Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-11

Ths following are the full particulars Of
the defaIcatien of jobs n. Skinner, St. Al
bans selectman. The last annual statement
Of Skinner showed the towns indebtedness
to be only q. 50s.72:
At the last annual meeting it vas made
known that there vas large amount of out
standing orders that we're not embodied in
the annual report, - printed and presented
to the town. In fact, one of the selectmen
had the list of some that amounted TO q, 900
or more. That aroused the people and .
petition was At once put in circulation to call
. town meeting and appoint . committee of
investigation, which was done, and they made
their report in the May following. the called
meeting being adjourned to that month.
They reported, finding - near ~ they could
under the conditions and authority With
which they we're clothed. that there was el7,-
coo Of orders outstanding against the town.
More came to light on the day of the meet
ing. Another committee vas appointed with
mors definite instructions and further powers
to call for persons and papers.
The committee performed their duty and
reported in Juse. Their report il an able
and we'll arranged paper and reliable in every
particular.
They found that J. N. Skinner began to
hire money without authority of the town in
1876. and continued to do so from 1876 to
May, 1888 1t appears that money hired by
him amounting to the sum of $4,000 was
paid to him and used by him, for his private
use.
When he wanted the signatures of the
other members of the board, he either OBJ
tanned their names or blank orders, telling
them he designed to use the orders in draw
ing school money or to renew old orders.
and in making up the annual report he man
ipulated them himself and always managed
to keep all the fraudulent orders out of the
accounts. Only one ever crept into the an
nual report.
The keeping Of the second and third man
ignorant Of the fraud was very systematic.
When he hired money he said to the party,
you keep still, and you will not have any
tax to pay on it," and when any interest was
paid he was in most cases applied to for is,
and took care of il by giving new order,
and compromising the interest. Therefore
the cupidty Of the Order-holdsr kept from
the knowledge of the people the fact that be
was hiring the large amount without authori
ty of the town.
In some cases whore parties had longer
school and current town expense orders, he
would hire more money of them and throw
the orders up and give q new order for all in
one, and again use the small ones.
This fraud strikes the sharp business man
Is we'll as the widow and the orphan, taking
their all in some cases. The sufferers are the
victims of misplaced confidence, and it illus
trates the folly of keeping any man in Office for
years. however honest he may appear with
out examining his accounts.
Not one man can be found that knew him
but will say, II did not think he was such q
man." and many say now he 10 not alone in
this matter. If confederates he had, no proof
is available to establish such . theory.
His absence is one proof of his guilt -
we'll rs his reply to the committee that he
chad no answer" to the damaging report that
they presented to him before they submitted
it to the town.
The town itself will suffer loss Of about
q, 500 in interest paid and other items that
are coming to light almost every day. The
end 10 not yet. Since he left town Skin
ner has caused $84 to be paid into the treas
urer's hands for coupons and interest on .
81 900 state bond deposited in the Dexter
bank BY him in 1876 on which he drew 800.
Said bond 10 now in possession OF the town,
yet other bonds are missing and . treasursr's
book that is of importance to the town, as it
would explain some transactions that involve
funds belonging to the town.
The town has given instructions to the Sc
lectmen to report at the next animal meeting
the legal Indebtedness ~ near as it may be
The town has refused to accept
J. NJ. SINNERS resignation without q settle
ment with the town on his part.
He will be treated as an absent member OF
the board, and they will pass the year in that
way.