Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-21
AARON 8. SNOW
CONTINUED from page ~

sold to Snow, but merely sent on con-
signment, and that the notes which
Snow had taken for the goods We're not
his property at all, but that Of the
Great Eastern Fertilizer co.
Snow very readily turned these notes
| over to Mr.. Gibson, who took them and
went away satisfied. Later. when they
went to looking the notes up, it was
found that most OF them were dupli-
Gates of notes that were given by the
people who had bought fertilizers of
SnoW-plain and simple forgeres-and
the notes that We're not bogus We're not
worth a cent, as they We're against peo-
pie who could not pay.
Mr. Gibson came back to this place
and confronted Snow with the case as
1t was, and Snow came to realizing
sense that he must make a settlement
or get himself into serious trouble. He
then went to Ira Gardner, a wealthy
man of DiXmont, of whom he hired
$4,000, giving his note and security in
the form of notes to the value of $4,000.
I'LL the necessary mortgage could be
made. Snow represented that his
farm. which he had offered as security
ana which he was to mortgage to
Gardner. was all free from any in
cumbrances. but the later developments
show that therWwas at that time an
attachment for over $1,000, and a mort
gage for $1625 on the farm at the time.
Besides this. the stock on the farm had
all been mortgaged to other people.
1t was this that began to bring about
a more thorough investigation of the
mi T.,
gan to learn that they had been nay
ing him money in payment of these
notes and instead of receiving the
notes which they had given to Snow,
had really been getting the forged and
worthless duplicates of the ones they
had given. while the notes which had
been given We're in banks in different
parts of the state as security for
money which had been borrowed by
Snow
The reporter called at the Office of f.
w. Brown, Jr., the well-known attorney.
in Brooks. and there found a man who
was in "A position 10 tell him all about the
affairs of Snow and of his methods Of
| operating on his victims. Mr. Brown was
ready to talk upon the subject. ana to tell
the reporter all about the whole affair.
lie said:
This is case of a series of the most
fraudulent transactions that have ever
been known in the State of Maine. and
there is no telling how extensively he has
carried on these operations. His game has
been to sell goods to people around
through the country and to take their
notes for the goods sold. He would then
place the note in the bank as collateral
for money borrowed of the bank after
which he would collect the note, telling
the man who made the note that the note
was iT Il safe deposit box in the bank and
that it would send it to him when he
went to the bank, at the same time Civ
ing a receipt for Athe money. Soon after
the bank would look for the collection OF
the note. There is now a warrant which
was made out by me. out for the arrest
OF Snow on the charge of forgery In this
case the complainant is c. l.. Austin. Il
well-known farmer living in the southern
ago to Mr. Austin an amount of live
stock, and as Mr.. Austin did not have
the ready cash to pay for it, gave Snow
his note for 80.
"A short time ago. Mrs. c. f. Lane a
cousin of Austins, who held n note
against Snow for about the amount of the
Austin note. sent her husband to sec
Snow and see If there could not be an
arrangement made by which the Austin
note could be tai ken up in exchange for
the one which she held against Austil,
Mr.. Lane went to Snow as the agent Of
Mrs. Lane. and the deal was made. When
Snow brought out the note to exchange
Mr.. Lane saw that it was Tor $167 80. He
called the attention of Snow to the fac.
| that the note which Mr.. Austin had told
him about was for the sum of Sill 50
Snow said that he had made a mistake
and had brought out the wrong note. He
went back and got the one that Mr.. Lane
had come for
Mr. Lane went with the note to Aus
tin, who said the minute he laid his eyes
on it that it was not the note lie hal
signed at All and pronounced ii Il forgery
In a short time he learned that the note
which he had given was in the bank at
Mr.. Austin did not have it served at once,
thinking that he might get matters al.
fixed with Snow and avoid all troube
over the matter. lie was unable 70 &c
things fixed and Snow went away in the
meantime.
THE same day that Snow went away.
number of his more intimate friends
went to Belfast and petitioned him int
bankruptcy. | believe thai this was dom
with the idea that he could go through
and clear up all these cases which ca
be brought against him, and which will b.
If he is ever found.
at is said that some of the work il
forging these signatures to notes wa
them and did not notice that they wer,
not the same notes that had been give.
by them Others were not so good an1
could readily be detected
81 can sit here all day and tell you
about these cases that have come to my
attention and which ! actually know /,
be facts. There are many, people, al
around here in the country who have been
yictmized by this fellow and will tell you
all about his actions and methods of do
ing business
When asked about the nature of Snow
Mr.. Brown said that he was Il very pecu
liar fellow in many ways. Tie has a gre,
deal of the bulldog nature about him an.
he never made a confidant Of any man
Even since he has been in trouble he has
never had the counsel and advice of an
attorney, so far as can be learned
when he was cited to appear before
me, as a disclosure commissioner" said
Mr.. Brown he came there at the APP
pointed time alone. | asked him if he had
seen counse! and he told me that he had
not. knowing that it would be impoS-
sible for him to take the oath and wish
ing to be entirely fair with him. told
him that ] would put the hearing off for
an hour. to give him time to go ana see
his attorney. he went away and came
back alone, and ! have since learned that
he went to the Office of well-known at
torney in Belfast but did not even men
ton what was going on to him. although
he told me at the time that he did and
was advised. Once since the trouble has
been on, he was at my office and in speak
ing about it said, (uSing his pet express
SION: Cor ram Hem, can beat the whole
lot of en- and | am a going to do it, y
Later developments show that he has
done as he said he would
The wife of Snow, the daughter of a
well-known man in this section. was
away for couple of days, and it is be-
lieved that she went to see her husband
wherever he may be in hiding. Where
she went is complete mystery as was
where Snow went, she leaving town By
I H.,