Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-25
A BIG BOSTON DEFALoATIoN.
Frank c. Miles, who stole 100000 60
100000, 10 the owner Of Mount
Lake Farm In ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS He
Has Done at the Farm.

Frank e. Miles, who stole 100000 60
100000. 10 the owner of Mount
Lake Farm In neutrality-suspicious. He
Has Done at the Farm.
The defalcation Of Frank c. Miles, treasurer Of
the Boston Safe.Deposit and Trust company, was
discovered Friday by f. NJ. Stone, the president
Of the institution. meeting Of the directors
was called and Miles confessed to them that he
had misapplied securities, and that the loss TO
the company would be 100000 to $4,000. Miles
was not arrested when the shortage was first dis
covered and when the police looked for him In the
evening he could not be found No trace Of him
has since been obtained. The American Surety
company Of New York was on Miless bond for
$4,000. The cause Of Mes's downfall was spec
ulation in stocks. The Safe Deposit and Trust
company has brought suit against Is firms and
has levied attachments against several banks,
holders OF securities Incorporated by Miles.
Miles began his career a bank man at Mbury,
Mass, aud was made treasurer Of the Safe De
posit and Trust company when Il was formed 81
years ago. The Boston safe Deposit and Trust
company has grown from small beginnings until
II Is one of the most important financial institu-
lions in New England, and has a capital OF Si,-
OJOOOC end holds surplus Of Sl,OOOOOO
MIR. MDess deiacation caused as great surprise
In Windham county as in Boston, and especially
in Londonderry, where he owns fine farm. This
farm Is IN the north part Of the town. It was
bought by Mr.. Miles about five years ago Mr.
Miles's elder son, Willard. who was suffering from
consumption, was brought TO North Londonderry
village hVe years ago by DR.. George II. Payne Of
Boston, whose summer home 1.-THE Hermitage ."
Is the finest residence In the town OF Londonderry.
Dr. ray Is not now visitor at North London
derry. He had matrimonial difficulties and THE
hermitage" is occupied by Mrs. Payne alone.
Ihe boy. willard, improved in health after com
ing 70 londonderry and at his request his father
ing tnat he could recover II he lived there. His
improvement was only temporary, however and
bought.
Mr.. Mies's Londonderry estate contains 400
acres ana II Is known as Mount l.at farm. II is
situated almost under the shadow OF Gebe Noun
tain, 800 feet high, and borders on Lowell lake
beautiful sheet of water which Is becoming well
kno"h as summer resort. To the north and
west from the tarn Is an unobstructed view for
| many miles, and the famous Equinox mountain
at Manchester is plainly seen
After Mr. Miles bought the farm the house was
rebuilt INTO a handsome two story structure Of
modern design. Large new barns one Of them
lOO ieet IN length, big creamery fitted with all
modern appliances, hennery 100 feet long, aud
| other outbuildngs were erected Large forces of
men were employed In grading the grounds,
building stone walls and In ms king otner i'm
proponents Imported cattle were brought To
the farm, and fine horses aud other stock bought
mr, Mlles came TO the farm only occasionally,
ana iheh only Tor day or two at a time. He
would then give ms orders. which were carried
out under the direction OF his manager ] w
FarW-ll the present manager, came from Ian.
| caster, Mass. in the summer of 1895 Mr. San.
| Mass. ~ ''''''
mr. Miles gave orders that r. sident of London.
Jerry De given the preference when employees
were 10 BE- hired and that all supplies be bought
IN the town. His policy in all things relating to
sne JiT"hspeope Was one OF liberality, and as a
result ne Is easily the most popular man who
| comes mere although only few Of the people
| know him personally.
Inc farm has been run principally as a dairy
esta0lshmrnt The farmers say that, because OF
! Mr Miiess dairy, they have have been able to
Ret several cents pound more for their butter
! than Residents in adjoining towns 10 order to
| control the dairy interests OF the town Mr. Miles
| bought the cheese factory at South Londonderry
ana stopped the making Of cheese there. He put
Ia a separator at the factory separated the cream
| mere ana has II carried TO the farm, SIX niles
| away. There Is also a separator at the farm So
sra r sIe ns'niers OF large part Of the town
| cehty oeen making plans 10 have gathered the
creaLh ia Peru Landgrove and Weston, three
All bills have be+ paid promptly. One of the
| directions TO Mr.. FarWell was: Don't 90 TO bed
| untn every bill has been cleared up" Mr. Miles
mas occasionally entertained few of his intimate
| Boston friends at the farm for few DAYS Mrs
| Miles has two or three times spent a few weeks
ne.e, out she was abroad last summer and did
| not come here at all Ralph MIles's SON has
| summers
| frequent visitor at the farm was Robert Cor
don Hardie, the well known artist Mr.. Hardie
mas made several landscape paintings Of views
| on the farm for Mr. Miles
| All OF the townspsople have a good word for
| Mr. Miles and can hardly believe the story OF his
| crime When the last big barn VS. completed
over year ago, dance and rece 1tion was given
70 the people hereabouts, 400 OF whom were pres
ent ana all we're entertained royalty.
| Mr.. Miles has usually come 10 the farm via
| Chester, and would be driven from there in hi.
| Tour Ia u and, a distance Of IL miles. Mr. FArwel
stated this week that probably not over S2O0Ol
| mad been spent on the farm, but the estimates OF
Londonderry people are much higher There il
the renodelle7d house. three large barns; the big
| creamery aud all the tools; the outbuildinRs the
stock, tools supplies and furnishings upon which
| large sums have been expended. Much money
mas oeen paid for grading the grounds, building
| ToAuNAJs blg stone walls, etc, aud sometimes
| employment has been given TO 80 men Men OF
good Judgment who remember the farm as Il wa.
several years ago believe that at least So 600 has
oeh eH pended IN bringing IL to its present state
OF development while others place ihe fiptlr.s a,
nigh as $4,000 The place was first decided to the
son willard. but after his death the deed wa,
Transferred TO the younger son, Ralph, a boy OF
Is Mr.. Miles's house az Boston was not In hi,
own name and he paid only poll tax.