Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-12-21

The Wilmington Bank Trouble.
A Personal statement from j. Henry
kidder.

As there are many false reports being
circulated in regard to the Wilmington
Savings bank trouble. which in some in
stances concern myself, and that Justice be
done TO every one connected with the mat
ter, l wish to state a few facts in the case.
that the public may know the truth and
Judge accordingly. About the first of No
vember state attorneys warrant was
placed in my hands by the bank officers
calling for the arrest OF l.. a. Willard, ir.
lie had left town some time before and his
location was not known to the public Re
ports were put in circulation by his friends
and placed III our county papers from time
TO time That he was i'm business in New
Ork city, Colorado and other places On
the 10th day of November located him iu
Des MONIES, Iowa, as member of the firm
of McNutt, Harris 81 Williams. ] imme-
diately sent to HasBins a. Stoddard of
BrattleborO, the bank counsel for re-
QUESTION papers for his arrest and return
TO y ermOnt The papers were made and
sworn TO by The bank officers and forward
ed TO the governor for his signature, but
they were not satisfactory TO him and were
returned to the counsel with further u-
structiOns. Then 10 was the first of De
cember, when all new county officers com
mence their terms: therefore another delay
was caused as a new state attorney had to
take up the case which lac did. and on the
18Th day of December a new set OF papers
was placed in my hands TO be sworn 10 by
the bank officers according TO instructions
by the governor On the same day ! was
notified by Mr.. Willard friends that he
would be here on saturday afternoon TO
give himself up TO arrest Upon his arri-
val here he was placed under arrest and
taken before Justice c. II. Parmelee He
waived examination, his bail was fixed at
$500 for his appearance at county court.
L. L. Wheeler became ms surety.
In justice to MIR. Willard / wish to state
that he denies that he changed his name
from Willard to Williams and was not try
ing to secrete himself or his whereabouts.
That may be SO, as it would be a very easy
mistake to make in telegraphing or writing
if not written plainly but why was all ms
mail coming and going through third par
ties hands 1t is stated that L. T. Wheeler
and myself put up job on the bank to get
him back and get the reward. There has
never to my knowledge been any reward
offered Tor his arrest. and ! only expect to
get from the bank or any other source. pay
for my time and money paid out When
the matter was put in my hands by the
bank officers they gave me power TO use
what money was necessary Tor the arrest
and return to this town of Nj Willard.
1t has been said. not only in this case
but III some others, that ] was a Mason and
Willard was a Mason and OF course ! would
not t-y To- gel him ] win only say that
this Is not the object of Masonry. In all
the hundreds, yes. thousands OF writs / have
served lu the past ~ years and more !
have served one writ just as faithfully as
another, upon friend or foe. Mason or not.
Threats have been made to some people
in regard to this case that ought to bee pub
Hshed IN every paper in the United states.
When men OF large financial resources and
great influence among men, men who
ought 10 encourage and help sustain our
institutions Tor the protection of the money
OF widows and orphans. threaten to make
II cost large sum OF money. yes. even
ruin the bank II their wishes are not com
piled with. 1t IS time all good citizens arose
IN their might and crushed out any sucl
spirit from the community. If there is
any one animal that walks. creeps or crawls
on the lace of the earth ] despise more
than another it is a hypocrite
j. II. kIDDEE.
Wilmington, Vt, Dec. J., '94