The Portland daily press., 1883-12-15
The Banks md Bankers of Portland
from she Earliest Times.

The second lecture in the coarse of the
Mechanic Charitable Association was given
last evening by VIM. E. Gould, Esq. A good
sized audience, in which were many bank men,
gave close attention to the speaker as he
graphically narrated what he had known per-
sonally, and what record and rumor had
brought TO him, of the banks and bank
makers of Portland, sketching the city as it
stood with four hundred and fifty-nine dwell
ling houses, its prosperous navigation and
growing inland trade. Mr.. Gould introduced
the Portland Bank, the first institution of the
kind established in this city, which was
chartered by the general court june Is, 1779
Mayor Hugh Mcclellan was its first president,
and John Abbott its first cashier. The hard
times of 1903 gave it shock, but it held ON
seven years longer, when its stockholders were
glad to get back three-fourths of the money
they had invested, and close the DOORS
The Maine Bank, of which Deacon Samuel
Freeman was its first president, and David
Hale cashier, was chartered June %, 1902
This Eank made a good record for eleven
years, and then, seeing no special Gail for
longer life, died an honorable DEATH 1t was
soon after the incorporation of this bank that
lSSASSA"SS0
OF silver out of morning dew was organized.
The lecturer referred to an interesting case
IN the criminal history of the city, in connec-
ton with the Cumberland Bank which sue
ceeded the Maine Bank in 1875 Those were
| days before the combination lock had put
burglars to the necessity of including drills
and dynamite in this outfit. 1t seems that the
lock upon the bank vault had got out of repair
and it was sent to one Ellis, blacksmith, to
be put into working order. While it was
kicking about his shop, fellow by the name
OF Manley conceived the idea of getting cast
of the key, that he might prepare himself to
make a, personal inspection of the bank proper
| ty should occasion ever require it. Soon after
cashier Joseph Swift found himself and his
bank one morning without funds. After a
| little, suspicion was fastened upon Marley and
man by the name of Rolfe. When the
latter was arrested, he made clean breast and
| offered to conduct the officers to the place
| where the funds were concealed. On arriving
| at the spot, to his disnay he found that Man
| ley had been too sharp for him, and
had removed the treasure. This 70 COMPOUNDED
| him that he drew pistol and shot
himself dead. Manly was then arrested, and
| was finally induced to confess the crime. But
| his guilt did not dim his business shrewdnes s
for he would not lead to the place where the
| money was hidden until he was promised the
| reward which had been offered for the detec-
tion OF the thief. But as luck would have it,
| when he reached the place of concealment the
| money had taken second flight; for the Lib
| by's upon whose farm in Scarbero the plumber
| had been buried, not wind of what was mp and
| discovered the treasure. Not in the least dis
| concerted Manley still claimed his reward land
the matter was finally settled by making an
| even division between him and the Libbys.
| After witch formalities were gone through,
the thief took mp his abode in prison for doz-
en- years. Other banks were passed rapidly in
| review, especial attention being given to the
Canal, which played SO important part in the
| Oxford and Cumberland Canal matter; and to
the Bank of Cumberland which was SO unfor-
tunate as to have political birth, and to suf-
| fer from the patronage of President jackson.
The last OF the State banks chartered was the
International, in 1859, and which accepted the
first charter as National bank in Portland, in
1864.
The lecture was enlivened by many an anec-
dote and incident of the men who have been
| connected with these moneyed institutions.
MT. Gould has rendered valuable service in
| collecting and putting into permanent form
| these data, and we are glad that the lecture
is not only to be repeated, but that it is to-
| be made available to larger audience than
any hall would accommodate