The Portland daily press., 1891-08-05
cAssELLs WAS A FoRosR.
So His Partner Told a Boston Herald
Reporter.

Mr.. Wilson. partner of Mr.. Cassells. who
committed suicide at the Preble House
Monday, told Boston Herald re-
porter that he had net seen his
late partner for some three months Mr..
Cassells was the business manager of tue
firm, and Mr.. Wilson, who resides In Fitch
burg, had left the affairs of the concern en-
tirely In his charge. Certain happenings of
late caused Mr.. Wilson to believe that visit
to Boston was very advisable on his part. BE
accordingly went in Monday morning. He
found that Mr.. Cassells had not been at the
store for week, having gone away. as stat
ed by him to the bookkpeper, on a pleasure
trip, without saying definitely where he was
going. This was the last heard of Mr.. Cas-
sells until the news of his suicide at the
Probe House. Mr.. Cassells's absence was
not the only discovery made by his partner
on his arrival at the store. 1t transpired
later in the day that the deceased had forged
MIR. Wilson's Endorsement to several notes
and checks, and had had them cashed at the
International Trust Company, As Milk stree t,
Boston.
This feature Of the case was brought to
light when four months note due Monday
Tor $3.50. aud bearing Mr.. Wilson's forged
Endorsement. was presented to him for pay
meHt' Immediate investigation by Mr.. Will
son at the International Trust Company re.
suited in the finding of four more forged
checks, upon all Of which his partner had
collected the money, bringing the total
amount OF the forgeries, as far as discovered
to $780, These developments revealed to
Mr.. Wilson the crooked transactions of his
partner, and he at once proceeded to police
headquarters to obtain warrant for his ar
rest. The latter document was In course of
preparation by Inspector Dugan, when the
telegram announcing the self-imposed. death
OF the forger was received, and Terminated
all proceeding on the part of the police.
Inquiry was made of the firm as to the full
extent of the d6csased's forgeries, but until
thorough examination has been made the
ddfnite amount cannot be ascertained. 1t Is
believed that the total sum will be between
$500 and 5000. The latter figure will sure
ly cover all the deceased's crooked transac-
tions.
Mr.. Cassells had casually asked the book
keeper some time ago what he considered the
easiest death. Not having died the book
keeper couldn't say.
w. e. Cassells was considered one of the
brightest statesmen Of burglar proof safes In
the country. His connection with the Hall
Safe & Lock Company. Of which the firm of
Wilson, Cassells q Co., has the Boston agen.
cy. dates back some twenty years. His sales
OF safes In the Ames building alone amount
pd Tn 800 mn nd off ND
In pushing his business we're remarkably
successful He was an unmarried man and
about forty years of age and boarded at GIG
fremont street, On Monday of last week
he left the house, saying he was going on
trip to New hampshire, aud also to New
York city to see his mother. He expected to
be gone five days, but IT turned in two days,
and remained In Boston until Friday. At 4
o'clock on Friday afternoon his laudlady saw
him for tie last time.
The deceased had been very hard drink
or. and particularly during the last two
months had been very often under the infu-
ence Of intoxicants, his use OF liquor being
no doubt greatly increased by fear and wor-
ry concerning his financial irregularities. He
was also greatly troubled with neuralgia In
the head. and this affection, together with
the impending discovery of his business
crookedness. which he must have known
would soon follow, drove him to self-destruc-
tion.
A telegram in regard to the death and dis
posal of the body was sent to the New York
address left by the suicide. No. 10 West Fiji
ty-secon street, as no Boston relatives Of
the deceased man are known to his patrons.
A nephew Of Mr.. Wilson, the senior men,
Der Of the firm of Wilson & Cassells. came
from Boston on the boat yesterday morning
and left last night. He has not yet made
any arrangements for the burial Of Cassells.
Cassells's effects will not be delivered up nm
til the bills. caused by his suicide, have been
settled