The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-23

l do not wish to incriminate myself.
will say that it seems strange there
could be a shortage of $1,000 all since
Jan. /, when I have never had more
than 1888 worth of stock in the office,
and an average of no more than $500
or $1,000"
To the question: How much stock
have you on hand now?' he refused to
make any definite reply.
He did not say whether he would re-
sign from the office of town clerk, and
from the board of health, or not.
DR.. Nash has been exceedingly popu-
lar in Lancaster. He has been an af-
fable postmaster, an accommodating
town clerk and a genial citizen. 1t will
be surprising if the sympathy of
many leading citizens of the place is
not interposed as far as may be be-
tween the postmaster and any mistake
he may have committed.
Yet there is a decided element who
are in favor of the most rigid scrutiny
of the postmaSter's conduct, and his
punishment under the law of an eye
for an eye and a tooth for a tooth to
just the extent that his transgression
may be discovered to have crossed the
narrow line that divides a transaction
merely doubtful before the law from
one that is entirely criminal before the
law. Great sympathy is expressed for
Mrs. Nash, who is loved and respected
by everybody in the whole town.
There is question as to the periods
IN which the shortage has been created
The bondsmen are especially anxious to
have this determined. It will affect
the liability of some Of them to deter
mine when. For instance, some of the
men have been on the bond all of the IL
years in which DR.. Nash has been
postmaster. Harold Parker, however,
went only recently on the bond. He
would not be liable for defalcations that
may have existed prior to that time.
Mr.. Parker verified this point, in con-
versation with the correspondent of
The SPY this afternoon. He said: II
shall have to pay my share of this
shortage. | shall do so without whim-
pering, l have only onx complaint to
make. l do think the government is
IN error in not inspecting the post Of
fee oftener than once in ten years"
Inspector Pendleton explained this
neglect to Mr.. NoIrse by saying that
there was a shortage Of inspectors in
the service.
DR.. Nash was appointed postmaster
in the latter part of Grover Cleveland
first term. The post office here is In the
fourth-class, so his appointment came
from the fourth assistant postmaster
general. He has been continued
through two administrations and part
Of another since Cleveland went out Of
Office the first time.
Three inspectors have visited the Of
flee in all in this eleven years One
came shortly after he was appointed.
Another came to inquire into an ir-
regularity in a postal note. This was
some years ago. The last was Inspec-
tor Pendleton. He came like a thunder
bolt from a clear sky to Postmaster
Nash.
Already candidates seek the office.
Three had petitions in circulation this
morning, and new ones appear every
few minutes. George T. Bailey is
thought to stand the best chance Of get
ting the Job. He Is the mail carrier.
His father carried the mails to and
from the office before he did He took
the job when his father retired. His
petition bears the name of former Dis
trict Attorney Herbert Parker.
f. M. Hawkins is another strong can
didate. He is a clerk in Saffords gen
eral store, next the postofice. His pc
tition is signed by Col. John E. Thayer,
by Mrs, Bracket, superintendent of the
Lyman school for girls, and by A. C.
Hawkins, the large poultry grower, and
his brother.
John E. Farnsworth is a reputed
candidate, but evidently is not, because
he has signed his name to the petition
of Mr.. Hawkins. James Mcdonald, also
clerk in Safford's store, is another
candidate If the office of town clerk
is vacated it will be necessary to call
another special election.