The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-23
SUPERIOR COURT.
BEFORE JUDGE HnNNEY.

THURsDAY-State VS.. Robert G. Reed.
The trial of this case excites a widespread
interest in Brunswick and vicinity, where
the defendant resides. He is indicted for
embezzling money from the Maine Central
railroad ticket in Brunswick, where he has
been employed since 1880. The Indictment
contains four counts for four distinct embez-
Elements, viz: December 9Th, 1889, S27I: De-
cember 10th, 5000; December 23rd, $777 30;
January 9TH, 1890. $420.63. There are also
four other counts in the Indictment covering
these same sums, but alleging that it was
larceny instead of embezzlement.
from the opening of Coun ty Attorney
Robinson it appears that Reed, a young man
now 70 years Of age. entered the ticket office
az BRUNSWICK 10 1880 as a messenger boy.
BY steady application and strict attention 70
his business he rose and since 1885. when he
became assistant ticket agent, has had al
most complete charge of the books of the
office Mr.. Wheeler. the ticket agent.
claims that Reed, not only kept the books
put that when he, Wheeler, made the week.
" remlttances to the treasurer in Portland,
he took the figures for the amount to be re.
mltted from Reed. Wheeler claims that he
never knew or suspected anything wrong In
the accounts until the 18th Of last January.
Reed told him something was wrong, that
by the record of the sales Of tickets of 1888.
81 for the month of December, 'S9, and 1892
o4 Tor the first week in January: that he
asked Reed how he accounted for it and
heea SAID ne could not account for it. but i'm
mediateiy suggested that the nightwatchman
and another person had keys to the office:
that he, Wheeler said he should take the eesS
GERS Ger OF the company and Reed said it was
the best thing to be done.
Mr. Wheeler was on the stand all tho fora-
noon and portion of the afternoon. He
identified receipts, vouchers, ticket records
and other papers and explained the routine
business methods of transacting business be-
tween the Company ana its agents.
In the afternoon Mr.. Libby cross
examined him at length as to
MS means of detecting any
irregularities that occurred by the records in
the Office He admitted that the ticket
price of all tickets sold each and every day !
but he did not examine it. He said his sal
airy Is $50 per month from the railroad, $40
per month from the telegraph company, out
Of which he pays his assistant $40. He has
D Deen IN the ne ofiics 20 years He bought
paid $500. That is all the property he has.
Has a wife and family of four BOYS. Since
Reed has left the office there has been a
shortage In the funds for two months, SIS for
one one. m month nth and 80 At another. He denied
money drawer. Had sometimes sent his
wife to Reed for small sums to be taken out
OF the telegraph money, which were charged
TO him as salary. He admitted that he had
written to an employed in the Maine Central
general ticket office, complaining that the
party to whom he wrote had expressed be-
lief in his (Wheeler's) dishonesty.
!dThe case bids fair to be lengthy 1t is be-
ing contested vigorously at every step. A
large number of witnesses are In attend
ance, and the examination involves also
many reports, papers and receipts, which is
necessarily slow.
Mr.. Frank w. Robinson, county attorney,
Libby for the defendant.