The Portland daily press., 1896-02-05
DoUGLAss,s ARREST.
He is Accused of Trying to Defraud Hi
Creditors.

the assignment of Booker Douglass is
interesting. The belief Of his townsmen
in Douglass's honesty and shrewdness
was shared by his creditors up to within
few days of his assignment. The list
of his Portland creditors is long one
The first OF last December they had been
sending large orders to the Bowdoinham
merchant. Now it happened that about
this time Douglass bought parcel of
real estate and gave demand note for
it to a .Bowdoinham man. The note
was for $3.50, and when Douglass was
ask ed to pay it, he said he had no ready
money. Tie tholder accordingly came to
this city to sell the note and made some
statements in regard to Douglass that
reached the ears of Portland creditors.
The creditors held meeting and found
that 60 or 80 days before the first of De-
celnber, Douglass had bought between
$13, 500 and $4,000 worth of goods in
Portland alone. Messrs. Smith and Cox
went to Bowdoinham to investigate and
as result of their visit, Douglass made
an assignment. He said that the travel
ling over the country loads was so bad
that he was short of ready money. as
be could not get his goods to his GUS
toners. The assiguees made an inven-
tory of the stock and found that while
Douglass had liabilities of some SEQ, 900.
there were only $13, 900 of visible assets
NO READY MONEY
was returned among the assets. Doug
lass had given up trading in his parlor
and fitted the eli of his house into a
fairly good store, but tho rest of the place
was not changed much in appearance.
Sleig his, plows ard harrows still reposed
on the haymows, the barn and store
house bein s crowded with goods
and in the house, in one of the bed
rooms, there were found $500 worth
of whips and $500 worth of trousers.
The stock of whips and trousers seemed
to be pretty large and the lack of money
in place of goods which had appar-
entity been sold, created sus-
pfcion of wrong doing. The assignees
retained Albert S. Woodman, ESQ.,, of
this city as counsel and began a searoh-
ing inv estigation into Douglass's affairs.
They found in various savings banks
deposits of money made in the names
of different persons but which, it is al
legged, is really money belonging to Doug
lass. This money has been trusted.
Then it was found that in the Sagada-
hoo registry of deeds during the past
two years, Douglass has recorded over
100 transfers of property. These things
led to the placing of a warrant for Doug
lass's arrest in the hands of deputy
sheriff, and about ten days ago petit
ion was filed in Sagadahoo county pray
ing that Douglass be decreed an insol-
vent. This petition was heard yesterday
when Mr.. Woodman and Mr.. Cox ap-
peared before the probate court in Bath.
Some days ago, Douglass sent an at tor
ney to the assignees and asked for n
statement of the terms on which they
would settle. The assignees replied that
he might settle for
100 CENTS ON A DOLLAR,
and expenses. The next the assignees
heard of Mr.. Douglass came in the shape
of telegram from Mr.. Parker Prince, a
travelling salesman for A. f. Cox &
Son. Mr.. Prince was travelling Mon
day ON Grand Trunk train. Among
the passengers was a man whom he
recognized, and he telegraphed to Mr..
Cox that Douglass was skipping. The
result was Douglass's arrest at Island
Pond. Deputy Marshal Hartnett of this
city went to Island Pond yesterday and
telegraphed last night that Douglass
would accompany him back to Maine
today. Douglass will be taken to Bath
to answer to charge of seoreting proper
ty with intent to defraud his creditors.
The penalty is a fine and Imprisonment
not exceeding one year. He telegraphed
his wife after his arrest to arrange for
bail and it is this telegram, probably.
which is referred to in the despatch
above.
AS above stated, when the assignees
made their inventory they found that
the assets consisting mostly of the stock.
amounted to $4,000 The assignees then
held a clearance sale which was attend
ed by people from 20 miles around, MANY
Of whom brought their dinners and made
day OF 1t. After this sale, the balance
of the stock was closed out in a lump
and the proceeds of the whole were but
5000, instead of the expected S13, 600.
THE PORTLAND CREDITORS
are: +. A. Smith & Co., grocers; E.
O. Bailey Carriage Company; f. o.
Bailey & Go. Milliken, Cousins & Short,
dry goods; Lewis, Hall & Co., clothing;
Bradley & Small, carriages; Lord Broth
ers, fish dealers; Hooper, Son & Leigh
ton, furniture; John J. Frye, Isaiah Frye,
agricultural implements; Jordan Broth
ers. fruit; G. A. Weston & Co., groo-
cries; r. Swasey & Co., crookery; MILL
ken omlinson Company, groceries; A.
E. Cox & Son. boots and shoes; W. W.