Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-01
ABSENT MINDED BORROWER.
Bearing an Excellent Character, He HAD NO
Difficulty in Obtaining Loans.

W1scAssEr. Oct. 3l.-There is bor-
rover in Lincoln county, who after getting
the loans lost his memory, or appears 10
have no recollection of what he did win
the funds or of anything to make good the
amounts borrowed.
| On matters arising out of his strange
financial transactions Mr.. Houston Is on
trial this day, before the supreme court
holden at this place. The charge against
him is "obtaining money by false pre-
lenses" and one or two indictments hang
over him.
Mr.. Houston is a young farmer living IN
the south part of Damarscotta on the
.home place" Until within year or 80
he has been esteemed by his friends ana
neighbors as a man strictly honest' s'eaoy
and industrious. Ihere1ore' "hsu ~
Dacember. '92, he sought to borrow divers
.nros of the local bank and of his neigh
ho-s he exnerienced not much difficulty.
ia did his business in this line very
on;etly and until the final disclosure came
none Of the creditors realized that there
we're 40 many others in thy same boat with
IN. m From various business men ne on
,.;ued sums ranging from $500 to S5no'
.mplovinp certain representations. FROM
! tho banx he obtained Sl7O0 in one loan be-
sides other small amounts securing some ol
h;s ne;ohbors az endorsers. The latter have
bsen obliged to pay the notes. Among the
ored;rors are John Clifford, Fred Merrill
Csnt = n. Goudy, S. d. Wymsn and
other W ell known Damariscotta men.
when Houston approached one OF these
n.r,ias for a loan on note bearing only
Fl. Houston's name he was asked to secufe
,,aone "a indorser. Houston volunteered
.h., ;,formation that he owned bis pl'ce
18th .hout $1,000, free of encumorahce
,.nd that he ought to be good for the amouh'
'hs, ha aought to borrow. lie secured tne
, money on that representation but ni
cred;tor learned later that Houston had pre-
d. y;ously made his real estate over 10 III
= = wife ho a,n,;ed fo
q a, endorsement of the SlI0o note ne repre-
a .nted that certain moneys were que III
f,r wood furnished ard ne oo'aln'o VI
accommodation. 1t vas af'er"aru "'.:,
~ tanned that the alleged "onsS 'N'
% amounted to barely sou.
m The discovery of these ana o'hei ua. ." Va
has h-ought about Houston's arrest la
i've ." a;nr to the great astonishment OF Dsms'
as "a,,s sp neonle who had long regarded Dill
" rs the most trustworthy young M
res rr twas soor figured that be DO
rov ed between S45o0 and s3ooo ana ha' L
most persistent attempt was mace, mace
- him to disclose for the oenent
ects n.,a;,ors. He met all interrogatons WIN
: of o, most amazing hlankness OF recoilee'io .. ~
0e' H. said that he did not remember "hA' LII
Income of the money. A., ,.vs
d is 'e ..nnt that $780," pressed the ia~se
,sk ,ss , was exsni ling him. ~ ou SURE
jim wno VIM, rsmember ~ what you did with lar
. sum like that u,,ston
S upus when you received ,ne n.ne
~ .,,,, r. WAS plac ID in your hands' wna1
the se tirst thug You did with it,
Tue ~ unnsioa did not clearly reccoii'
NJ oc,ll :, member only that be had p'
hill. M aggrega,ins about sl25-tnM was
All attempts to learn where the ., sms,
- -. vent were lke~i,e futile. hous'
- ,oa ~ entered insolvency, but the creaio
.nars lastly provoked at hndlog no va
we'e lateral. The charges OF obtain
Oh Oh - under false pretences were prefefl
hv n rites to whom Houston nao nlsae :.
~ IN alleged promises. He was Arrested
sht .a. 70 Wiscasset Jail. but was promI
S.;i. 4 nv his friends. 1t 10 asserted
cles. nai" - .,or ~ of his church, who accompsn
they ne .n i.s;snd. furnishing bail, endeavoted
!. II .a .ns from Mr.. Houston some statem
rieea req arding the disposal OF 'ne '''