The Portland daily press., 1894-01-09
WAS Hi INSANE?
Charles Paine. the Printer, Said 10
Be Shvrt in His Accounts.

Ligonia Lodge and Eastern Star Encamp-
ment the Sufferers-The Shortage
About s21OO Thus Far-Paine Has Left
Town and Cannot BE Found.
Odd Fellow organizations i'll this city
will hear with regret that one of their
members, who has always been popu-
lar and trusted member of the order, has
left town and that his accounts show
that the money he should have paid over
to the treasurer is missing.
For several years, Mr.. Charles Paine,
the we'll known job printer on Exchange
street, has filled the responsible position
of permanent secretary in both Ligonia
Lodge and Eastern Star EDcampment
Last Thursday night he made an ap-
pointment with the committee of ac-
counts of the lodge to meet them and
have them go over his annual report
prior to the installation of officers which
was to take place the next evening. The
committee met pursuant to the engage
ment but Mr.. Paine did not appear be-
fore them. The committee was sur
prised, but recalled the fact that once
before the same thing had happened,
owing to Mr.. Paine's finding an error in
his report which he afterwards correct
ed. It was learned later that Mr.. Paine was
not in the city, and kilograms were sent
in various directions, to places where Mr..
Paine was accustomed to go, but up to
last night no attention had been paid to
any of them.
When the bondsmen of Mr.. Paine and
some of the prominent members of the
Order found that Mr.. Paine had gone
away, and could not be found, they pro-
ceeded to get his books and see how they
stood. The permanent secretary keeps
book in which he enters on the stubs
the amount of dues paid to him by
members, and then tears off the cores
ponding receipts, which he gives to them.
Then he enters in his cash book these
sums received. When the books were
examined, the stubs in the receipt book
and the amounts entered on the cash
book differed. The amounts received
had evidently been properly entered on
the stubs, bat in many cases had
not been transferred 10 the cash book.
The books of Mri Paine, be-
longing to.I Eastern Star Encampment
showed the same condition of things.
AS near as could be judged the shortage
for 1893 is about $21oOfor both lodge and
camp. But it is not thought that the
shortage will end here. One of the
bondsmen said last night that the audi
ting committee ofthe year previous re-
ported that Mr.. Paine's accounts ,were
correct, for the report SO appeared, but
| that there was shortage that year he
was satisfied. The committee on financ-
es of the two bodies are now at work
| trying to get at the true state of affairs.
| 1t was reported last night that Mr..
Paine's property was adj mortgaged, a
mortgage for $500 being held by Mr..
| Carr. Mr.. PaiHe's boadsmen are Nathan
E. Redlon, Joshua Davis and Samuel B.
Kelsey. and thee hodge and camp will
lose nothing by theshortage.
While the circumstances surrounding
the case seem to point to the Intentional
abstraction of the orders funds, there
are those who think that Mr.. Paine may
not be quite right mentally, and the
trouble in his accounts is attributable to
that. His sister has a feeling that her
brother has done this thing while not in
sound mental condition, and that he has
wandered off. She says that for some
time past he has been acting strangely.
This opinion is shared by a number of
others who have known Mr.. Paine most
intimately. There is insanity in the fami-
| ly and an uncle of his about six months
ago went into the woods and took Paris
green, from the effects of which he died.
Mr.. Paine has always borne a good a
reputation, and his friends sincerely
hope that facts may be forthcoming that
will show that the shortage in his &C
counts is not attributable to any dis
| honesty on his part.