Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-25
4 GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
EX.rTeasurer Adams of Framing ham.
Commits Suicide.
So. FRANINGHAM, Mass, Aug

so. fRAAiNGHAM, Mass, Aug. "a.
Ex Treasurer Adams Of the Framinghsm
Savings Bank. whose accounts were last week
made the subject of special investigation 10y
the bank commissioners, committed suicide
at the bank this afternoon about quarter past
two, by cutting his throat. He died in few
moments. Mr.. Adams committed the act in
the bank office at SO. Framinghsm. and when
found revolver laid beside him, from which
it is supposed he intended to use provided the
razor did not accomplish the work This
forenoon the ex-reasurer, who all through
the trouble which the bank has been in for
the past four days, has appeared to be very
cool and collected. He came to South Fran
ingham from his birmingham Centre home
and quietly went to one of the lawyers Off
ces in Nobscot block in close proximity to
where the office of the Savings Bank is To-
Gated and on the same floor. Here, during
the forenoon, he remained, not appearing in
the bank office at all, and for some time as
sisted in figuring up interest accounts of de-
positors who came today to draw their
money. Mr.. Getchell arrived here early this
afternoon and went to the bank about 2
o'clock. He shortly stterward went u the
lawyers Office, where Adams had been engas ed
in his work of assistance to the bank Off cials
Adams lett the Office and went to the banking
j
charge. The bank committee began to look
over Adams ledger, but very soon the alarm
was given that the late treasurer had cut his
throat while standing up in the bank office
The news spread like wild fire through the
village and town and business was interrupted
seriously at the bank for a time. The body
was placed in the charge Of the proper su-
thorities. The deceased leaves a wife. two
sons, Walter, chairman of the board of Sc
lectmen of Framinghsm and a prominent
Boston lawyer. and Joseph s., who has been
for years associated with his father in the
BANK at Framingham and also in the insur-
ance business; also a daughter. He was also
prominent member of Midilesex Lodge of
Free Masons At birmingham, has been trial
Juslce for many years and was otherwise
prominent as ciIizen aud leading demo.
crat of the section
BosroS, Aug. -.
j. Gatchall commissioner of Savings
Banks, who was at the bank at the time of
the suicide of exTreasurer c. S. Adams has
made statement in which he says there are
many irregularities in the accounts" of Mr..
Adams. His present examination of the
bank, he says, is his annual examination, but
had his suspicious not been aroused it would
not have been made until next month. Among
the irregularities found by the commiss sioner
are the following: c. s. Adams, the ex-
treasurer, AMI j. s. Adams, his SON who
carried on the Insurance agency separately
from their interests in the bank were in the
habit of drawing loans from the bank without
endorsement or security against which they
made deposits to their own credit from time
to time. The only receipt book at the bank
Kept by the ex-trehsuier was a book of blank
receipts, the stubs of which were not properly
filled and in some instances were left entirely
blank. The check book of the bank had not
been footed or verified at any time or in any
manner. Many Of the stubs where check
had been detached were blank, many without
date, many without stating the purpose for
which the money was used. A gentleman had
paid mortgage loan on the 10Th inst and
from that date had been endeavoring to get
the mortgage discharged He found that the
treasurer had neglected to have his deed re-
corded, and has not received the papers in
the case up to the present time. 1t was the
custom of both Adams to fire. Quently draw
checks for their own personal bills. The
treasurer has frequently drawn checks for
his own account, amounting in the last two
months to S2l00. One was $3.50 for painting
his houses while others, he stated were for
expenses Of which he had filed no bill and
had no account. Others, he said, were ac-
commodation checks for which he afterwards
deposited the bills but which cannot be shown
by the books. l also found gross negligence
in the collection of interest, Sl72, 600 of
mortgage loan not having the April interest
paid thereon, and much of it being much
more in arrears. A part of the bank stock
dividends have not been paid for q year and
half. The accounts are now being gone
over by an expert.