The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-01

dared to have presented them to any hank
in the city, as the Canal Bank does not
generally have to resort to any temporarv
expediehts to raise ready money. Mr.
Richards thinks that probably be sent the
notes 10 Boston, or some other city, to some
note broker or bank officer there, who re-
discounted the notes and sent to Blackstone
the cash. For this favor Blackstone would
nave lpaid percentage, and the Boston
dealer mightnot be guilty of any wrong. To
have carried on such a scheme for five years,
Mr.. Richards thinks, would have made very
lively work for Blackstone, and given him
much anxiety. But the amounts at first
were probably not large, and he was able to
carry them.
The first information the bank directors
heard OF the affair, or anyone connected
with the bank, was on Monday afternoon
when the package containing the deed of the
house, and the part of the note that referred
to the defalcation was brought into the bank
to Mr. Peters. Several of the directors did
not hear of the defalcation until yesterday
morning. They then held meeting and
examined many of the papers and books be-
longing to Mr. Blackstone's department, but
thus far have failed to discover anything to
give the public, other than the statement
published above.
WHAT THE FATHER SAYS.
Mr.. Albion Blackstone, the father of How
ard I. Blackstone, was seen last evening at
the house on Ocean street. Deering. where
he has lived with his SON. Mr.. Blackstone
was evidently much affected by the news of
his sons defalcation, but talked collectedly
OF the affair, although he said that he had
no knowledge as to the nature aud amount of
his sons Irregularities other than what he
mad gained from the reports in circulation
after the matter became known.
Mr.. Blackstone said that his son, Howard
t., was born in July, 1854, and is conse-
quently 80 years of age. He has wife and
three children, the children being respective
ly six, four and two years old. Howard has
been employed in the Canal Bank for the
past thirteen years, and during the last six
years Mr. Blackstone thinks his son has re-
ceived from $1,000 to $1,000 a year. He has
held the Office of notary public, and received
one-third the fees resulting from the bust
ness done in the Canal Bank. and one-half
Oh the fees from business done outside.
Howard told his father in 1880 or 1881, that
he had speculated in Maine mining stocks,
first buying stock of Calais man, and max
ing some money by the transaction, but los
ing in his subsequent dealings The house
ON Ocean street was built in 1873, although it
was not entirely finished at that time, and is
owned by Howard, who built it with some
assistance from Mr.. Blackstone, Sr. Mr..
Blackstone knows that at that time Howard
had no money from the bank. Four wears
after the new house was occupied. Mr..
Blackstone's wife died. Howard was inter
ested in the Diamond Wrench Company, and
mad told his father recently that that con-
Germ had $4,000 worth of stock on hand
Mr.. Blackstone thought that Mr.. A. G. Lib
by, the treasurer of the Diamond Wrench
Company, had received letter from How
ard.
Mr.. Blackstone said that for about six
weeks prior to last Wednesday, Mr.. Tracy
Blackstone of New York, a cousin to How
ard, had been visiting the family. This cous-
in is an invalid, and subject to i'll turns. He
concluded his visit u week ago, and Howard
went away with him, saving that
he would go as far as Boston and
see his cousin safely on his way
to New York. Howard was to return Fri
day noon Friday however, the family re-
ceived note from Howard stating that his
cousin had had an i'll turn, and that he should
accompany him to New York. The family
suspected nothing and heard no more until
Monday morning, when Towards wife re-
ceived letter from Tracy Blackstone. This
letter contained note from Howard to his
wife. In regard to the contents of this note
MIR. Blackstone said that it directed that
package which Howard had left done up be-
fore leaving home should be delivered to the
bank. Mr.. Blackstone knew that this pack
age contained deed of the honse He car
ried it to the bank and delivered it to Mr.
Peters, the paying teller after business
hours, Monday afternoon. OF course the
news of his flight has been a terrible blow
to his wife, and the other members of the
family.
MIR. LIBBY's STATEMENT.
Mr.. A. c. Libby, treasurer of the Diamond
Wrench Company stated that Mr.. Howard
Blackstone had large interest in the con-
Germ but that he was not prepared to say to
just what extent Mr.. Blackstone was an
owner Mr.. Libby said that he had received
no letter from Mr.. Blackstone since he went
away although letter on business matter
had reached him in a round about way. Mr..
Blackstone saw Mr.. Libby at the latter's
house week ago Tuesday and did not APP
pear at all like a man who contemplated
fight for any cause. Mr.. Libby said that
Mr.. Blackstone had never intimated to I'm
in any way that his affairs at the 5ank were
not all straight.
THRarASK UNAFFECTED.
TIE defalcation of Mr.. Blackstone, if of
no greater amount than he has stated, will
prove trifling loss to the bank. The bank
was founded seventy years ago, and it now
has surplus of over 100000
Blackstone's bond to the bank was for
$4,000. There are three sureties, his father
being one. The other two it was impossible
to ascertain last night.
THE DEFAULTER.
Mr.. Howard L. Blackstone is 80 years of
age, and has family in Deering. Twelve
years ago he entered the Canal Bank as a
junior clerk, but his aptness and natural
ability speedily advanced him to the position
he SO lately held. No man connected with
the bank was more trusted than he, and
there was none whose fall would have
caused greater surprise. He was very atten-
tive to all the duties devolying on him, and
the officers say he could fill any office with
the greatest credit. He was great favorite
with his fellow employees, and had many
friends outside of the Institution He had