deposltor in
| Gen. Lanes bank, and the amount of deposits
must have been large. An expert is now at
work on Lanes books, and there is great anxi-
| ETY. to learn the official statement of the bank,
| but people generally think that Lane has
stated the full amount of his defalcation.
Gen. Lane is supposed to have considerable
| amount of available assets, and it is stated he
| took no measures to protect himself, and that
all his property will be turned over to his cred
| itors Lane has wife and children, son be
| ing bright scholar in one of the classes al
| Dartmouth College. Lane lived comfortably
but was never known to be extravagant In any
| respect. He is member of the First Congre
| gational Church in Exeter and has always
| been generous in contributing to religious OBJ
| jects and to other public causes. Bad as the
| defacalton is, the suffering depositors OF the
| bank and the bondsmen for the county are
generally gentlemen of good property.
The excitement continues here over the
Lane defalcation and the sheriff has been
busy all day serving trustee writs on all per-
| sons that could be found who had notes in
| Lanes hands. The chances of obtaining any
| thing, however, appears small. According te
Lanes confession his liabilities are over $63,
| 600 and he has only $1,000 with which to make
| them good Lane was arraigned before Judge
| Batchelder this afternoon and pleaded not
| guilty to the charge of embezzlement and was
ordered to recognize in $4,000 to appear Sat
| urday, April 8.