The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-22
THE DEADLY BUCKET SHOP.
Another Victim Falls in Concord,
New Hampshire.

1900
bert L. Foster, the Tax Collector, the
Man, and Had Always Borne a Good
Reputation-$30,O 900 Short in His Ac-
counts-Is Now Under Arrest.
Concord, N. H., February 21.-Albert
I. Foster, for five years tax collector,
was arrested today on two complaints
charging him with embezzling SIC, 600
oftthe funds received by him, and he ad-
mits his guilt.
Foster came here from Lowell about
seven years ago, and was for two years
bookkeeper at Holden's mill in West
Concord. On removing to the city proper,
he became actively interested in politics,
the result being that he was elected tax
collector and reelected four times.
The city never had an auditor before
the present year. When Mayor Robinson
was inaugurated he urged the Importance
Of having such an official, and recently
Hon. James O. Lfyord, late chairman
of the state bank commission, was an
pointed. Mr.. Lfyord began an inyestiga-
ton OF Mr.. Fosters books on Monday of
this week, and on Wednesday evening
he discovered what he thought to be IT.
Irregularities.
What attracted his attention most, was
the apparent failure OH the part of some
of the heaviest tax payers
TO MEET THEIR TAXES
before the 10 per cent interest began to
accrue.
On Thursday Mr.. Lyford sent letters
to five taxpayers whose taxes aggregated
$1,000 and received positive evidence in
their receipted bills and checks that they
had settled. Mr.. Lyford at once notified
Mr.. Fosters principal bondsman of his
discovery and later Mr.. Foster was asked
TO explain
He said he would do so il given an OBJ
portunity.
Later all the gentlemen on Mr.. Fosters
bond for 1895 were called In and Mr.. Eos
ter was arrested at his home and brought
TO the police station.
When confronted with the charge, he
acknowledged his guilt, saying he used
between $l5, 600 and $16, 600 Of the money
lost the money in bucket shop in Bos-
ton where he was known to have been a
heavy plunger, at one time having lost
$1100 in a single deal. He snid he was
a heavy loser by the
FAILURE OF BALDWIN BROTHERS
Of this city last year.
While Mr.. Foster admits q shortage of
nearly $4,000, it is feared it will be
much larger.
Mr.. Lyford has over HOO accounts to
verify and as the process must necessari-
IN he oIo + bo ~ J.,
give out an accurate statement for weeks.
Mr.. Fosters bondsmen include some
well-known citizens and they will be
ready to meet their obligations when de-
manded. Foster has turned all his Dor
perty over to them as security, but the
amount is not large. He will be ar
raigned later.
Fosters family is small and his expen-
sees have never been large. Hitherto he
has borne an
UNBLEMISHED REPUTATION
and his downfall is source of much sur
prise to the people generally.
Experts from insurance companies rep
resented by Albert I. Foster the default
ing tax collector, arrived this afternoon
to make CAREFUL examination of his
books and ascertain if any irregularities
exist in them. 1t is claimed that FOSTER
bondsmen can make contest with the
city on account of the careless manner
in which the business of the tax collec-
tors office has been conducted for many
years and the entire absence of any sys-
tenn of accounting of settlement through
an examination by duly authorized
officer of the city.
The latest rumor places the amount of
the embezzlement as high an $40, OOO
Later developments in the case of Eos
ter show that he kept an accurate prl-
vate
ACCOUNT OF HIS SPECULATIONS
in a book which had come into posses
sion of Auditor Lyford. The account
shows that he substituted cash for the
amounts of checks received at the season
Of the year when the heaviest payments
were made to him. From what he adj
mitted to his bondsmen it is claimed
that he used most of the money collected
in 1895 to cover shortages which occurred
the previous year. In view of this con-
dition of affairs it is very probable the
bondsmen for 1895 will decline to cover
the deficit.
"BILL" NYE IN PORTLAND.