Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-04-11
ROBBED THE TOWN.
Foxcroft's Treasurer Borrowed Money
in the Towns Name.

in the Towns Name.
When Elias J. Hale, Judge of probate OF
Piscataquis county, and treasurer OF the
town of Foxcroft, committed suicide
March Is, his neighbors and friends all
over the State were shocked and grleved
at the loss of so respected a citizen. The
cause Of suicide was assigned rs dread OF
old age In the few days following his
death the town was thrown into state
of excitement bordering on panic hy the
discovery that Judge Hale was detaulter
to an amount now estimated at about
s135,0 900.
Mr.. Hale has been connected for years
in the town affairs, and no man has ever
been more trusted. He was regarded by
everyb body as one for whom it was i'm
possible to do wrong Anyone saying a
wo-d against him would have been liable
to have been run out of town. He had
been town treasurer for thirty years.
His method of stealing had been to
hire money from the people, presumably
for town affairs and use. He would give
a note and, in his returns to the town,
would give credit for just as much as
was legally used for town purposes
People regarded it as sure investment,
and, being exempt from taxation, great
many were willing to loan The ex-judge
would. in his persuasive manner, tell
them not to mention the matter, for
thus they would escape taxation. With
Yankee thrift each man kept his secret
jealousy. Many of the creditors are able
to stand their losses, If losses the snms
loaned are to be. But very. many;of the
smaller creditors are widows or farmers
who have invested all their scanty saw
ings in these town notes. These are the
people " no are clamoring loudest.
No where in Maine, or indeed in the
whole country, have the town affairs been
run SO earelessly II is difficult TO con-
ceive how such a stupendous amount
could be concealed, and year after year,
board after board, auditor after auditor,
presented their sworn statements that his
accounts had been Investigated and
thoroughly examined. When Judge Hale
found he would have TO give up his book,
as the town last March voted to cancel
the entire debt. amidst great utilization,
he realized that escape was impossible,
and shot himself.
The suicide itself was singular. On the
day of his suicide the judge came from
his house after dinner as usual. At about
Up. m. he told his oftice-boy to go and
get Undertaken George q. Downing.
Tell him I'll be ready for him, directed
the Judge. The boy, of course, thought
it was matter of business and started
out.
The Judge gave him some letters, one
to his wife, telling him to mail them as
he went along. Then the judge returned
to his office, locked the door, removed
hat, coat and waistcoat, sat down in
chair and fired bullet into his mouth.
The boy came back with the undertaken,
unlocked the door, and there sat Imply
in his chair the suicide, feebly clearing
with his fingers the clotted blood from
his mouth. He died at about p. m.
without recognizing any one.
The fearful load that the judge was
carrying on his mind did not appear to
depress him. He Was always genial
and courteous, and only few days before
his tragic end appeared at local enter
tainment and recited a humorous selec
tion