Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-21
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. TRAPPED BY A CLERK, "A Dishonest Cashier Put
 Under Arrest. MORE RI0TING AT BELFAST. A Revolt In The Spanish
 Army. GREAT SUFFERING IN TEXAS. The Odd Fellows Gather
 ing At Boston.
TRUSTED CASHIERS DOWNFALL

| After Stealing From His Bank For | Ten Years His Dishonesty At Last Finds Him Out-While Absent From The City A Clerk Discovers The Crookedness And An investigation Follows with Startling Results.
 PORTLAND, Me-, Sept. 20.-It is now I thought that the defalcation of w. F.. Gould, cashier of the First National bank. will | reach $145,OO0 The directors think the
 bank will not lose over $S7, 900. The excite ment is intense MT. Gould is ffty-two years old and has aged twenty years within a | week. Besides being cashier of the First National bank he is vice president of the National Bankers association, also of the Portland Trust and trustee of the Maine l Savings bank. It is said by some that he began embedding ten years ago. Others de- clare that the first stealing was done in 1882. There has been much that is peculiar about Gould's business affairs. He first bought 8 modest house on Carleton street for about $3, 800. Later he sold it and purchased an estate in Deering for S17, 900. This he sold and then built his present residence at cost of SIC, ,00O. He has not been asked to give 8 bond for years. All his original bondsmen, save his father-in law, Neal Dow, are dead and Dow can only be held for $90,000 of the original $50, ,000 if at all. In similar case here last spring it was decided that the liv- ing bondsman could not be held.
 The discovery of the dedication is said to have come about as follows: About ten days ago MT. Gould went to New York. During his absence clerk discovered 8 seeming crookedness in his affairs. He in formed an official, who in turn notified the directors and they summoned an expert. The latter soon found 8 $50,000 shortage. The directors were astounded. As Gould was absent and a large amount of the banks collateral was gone also they supposed She had skipped. An investigation showed that the missing man was in New York. Instead of securing his arrest the directors sent 8 cautiously worded telegram summoning him home to advise concerning the investment of funds. Gould seemed to have no fear of the possibility of discovery and promptly re- turned. Governor Robie met him in Boston and accompanied him to this city to prevent
 
 tunity to escape After reaching home and while the investigation was going on the doomed cashier was kept in ignorance that he had reached the end of his tether and the knowl- edge, which came to him gradually, was binding surprise. It was then too late to escape and last week he found that the end had come. The fallen man had at the last the desperate courage that sustained him. He ordered his carriage and gave to the driver the order: 'tGo direct to the jail !" He had at that time formed the resolution of giving himself up and of finding relief ill cell. The order was obeyed, but on the way he met a friend to whom he told the terrible story of his fall. The gentleman said to him: "But you can't go to jail. No one has made the slightest charge against you" Gould then drove about the city for a time and then said: "Drive to the bank" :" A the bank he was met by the directors and . at the suggestion ut ~-e he went r. ene Falmouth Hotel and took room and was consulted with in regard to the complicated and disordered affairs of the bank. All the week the directors worked on the &C., counts, assisted by an expert, but instead of finding an improvement the condition grew worse and at last it was plain that close to S1OO 900 had been stolen. Then the direc- tors laid the case before Hon. William l.. Putnam, who at once told them that Gould must be arrested and that further neglect on their part to secure his arrest would make them liable for the loss. MT. Gould was then arrested and left prisoner in his own house.
 General Dow assisted at the investigation 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 philosopher. This morning he said: 'I never fret over what can't help" The father of the defaulter, Hon. Edward Gould, who is very old man, seems more affected by the trouble than any one else. If it proves that MT. Gouldys been carrying on his peculiar inar report tenn for the past ten years, as iny felt for ed, there will be little sXls public and re- him, as the greater part within that period. ligious labors have bse preached as he did
 "How could heoealing the funds entrusted
 while engaged. 1e question of one business
 to hlmt wyfning. It was perhaps the un,
 man tn1s question of thousands. Gou Will expresid until the comptroller orders
 De ,eedings against him. The oank Mcials have made no criminal charges. |pras;Jent Libby says every dollar of the money was lost in Wall street. MT. Gould bas conveyed to Governor Robie as trustee for the bank all his real estate and has also, it is understood, given up all hls personal nroperty, the whole amounting to aoouG s6(l' GOO. He has left himself and family ab- sso,ntely penniless, being apparently re- solved to do all he can to make good the amonnt taken. Mrs. Gould has joined her husband in his attempt to right the wrongs he has committed and has conveyed the real estate in her name to Governor hople as trustee for the bank. It is. said, apPar,, antlv by authority, that unless Gould has made some false returns to the comptroller con of the currency he will not be called upon to answer as defendant in criminal court Hon. A: [. Wiswell. National bank examiner, and Hon. Fred Richards, State bank examiner, nave arrived and will make thorough e&aniiha- ton into the affairs of the bank. The Arpus to-day says the misfortune IS not so serious to the bank, which can stand l it's loss. as to the people, who nave ios1 con. l 6dance in A man whom they had been taught | to look upon as an honest and expert niiah cier. It says: ''It is certainly uncnarltaole, nerhaps wrong, to put the whole blame upon l the shoulders of Mr. Gould. It is possible that the carelessness and neglect ot others, l or what in the quaint language of the NOT | man. French law so long embedded III Ins l Enplish statutes and commentaries is caiieu laches, have something to oo "lth ehe oase l Al any rate it is we'll to reserve 1udgmeil
 .st;I S 9,l tLo f.cts are known. MT. Goulo
 nav he to blame. but that inference remains
 to he demonstrated. If it turns out that tn' | fanlt ia his words of condemnation to'
 strong can scarcely be fonnd Tn any lail
 guage." ,. aofa,oo+;on canse
 o..to-nat;on tbrouphout the social and bus mess circles of the entire State douio De | lonps to a family identlhed with u
 banking interests of the city tnas isnt even 't T , mention of the name has been sumclen1
 % suggest uprightness in positions, of trust IIsses T sras reaardad as the most capable cashie in Portland and his integrity was as l iittl 't
 doubted as his ability. His friends e o;1oe, ana,n , family are among Portlanas @ oes' oo1,nted orred
 nan naEns Whose nss p position M and influence would
 used used for the benefit of the community , whe r. he was respected He was an active ,o, work ], e os sncb ba was known beyond the limits Q hi his SoW own n society. The fall of Gould fro . such sue position of trust and honor r., is z calamity to the community To ts his nsnat1 dam1
 it is crushing blow for wh1cn ;ne 5;t4Ia eo
 solation."