The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-24
EMBEZZJEMENT CHARGED.
w. A. Roberts Arrested ON COM
plant of Portland Man.
Affair Grew 0ut of sale of the Biddeford
Times.
(Biddeford Journal

On account Of some business transac.
lions between William A. Roberts OF
this city and George A. Guptill of Port
land, the former MORTGAGE and owner OF
the Biddeford Times plant, MIR. Roberts
this morning appeared In Judge Cleaves's
court to answer to warrant charging
him with embezzlement from Mr.. Cup
till. The amount involved Is only $50.
The warrant was served by Dsputy Mar
shall Moaan. In court, the hearing was
set for Thursday morning at 10 O'Clock,
Frederick Yates and George b. Perkins
being the bondsmen.
The action of the Portland man In Sc
curing the arrest of MIR Roberts on this
charge Is said to be due to relations be-
tween the two PARTIES growing out of
their connection with the Times Publish
ing company. After the Times plant had
been long idle. Mr.. Guptill. who was
then the owner, decided last spring to
start 1t up again and begin the publica-
tion of a Sunday paper. He had become
tired Of paying rent to an idle equip
ment. Previous TO the appearance of this
paper the announcement WAS made that
stock company had been formed known
as the Times Publishing company. Type
written notices were sent to the local pa
pers from Mr.. Roberts's Office, giving the
names of the officers OF the company,
with Mr.. Guptill as one
After several Issues OF the Sunday pa
per had appeared and the expectant pub
lie had looked in vain for a much adver.
tised morning daily, Mr.. Guptill decided
IS the plant was unremuneiative to
close it down again. he did so and sold
the type and presses to Portland print
ing house.
The put1o had generally forgotten
the incidents OF this Times final metecrio
flight, when Charles A. True, an ex-
county attorney of Portland. came to
Biddeford Monday in behalf of Mr.. Cup
till, his client A warrant charging MIR.
Roberts with embezzlement was made
out by Judge Cleayes. 1t stated that the
respondent had "fraudulsntly converted
to his own use, a certain instrument In
writing, and an orderfor the payment OF
money commonly called a check. cnrren {
as money in this state, of the amosnt
and value of $780," The warrant further
alleges that Mr.. Guptiil delivered s'to
said Roberts the cheek in trust and con-
fidenSe and good will and that said
Roberts was to use the $50 to defray ex-
penfes in behalf of the Times Publishing
company, and that he did not. but con-
verted 1t to his own use. %
Mr.. Guptill says the $50 was to have
been used in defraying the expenses of
incorporating the COMPANY. He says he
was too busy at tho time to look after 1t
himself and he left the check with MIR.
Roberts. mir. Guptill declares that he
supposed the Times Publishing company
had been duly Incorporated under the
laws of the State of Maine. but he discov-
ersd after awhile when he was called up
on to pay all bills that 1t was not SO.
When Deputy Marshal Mogan was Civ
en- the warrant to serve this morning he
went to MIR. Roherts's office In Shaw's
block and found him reading the news
in the morning papers.
81 have warrant for your arrest. Mr..
Roberts, on the charge of embezzlement, "
said the deputy.
ssYou have got what9" asked MIR. Rob-
erts in astonishment.
The deputy repeated his remark an d
Mr.. Roberts asked to see the warrant.
When 1t was handed TO him, he eagerly
devoured the contents of the two type
written pages outlining the charges, and
after he got through. announced to the
officer that no was ready to go with him.
They proceeded 70 the court room and