Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-13
SAME OLD STORY.
Portland Shocked at the Down.
fall of Teller Leighton.
Commenced Taking Small Amounts,
Hoping to Pay It Back.
Arraigned, Wednesday, and His Bail
Fixed at $4,000.

Portland, Me, March l2.-This morn
ing, Granville W. Leighton, the self
confessed defaulting teller of the Ma
tional Traders Bank. was brought TO
the United States court room for ar
raignment. He had as counsel Judge
Foster The arraignment was made
before Commissioner Bradley. Judge
Foster looked at the warrant, announc-
ed that he would waive the reading of
the complaint and enter n plea of not
guilty.
Then came up the question of bail.
Commissioner Bradley said that the
government thought that the bail
ought to be $4,000. Judge Foster said
that the complaint alleged the en-
bezZlement of $4,000 and he thought
the bail ought not to be made larger
than that, as the prisoner expected to
obtain bail, if the sum required We're
not too large. Finally the commission
or said that he would make the bail
$4,000, but declined to reduce ii be-
low that. Leighton was left in charge
of the officers, while messengers We're
sent in different directions to see if the
sureties could be obtained. At last
accounts bail had not been secured.
During the arraignment Leighton
maintained an outwardlyEcalm appear
ance and discussed the question of bail
in an ordinary tone without the ap-
pearance'sof emotion. The man was
considerably effected, however, as a
reporter fort Advertiser ascertained
when he had an interview with him
after the spectators had left the court
room. A word of sympathy to the
prisoner from the former caused the
former to say brOkenly, that he APP
preciated the feeling shown by his
friends and did not know that he had
so many.s
Asked if he had anything to say for
publication, Leighton said he had not.
He thought the less said the better.
He Thought the papers had published
more than was called for already.
Then Leighton said there was little
to say anyway. He had begun on a
small scale at first with no idea that
he would not be able to pay back the
amount taken. Contrary to his ex
pectation he got in deeper instead of
being able to extricate himself.
1T is the same old story" said
Leighton. The thing is done and l
have got to face the situation. l have
had plenty of chances to leave town
or to shoot myself. l do not think that
is the thing for me to do. / am think
ing more of my family now than l
am of myself. l have had sympathy
from all who have talked with me-"
The arrest of Granville w. Leighton,
teller of the National Traders Bank
in this city, last night, at 10 o'clock,
on a charge of embeZzlement from the
bank to the amount Of $4,000 was the
most surprising event in the criminal
history of the city for some years.
No one of the younger bank men of
the city had brighter prospects or was
more trusted by his employers up to
within a short time. Leighton is q |
Portland boy known here for his whole |
life, and for years has been employed
in Portland banks. He was in the
Casco Bank when Edward Gould re-
tired from the position of cashier of
the Traders Bank. At that time Maj.
John M. Gould was made cashier and
Leighton was given the place of tel |
Ter, made vacant by the advancement
of Maj. Gould.
Leighton is 81 years old, of quiet and
reserved appearance, methodical in his |
habits and one of the last men who |
would be picked out as likely to prove
recreant to his trust.
The discovery of the guilt of Leigh
ton was made by Maj. John NJ. Gould, |
the cashier of the bank, on Monday. |
on that day his attention was attract
ed by the unusually large amount
credited to the bank from the Clearing |
House report. He went to Leighton
and asked him if any large check had |
come in and the answer was No; |
that it had come in from one customer |
and another in the usual line of bust
ness.
Major Gould was not satisfied and |
that night he sat up until daylight go
ing over all the books, trying to dis
cover If anything We're wrong. Yes
terday morning. he had progressed so
far that he had the key of the whole |
difficulty. He went to the Portland |
National Bank and asked to see the |
Clearing House book. which was read
lily shown to him. Here he found that |
a check for 10000 had been deposited,
Monday, In the National Traders Bank
by Symonds. Snow. Cook & Hutchin
son. This check was going to the Port
land Bank, and sure enough it was en-
tered there in black and white.
An examination of the books at the
Traders Bank disclosed the fact that
Leighton had entered this check there
for $50.
1t was his purpose, without doubt, to
use this large amount to credit off to
the accounts of other customers, from
whom he had taken varying sums from
time to time.
The method employed by Leighton
was to receive checks from customers,
credit them properly in the books of
the same, but make a nominally small
entry on the books of the bank. In this
way he was carrying many accounts
and in danger of discovery at any mo-
ment.
Yesterday morning, having his evil
dence against Leighton complete, Maj.
Gould summoned the directors to the
bank and laid the whole thing before
them Leighton was called in ana
fConfl0ued nm mage II