Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-24
MADISON PEOPLE
Anxious in Connection With
the Emery Suicide Case.
Hopes Entertained that Matters May
Not Prove as Bad as Feared.
And that Some Way May Be Found to Adjust
Any Financial Difficulties.

Madison, Dec. 23.-(SpeciaD.-A par
ticularly distressing condition of things
comes out of the death by suicide of
James Emery of the firm of Weston &
Emery, last Sunday. The public pulse
is now quickened at the suggestion
that b. P. j. Weston, the surviving
member of the firm, is financially
ruined.
Whether or not James Emery used
the funds of the Madison Village Cor
poration for bills owed by the firm or
for his own private use. is a fact yet
to be shown, and as it is matter that
is for the consideration of his bonds
men and the assessors, it becomes an
outside issue.
1t may be we'll to say in passing, that
the deceased, James Emery, was al
ways considered the soul of honor and
even if a shortage in his accounts with
the Village Corporation is shown there
will be few in this town who will be-
lieve that he intended doing a wrong
act.
The attention of Madison people j.,
now concentrated on the outlook for
the surviving member of the firm, Mr.
Weston and what the result to Madi-
son people will be if he is pushed to the
insolvency court. Mr.. Weston has been
a most active and valuable citizen of
the town, and has a large circle Of
friends who will join in the earnest
hope that, he may be able to effect
some adjustment of his business af-
fairs. 1t is certainly of great impor-
lance to the town. that some way may
be found out Of any financial difficult
ties that may beset him.
Speaking of the suicide of Mr.. Emery
a Well-knoWn Madison citizen said to
the Journal man: Il tell you just what
we think here. James Emery was al
ways considered strictly honest. 1t
was not because he may have used
some of the corporation funds that
caused him to commit suicide but
rather because he realized that he
could not meet his obligations to his
friends and pay them dollar for dollar.
This talk about using nearly $1,000 of
the corporation funds does not worry
anyone for the estate is responsible to
the bondsmen and the bondsmen to
the corporatiCa. What we are con-
sidering now : what the result of
financial embarrassment of the firm of
Weston G. Emery would mean to many
Of cur prominent citizens to whom we
are looking and for years, have looked
for our commercial and industrial pro-
gress."
OF course various runGrs are afioat
but, as yet, Mr.. Weston has made no
statement, and nothing definite IS
known The hope is generally enter
tanned here that matters may not prove
as bad as some have feared.
The report was current on the street
that whole streets of mortgaged house
lots had been sold and deeds given by
Mr.. Weston. One young man went
down to Skowhegan,l yesterday, and
consulted the law firm of Walton 4
Walton. OF this particular young
mans case it should pc said, that ne
went to the Waltons with pale face and
trembling limbs, told the lawyers thai
he had bought a house lot of Mr.. Wes-
ton, had built thereon nice house,
and now he heard that the lot was
mortgaged.
L. L. Walton looked the matter up.
and found that the mortgage had been
released, Out of this grew the report
that whole streets of rortgaged prop
erty had been sold to house owners.
Mr.. Weston has been to consider
able extent promoter of manutac-
lures. and to him mere than any other
man. is probably due the present num-
Der of industries all in a fourishins
condition. that the village contains.
l,n Tollrn21 rlDOrter has |
gone for information he has met noun
ing but expressions of the deepest re-
greet over the death of Mr.. Emery, ano
the kindliest comment regarding MI
Weston. Future developments are
awaited with much anxiety.