Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-05
GEORGETO SENSATION.
Station Agent Bradford pleads
Chilly To Srrious CHARGES.

GEORGETOWN. Mass. Fea. 3 -orlin W.
Bradford. for several years station agent for
the Boston 4 Maine railroad company in this
town, has been arrested. lie went TO the
station n usual and be gan the tontinc bust
ness of the day. Shortly after the railroad
auditor entered the office and informed Mr..
Bradford that the company had decide to
make Il change, and II new agent was At
once installed. The customary transfer OF
the books and property was then made. af-
ter which MIR. Bradford started L. leave the
station Deputy sheriff David \. Bridges.
assisted by Detective john MelOney. then
stepped forward and placed him under ar
resi-. He WAS allowed 10 visit his home and
tell his wife of his troubles and was then
taken to court. On warrant charging him
with breaking and cuterin. he pleaded
guilty and was held in 1000; on warrant
charging him with forgery in numerous
counts he pleaded guilty and was held in
$1,000. Charges against him for cnbe2Gle-
nent and larceny We're waived until later,
when he ,"Nl 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 50. He was told lay the pre-
siding judge that he was not obliged to
plead guilty, but after Il minutes hesitation
decided to do so. Bradford belongs in Lis
bon. y. H.. but has made Georgetown his
home since 1883. j. j. liancy of Melross
Highlands succeeds Bradford rs station
agent in Georgetown. The safe III the B. 4
NJ. railroad station in this town was broken
into on the night of Nov. Is, 1897 and $50 in
money stolen. besides pay and rehrtr checks
and other articles. Detective Meloney was
notified of the break on the following morn
ing and he Immediately began an invostga'
zion. lie soon found that the "break was
made after the safe was unlocked. Ii was
4 GI,,,t bal Il
with the lock had carried away the money
chest. Later the money chest n love letter
aud N envelope from green goods firm
were t,und in a cUlyert some distance from
the depot, while u lot of rebate and pay
checks We're discovered NJ the base OF IN
embarrassment by the side of the track. Tn"
love letter. which had been partially mutt
lated. was later put together and its rontepiS
duly noted. but did not concern or incrimi-
nate Bradford. The sequel to the envelopr
incident will be made pabic later. In RE-
gar, to the alleged forgrries and embezzle-
mants the officers have 90 or more checks in
their possession purporting to have been
signed by Ernest Christine, former EN-
ploye of the railroad, but which 1t is claimed
wrr. indorsed by Bradford, and on
which he drew money for several months
Christine was employed az baggage
master at the depot. He was married
some two years ago, and thea left the ON
ploy of the railroad. 1t Is claimed ny III"
officers that Bradfor, ut first endeavored to
initiate thristine's penmanship by writing
scrawliny hand, but that a. time went on he
became bolder, and that recent checks show
that Christine's name was penned in Brad
ford's natural hand. The arrest also calls
attention to the fact that the safe in the
the depot was blown to pieces Aug. q. 1884.
and 9l35 stolen The Office was wrecked at
that time, and several persons living in the
vicinity Of the depot were aroused by the
explosion. soon after the new station agent
had taken possession Of tho ticket
office. Bradford had II conference with his
brother-in-law, after which he was allowed
to isit his home. As h. entered the house
his coniilnS aud entirely innocent wife was
notified of the downfall OF her husband. Tho
startling intelligence nearly Frustrated her.
Bradford has been II resident of the town
for more than 10 yeare, and has heretofore
borne a good reputation. lie lived with his
wife and three children and was deemed an
exemplary man by the citizens. He was II
prominent member of the order Of O,i
Fellows. and previous to the present year
had served for Il long tim" IA a constable. III"
was trusted and respected by all, aud his ar
rest has caused the biggest sensation il town
FOR many years.