Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-02-04
GE0RGET0WN'S SENSATION.
Station Agent Bradford Pleads
GniItN 10 Srrinms Charge,.

GEORGETOWN. Mass. Feb. l-Orlin "
Bradford. Tor several years station agent for
the Boston & Maine railroad company in this
town has been arrested. lie went To the
station A. usual aud began the routine bust
ness Of the day. Shortly alJrr the railroad
auditor entered the ufli." and Informed Mr..
Bradford that the company had decided To-
make change. and new agent was at
once installed The customary transfer OF
the books and property was then male. af-
ter viii IA Mr.. Bradford started Co leave th,.
station. Deputy sheriff David y. Bridges.
assisted hy Detective John 4. Airlonrv IN IN
stepped forward aud placed rim under ar
rest. lie was allowed To- visit his home ani
tell his wife of his troubles and WIS then
taken To- court On q warrant charging him
with breaking and entering he pleaded
guilty aud va. held IN 5000. ou warrant
charging him with forser, Ia numerous
counts he pleaded guilty and WiS held in
$1,000. Charges against him for cmbrzzle-
ment and larceny We're waived until later,
when he will be placed on trial in the police
court. Every one in the court room was
surprised that he pleaded guilty to the
charges brought against him. the ar
resting officers not expecting that he
would do -. lie wa told by the pre-
siding Judge that he WAS not obliged tn
plead guilty. but after minutes hesitation
decide ito do 50. Bradford belongs in Lis
bon. y. H.. hut has male Georgetown his
home since 1883. j. j. llhuay Of MelrOse
Highlands succeeds Bradford rs station
agent in GeOrgrtuwn. The -lfe in the b. 4
VI. railroad station IN this town was broken
into on the night ul NOV. -, lSl1 aud : 1870 in
money stolen, besides paw and rebate checks
Nnd other articles. Detective Meloney was
notified Of the brcaH on the following morn
iug. and he Immediately began an inye~tiga-
ton lie soon found that the break was
made after the sale was unlocked. 1t Wa-
also discovered that whoever ha tampered
with the lock had carried ava; the money
chest. Later tn" money chest, "A love letter
aud an envelope from green goods firm
were found in culvert some distance from
the depot. while a lot uf rebate and pay
checks We're discovered at the base of an
rmbankmrnt by the side OF the track The
love letter. which had been partially mutt
luted, was later put together and its contents
duly noted but did not concern or ucrimi-
nate bradford. The sequel to the envelope
incident will be made pahiic later. In re-
gard to the alleged fprgrries and embezzle-
mrn's the officers have 20 or more checks in
their possession purportiug to have been
signed hy Ernest Christine. "A former en-
ploye Of the railroad. but which.t is claimed
were indorsed 10y bradford. and on
which he drew money for several months.
Christine WAS employed Us baggage
master at the depot. He was married
some two years ago, and thea left the en-
ploy Of the railroad. 1t is claimed by the
officers that Bradford at first endeavored to
initiate Christiue's penmanship by writing
scrawinE hand, but that as time went on he
became boider, and that recent checks show
that Christines name was penned in Brad
ford : natural hand. The arrest also calls
attention to the fact that the safe in the
the depot was blown to pieces Aug. p. 1894,
and S23j stolen. The office was wrecked at
that time. and several persons living in the
vicinity of the depot were aroused 10y the
explosion. Soon after the new station agent
hal taken possession OF the ticket
office. Bradford had a conference with his
brother-in-aw after which he was allowed
to visit his home. As he entered the house
his cOnildiug and entirely innocent wife was
notified of the downfall OF her husband. The
startling intelligence nearly prostrated her.
Bradford has been resident of the town
for more than 10 years, and has heretofore
borne good reputation. He lived with his
wife and three children and was deemed an
exemplary man by the citizens. He was a
prominent member of the order of odd
Fellows, and previous to the present year
had served fora long time as constable. He
was trusted and respected by all. and his ar
rest has caused the biggest sensation in town
for many years.