The Portland daily press., 1898-03-04

ials; large percentage Of the 1877 signers
are business men. Out of all the mer-
chants and the corporations only four
Lave not signed this paper
This expression in my opinion might
be carried throughout the town where so
many have been helped by Judge Fosters
broad-minded nsvolence, with similar
results. No man ever had more re-
markable support from his] nelghpors
whom have known him all his life.
| Previous to the starting Of this paper
a remonstrance to his re-appointment
was circulated So far as I can ascertain
only three women have signed this re-
monstrance, when its promoter became
discouraged. Later, another remon-
STRANGE was started with similar results"
| Judge Foster has been leading mem
ber Of the First Congregational church
IN this village for many years. 1t has
been reported that he was dropped from
it's membership because he failed to ap-
pear when summoned to answer to
charges of grave nature which had
been alleged against his moral character.
The records of the church show that
church meeting was held September 2,
| 1896, at which time certain resolutions
| were passed as have been published.
| 1t Is said the next two entries In the
| church record read as follows:
"A copy Of the above was mailed to
Enooh Foster, September 3, 1896,
And, ''by vote of the church Septeni-
Der 8, 1896. Enoch Foster was dropped
from church membership
Both of the foregoing entries were
signed by the clerk. Judge Fosters
friends assert these. two records are made
with so different ink and pen as to be
quite noticeable. The other entries
were made with intensely black ink and
coarse pen; these with pale ink and a
| fine pen. They are also written at the
bottom of the page in space so crainped
| that the penman was compelled to write
between the lines, and even below the
| lower line, forming contrast with the
surrounding entries.
| Above them is an entry of September
| y, the first on the next page is September
10.
| Judge Eos ter still refuses to talk for
| publication, but has given out the fol-
! lowing statement in the form of an ali
davit which is his first public utterance
relating to this matter, since the attacks
| upon his character:
| "Bethel Me-, March /, 1898.
Having seen q st4tement In the papers
that resolutions were adopted by the
| First Congregational church at Bethel,
Sep, ember 2, 1896, to the effect that un-
| less before September 9, 1896, ! should
signify to the church clerk my wishes to
meet the church to answer charges Of
iunchristian conduct; and also having
seen in the same papers that by vote of
| the church September 8, 1896, my name
was dropped from church membership,
| [ hereby ON oath, certify and say that
never saw or heard Of any such resolu-
tions till / saw statement OF the same
printed in the Boston Herald OF date
December a., 1897, more than is months
Il after the date OF tine alleged action OF the
church; nor have ever received any copy
of, or communication in relation to the
same, other than what l saw In the
newspaper as above stated. have e;ent.
lly been informed by o person who has
| had the privilege OF examining the pa
pers on file at Augusta in the executive
department, that copy OF the resolutions
on file there purports to show that the
clerk Of the church has certified that ne
deposited In the post office at Bethel
CODY of said resolutions duly addressed
to me and therefore further certify and
say on oath that no such letter or copy
ever came into my possession or knowl-
edge, and I never heard of that till In
formation came to me fsW days ago
(Feb. 25, 1889, from the party who was
permitted to examine the papers at Au-
gusta.
from and after the date when said re-
solution purported to have passed (Sep-
ternber Q. 1S96), up to December 49, 1897,
the Sunday before the appearance OF the
4 Herald article containing a.copy OF the
resolutions, I had paid in the said church
during the Is months, after said resolu-
4 tions purports to have been passed, and
before any knowledge of the same on my
part, the sum Of s145, and the same was
received from Sunday to Sunday by the
church, and by checks, each payment
bearing my full name and amount upon
the envelope, containing the SUM- The
last payment of $40, being December
10, 1897, the Sunday preceding the ap-
nenrance of the Herald article, written
and dated from Bethel, December ~
1897
u ''ENoCH FOSTER.
State of Maine, Oxford, SIS:
February 2S, 1898.
linen personally Hppeuroo bSloAo A.A9
Eno,h Foster, and signed and made oath
to the truth Of the foregoing statement by
him signed.
Before me.
A. W. GROVER,
Justice of the Peace.
THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
ESPECIAL TO THE PRESS.
Washington, March 3.-There
seems little likeliho that the
bankruptcy bill will become law. The
Senate seems thoroughly set against the
involuntary features of the House substi-
tute, and the House conferees are not
likely to yield on this point. Senator
Hoar has expressed 1t as his opinion
that the Senate will not yield, and the
verbose attitude OF Senator Stewart, who
is inclined to link the bill up with th 9
silver question and the Crime of '73, con-