Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-04
THOSE LETTERS
Which Nicholas Edwards Fessen-
den" Wrote for Goods
Are Interesting Few Of Those Which Reveal
His Shrewd Plot.


tracing the forgeries of his name by the
so-called Nicholas Edwards Fessendcn, t.
their source, has rid the State of rascal
who had all his plans laid for taking out
of it a good haul of stolen property. The
fellow who masqneraded under that name
is gone and is not likely to return. But
he took with him, so far as learned, only
typewriter and little additional crimi-
nal experience, whereas he lacked but a
few days, if all his plans had worked OF
carrying off, in furs, clothing from a Bo2.
ton firm, possibly money from the
Bowdoinham railroad station, and per
haps "swag" from Portland, property that
would have represented more than $1,000
in value.
There is little if any doubt that this
man real name is George H. Proctor and
that be has served time in State prison
for burglary; also that he came to Port
land early in the winter and made that
city his headquarters, living there under
his real name. The Portland Press last
week gave description of Proctor's brief
career in that city and his probable
identity with the man arrested in
Bowdoinham. 1t appears that he pre-
tended to be typewriter agent. During
his stay there n man, who occupied an
office next to Proctors, found that some
one had evidently been tampering with
his safe. The two offices were connected
by door At another time Proctor tried
to get an opportunity to show his ma
chine in store and wanted position in
the floor next the safe. This was denied
him. 1t is also evident that desp ite the
searching of trains, Proctor came into
Portland on the night train from Bruins
wick on the night of the day he was ar
rested, slept at his hotel and skipped in the
morning with his typewriter, unmolcsted.
He looked sick and worn when he got into
Portland that night and may have stolen
ride on the train.
Twenty-Five years ago Proctor worked
for the Portland Company and was re-
rarded as one of their best workmen. 1t
is also said that he was in the army and
draws pension. If so he may yet be
| caught. When he came to Portland this
time he apparently had laid his schemes.
He was noticed to have poper with heavy
headings. These he was careful to con-
ceal when anyone came near him, but one
day he was seen to have u sheet of the
secretary of States paper, but it was
sheet that had been printed in the SOS
He got fresh supply, for that ON which
he wrote the letters which got him into
trouble was from that now in use in the
State department.
While in Portland he called on Col.
Thos. p. Shaw and tried to get employ
,pcnt on the Maine Central. He may then
have appropriated some of the Maine Cen
trails stationery, for his first letter to the
Buffalo furrier was written upon 1T. This
first letter is given below under date OF
Dec Is. Secretary Fessenden has the
completc bundle of the letters and they arc
very interesting reading. They are cum
n,nply wordcd and skilfully written,
esnecially those In which he cramps his
handwriting to resemble that OF a woman.
A little inspection reveals the fact that
they are all written by the same hand
with the exception of the typewritten let,
ter supporting to come from Mr.. Boyd
which bore typewritten signature. They
were not so cunning, however, as not &c
arouse the suspicion of the Buffalo mer-
chant, who perhaps was more than usuai's
cautious owing to the size Of the order
Proctor had lived in Buffalo and knew tnt
Arm when it was Chase g. Comstock, and
he also knew the residence OF Comstock,
for one of the kilograms was sent to tht
nnm,er and street Of the residence. Some
Of the more interesting letters are glvef
below. beginning with that by which ne
first attempts to get the confidence OF tnt
Rnffalo firm. 1t will he noticed that this
Games from Nv. e. Baldwin, railroad
commissioner, . introducing the PROPOSE
- .a,,.3ing tho furs. His evident III