Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-26
A SLIPPERY CHAP.
Nicholas E. Fessenden Arrest
ed at ,Bowdoinham,
For lmpersonating Secretary Of State
Fesserden and SwindIing.
He eludes the Officers and Is Now at LARGE
Played Bold Game.

Hon. Nicholas Fessenden. secretary of
State, was here, today, looking for an in
dividual, who may have an interesting
history and whose identity is somewhat
mixed with that of the secretary of State
in the mind and on the books of a Buffalo
furrier, one Geo. W. Comstock Mr.
Fessenden found the individual at the
hotel He has been here several days
The register at the hotel here bears his
signature as follows IN E. Fessenden,
Houlton, under date of Jan. 9; under
date Of Jan. Is, IN. f Fcssenden, Port
land, " since which time he has been
here or about here
This socalled n. f. Fcssenden is
man between 40 and so years of age, of
slight build, and is about 5 feet 9 inches
in height. He wears Grand Army but
ton, claims to be a member of the Knights
of Pythias and Masonic organizations, and
that he was in the 9th Massachusetts, Regi-
ment when it marched through Balti-
more. He declares his name to be Nicholas
Edwards Fesscnden and that he was born
in Manchester, N. II.
Not to get ahead of the. story, a letter
Augusta, several days ago, addressed to
Hon. Nicholas Fessendcn, secretary of
State. 1t was from Geo. w. Comstock,
Buffalo, n. Y, under date of Jan. Is, and
was forwarded to Mr.. Fessenden at his
home in Fort Fairfield. The contents
were in the nature of a surprise to that
gentleman, as they referred to an order
for about $500 worth of furs, including a
seal skin sacque and two bear robes Mr..
Fessenden was mystificd. He knew moth
ing about such order or such firm as Geo.
W. Comstock, and, it is needless to say,
that no member of his family did.
After his return to Augusta, letter
was received from this Buffalo furrier,
addressed to Byron Boyd, office of secre-
tary of State, in which further particulars
were asked by Mr.. Comstock concerning
this order for furs. That letter was dated
at Buffalo, Jan. 81. Naturally Mr..
Fessenden and Mr.. Boyd compared notes.
The letter to Mr.. Boyd concluded with
this: 1--WE understand goods are to be
sent to Bowdoinham, Me. Is this cor
rect?'
Here was a clue and Mr. Fessenden was
prompt to follow it, leaving on the morn
ing train, today, for Bowdoinham. Here
he soon found the man he was looking for
and had him arrested and taken before
Trial Justice Fulton.
At the examination of this n. II.
Fessenden whose identity had become
entapgled, purposely or otherwise, with
that of the secretary of State, he promptly
admitted that he ordered the furs. lie
said he ordered them for his wife in WI
Transport, Pa. land, on cross examination,
said he ordered them to come to Bowdoln
ham, as she was coming here and intended
to settle here He said his business was
travelling, selling typewriters, and that
formerly he was an organist ana Is look
ing for situation in connection with ms
other business. He said it was his custom
to sign as his place of residence the place
he last left, and that was why ne had
given Houlton at one time and PORTLAND
at another as his residence when he regis
tered at the hotel here.
Mr. Fcssenden asked him how he signed
his letters to Geo W. Comstock, ordering
those furs.
The fellow was not certain, but sup
posed as he usually did He stated that
he didn't know Byron Boyd, had never
been in Augusta, only as he passed
through, and that he did not make use OF
any the official paper from the state
department. This paper bears the name
of Nicholas Fcssenden, secretary OF state
and of Byron Boyd, executive clerk, ana
if he used it in ordering the furs, would
account for Geo. w. Comstock writing
to Mr.. Boyd. The man also stated ne
ordered the furs c. O. ID.
Justice Fulton found cause to dctain
Mr.. Nicholas Edwards Fcssenden, and ne
was nlnced in the custody of Deputy |
Sheriff Cornish.
Meanwhile the secretary of State tele-
rraphed Geo w. Comstock of Buffalo TO
send on the letters ordering these 1urs,
and when they arrive IL VIII
he seen whether the suspicion
he correct. that they We're written upon
the official paper of the State department.
rho secretary of State is determined TO
make a thorough investigation OF the
case. if for a time he be Obliged to assume
the role of State detective.
The prevalent opinion here is that tne
man STYLING himself n. II. Fesscnden Is
no novice in ways that are crooked, ana
that he has had a pal at Augusta. Inc
statement that he ordered the goods
G. O. ID. is known to be incorrect rms
annears to be lie No /. He also stated
fiat he is a member Of Bosworth post,
q A r.. Portland The adjutant OF the
nost declares that no Nicholas Edwards
Fessenden is member OF that orgahiza-
ton.