Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-01
neal DOW'S SON-IN-LAW.
STEALING THE LIVERY OF HEAVEN TO
SERVE THE DEVIL IN.
HIS EMBEZZLEMENT GREATER
THAN WAS SUPPOSED.

HIS EMBEZzLEMENT GREATER
THAN WAS SUPPOSED.
PORTLAND, Me-, Sept. 2O.-Wil-
liam Il. Gould, the defaulting cash
ier of the First National Bank, is a
son.in.law of Neal Dow. lie has
been one of the prominent citizens
OF the State, being especially active
in church work. He assisted the
reylvalist, Moody, when the latter
was here, and he has been in the
habit of preaching himself every
Sunday from some Congregational
pulpit in or near the city. He also
took part in all movements Of po'
litical reform, and was identified
with many public institutions of
the city.
1t is now thought the defalcatiOn
of w. i. Gould will reach Sl45,O 600.
The directors think the bank will
not lose more than $4,000. The
excitement over the affair is Intense.
Mr.. Gould is ffty-two years old
and has aged twenty years within
a week. Besides being cashier OF
the First National Bank, ne is Vice
Presld, tof the National Bankers
Association also of the Portland
Trust Company, and trustee of
the Maine Savings Bank. 1t is
said that he began embezzling ten
years ago. Others declare that
the first stealing was in 1882. There
has been much that is peculiar
about his business affairs. He first
bought a very modest house on
Carleton street for about $500.
Later he sold it and purchased an
estate in Deering for some S17 900.
This he sold and built his present
residence at cost of $40, 900. He
has not been asked to give a bond
for many years. All of his original
bondsmen save his father.in-law,
Neal Dow, are dead, and Dow can
only be held for 100000 OF the
original $4,000, if at all. In a
similar case here last spring it was
decided that the living bondsmen
could not be held. The discovery
of the defalcaton is said to have
come about as follows:
HOW 1T WAS DISCOVERED.
About ten days ago Gould went
to New York. During his absence
a clerk discovered a seeming crook
edness in his affairs. He informed
an official, who in turn notified the
directors, and they summoned an
expert. The latter soon found a
$4,000 shortage. AS Gould was
absent and large amount OF the
banks collateral was gone also,
they supposed he had skipped to
Canada. Investigation showed
that the missing cashier was in
| New York. Instead of securing
his arrest the directors sent
cautiously worded telegram sum-
moning him home to advise con-
cerning the investment of funds
Mr.. Gould seemed to have no fear
of the possibility of discovery and
promptly returned. Governor
Robbie met him in Boston and ac-
cOmpanied him to this city to pre-
vent him from the least Opportu-
nifty of escape. Reaching home,
and while the investigation was
going on, he was kept in ignorance
that he had reached the end of his
rope, and the knowledge, which
came to him gradually, was a blind
ing surprise. 1t was then too late
to escape, and early last week the
end came.
All the week the directors
worked on the accounts, assisted
by an expert, but instead OF find
ing an improvement, affairs gre"
worse, and at last 1t was plain that
close to 100000 had been lost
Gen. Dow assisted at the investl'
CATION, and declared that he could
not have been more astonished at
the result if the City OF New York
had sunk out of sight, but he takes
the trouble like a philosopher.
This morning he said: 81 never
fret over what / can't help"
President Libby says every dollar
of the stolen money was lost in
Wall street. Gould and his wife
have turned over all their property