Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-02
THE DEfAULTER.
Latest RumOrs Concerning Blackstone
How tie Obtained the Money Yet a
My;tery-His Wife Relinquishes Her
Right OF Dover IN Her Home.
PORTLAND. Dec. l.

PORTLAND, Dec. l.
Howard t. Blackstone was a resident of
Woodfords. member of the Congre gational
church at the orner and secretary of the
Deering Civil Service Association and during
the campaign of "a very active mugw ump.
His interest in the civil service movement
made him the target of both republicans aud
democrats of the old school, who never lost
an opportunity to open political discussion
with him when the opportunity occurred.
Many is the evening the patrons of the
Deering Horse railroad have been entertained
by spirited discussions started by the friends
or opponents of civil service. Many of these
discussions ended in wagers and Mr.. Black
stone is known to have made some $500 by
Cleveland's election.
gentleman situated to know, told re-
porter this morning, that although Mr.. Black
stone was second in line of promotion, the
probabilities were that he would have been
the next cashier.
The only plausible method by which $685.
600 could have been distracted from the bank
by Blackstone is that discounted notes must
have been taken, either after entry in the
note book or without so entering them, and
re-hypothecated through other banks or
bankers.
Mr. Blackstone was known to have been
intimate with some of our brokers, but none
will admit this morning ever having done
business with him.
The bank officials yesterday secured Mrs.
Blackstones signature relinquishing her
dover in the homestead. Comments this
morning are many and various. One gentle
man insists that Mr.. Blackstone is laboring
under a strain of mental abstra ction land that
the bank is all right
Another seemed pleased to think that
Deering could claim represe ntation in the
American colony of Canada; while still an
other, bank official said if this thing goes
on it ill soon be disreputable to be connect
ed with our banking institutions. A promi-
nent banker thinks he must have taken the
whole amount at once, aid that too, the day
he left town.
During the vaction, this summer, of the
cashier receiving teller and prolonged sick
ness of the paying teller, Mr.. Blackstone
filled these several positions ard it would
not be surprising if the greater part of his
speculations occurred then.
Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs.
Blackstone, who is left with three small chill
dren and now, having relinquished her dover
to the bank, is in destitute circumstances.
The theory that Mr.. Blackstone lost through
Mr.. Gould is not all plausible. nor, is it be-
ieved that one dollar of this amount was lost
in Maine mining stocks; but how, is mys-
terv.
This afternoon the directors of the bank
were busily engaged irving to discover how
Blackstone had been able to steal so much
without their knowledge. They stated that
they had nothing as yet for publication but
when they had finished their examination,
probably the facts would be fully disclosed.
The bank holds Blackstone's bond for
$4,000, signed by his father and brother, Ed
win A. Marrett and William G. Twombly.
Mr.. Twombly says that he signed the bond
without hesitation and thought so little about
it that he forgot his name was on the paper.
He told reporter last night that he was not
one of the bondsmen, but this morning had
some recollection of signing it, and then as
certained beyond doubt that his name was
really there.