The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-01
Alleged PecuIations Have Been
Going on IL Years.
lHr. Twitchell was Closely Connected With
the Business Enterprises Of Galen G.
MOses-Was Portland BOY and Has
Been Prominent knight Templar
and knight Of Pyahias-NO Criminal
Proceedings will be Taken.
ESPECIAL 60 THE FREss.j

ESPECIAL 60 THE rREss.j
Bath, August 3l.-Following the az
nouncement Of the assignment of the
Bath Gas and Electric company. the
Richards PAPER company and that OF
Hon. Galen G. Moses, came the news to-
day that Fritz 81. Twitchell. twice a
mayor of Bath, and now member of the
Governors council is an emhezzler to the
extent OF sG0, 900 or thereabouts.
Stories in regard to Mr.. Twitchell and
his affairs have been floating about town
for several days, but very few people gave
them creaence until the failures of the
Bath Gas and Electric company, and OF
Ga1en 6 Moses were announced, and
then penrle began to wonder, II it was
posi- bia chat the stories got started with
out SOME foundation.
Everything possible has been done to
screen Mr.. Tw ,hell, but it was i'm
possible, the truth will come out and the
result is that the city of Bath tonight is
talking of the defaloation and how 1t
was carried on.
Mr.. Twitchell is 45 years Of age. He
was born in Portland and came to Bath
in 1877, as clerk and purchasing agent for
the Worumbo Manufacturing company OF
which Galen G. Moses is treasurer.
AS time went on Mr.. Twitchell grew
very popular, and In 1882 was married to
Miss Emmn, daughter Of Mrs e. 4.
Harding. She was one of the society
bellies of Bath, and as Mrs Twitohell
showed himself to be shrewd business
man, he was soon made the business
confdant Of Mr.. Moses and was apparent
" very prosperous. He lived we'll and
gradually began to invest considerable
sums in company with Mr.. Moses in Q
number of business, mainly electrical
enterprises. They were interested in
plants at Bennington, Vermont; at Atnoi
and Orange, Mass; at Brunswick, IN
Bath. at Hoosic Falls, N. Y, and other
pluces.
Mr.. Twitchell got ahead very rapidly,
had many friends aud was considered one
of the leading business men of Bath. he
was elected to several terms In the oity
council and in 1892 was elected mayor OF
Bath, being indorsed by Gen. L. ". Hyde
and other Republican leaders. he was
reelected the next year. Soon after he
was sent to Augusta as representative to
tho legislature, and has been one of
Governor Powers councillors during his
term.
About twelve or thirteen years ago,
SO it is charged, Fritz r..
Twitchell took his frsb sum of money
from the funds of the Worumbo company
What he did it for or where the money
went no one but himself can say. Sinos
that time it is stated he has taken about
$50, 900, not much over S50C0 in any one
time. 1t was but a few weeks ago that
became aroused that oil vas
not right and when he went to Moose
head Lake for his health his books and
accounts were carefully examined and II
was learned that he had taken the sum
named, but had done it SO we'll that it
had gone undiscovered all these years.
Just how he did it is not known, but it
is known that he at times did make out
checks especially during the absence Of
MIR. Moses, who ia treasurer.
1t 1t supposed that he invested this
money in the different enterprises with
which he was connected and that they did
not pay as well as was expected. 1t is
known that his interest In the Bath
Street railway company proved good
piece of property and that he made gooo
thing In connection with his interest IN
the new Bath, Brunswick and Lewiston
street railway, which he sold last week.
lie owned one.sixth interest in the
Popham Beach Real Estnte and Hotel
company, and it is said had about $1,000
invested there. He also owned tins cot.
tage ct the beach which must have cost
MIN IN the vicinity of $4,000.
It ls said that all Of his other accounts