Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-18
CORURN STUDENT FALLS.
VIM. Nj. Brown Mixed Up in Case OF
Unpleasant Nature.

The many friends and acquaintance of
William Morton Brown, who attended Co.
burn, last year, are much panied and sur
prised by the peculiarities he has devel-
oped during the past few weeks. While
in Coburn he was very popular among his
mates and was prominent in nearly all of
the activities of the school and held many
offices. He had been elected manager OF
the football team and had almost com
pleted the arrangement of his schedule
and other details. He was planning to
become minister and had preached in
Oakland, Smthfeld and other small
towns in the vicinity of the city. He was
engaged, last spring, to preach at Smith
field for the summer and had done so for
some time. He had also preached in other
places in the State.
But a short time ago he commenced q
mileage book letting business, buying the
books of agents in Bangor and paying
Part down for them and securing credit
for the rcmainders. This was one of the
first peculiarities that were noticed and
it seemed very strange to his friends that
he should engage in this. lie had some
trouble over Il book earlier in the sum
Iner, but it was Strengthened out salts
| factoriIy But the books caused him more
| trouble, for while in Bangor Friday, h"
| was met by an officer and one of the
| agents from whom he had purchased
| books, and, as il CHANGED, DR.. Dunn Of
| this city. who was well acquainted with
| him. 1t seems that there was some talk
| Of an arrest and that DR.. Dunn agreed
| to be responsible for him until Monday
morning.
| Brown came to Waterville from Bangor
| but went straight through to Boston and
when DR.. Dunn arrived he had dlsdp-
| peared. This caused the doctor consider
| able uneasiness, but Brown turned up all
| right at his house about O'Clock. Mon
| day morning. Later in the day F. w.
| Johnson Of Coburn. was called in by DR..
| Dunn and they lectured the boy pretty
| severely While thpV using the tpp-
| phone in the hall Brown disappeared
| through back entrance and. coatiesS
| and hatless, escaped in the fog which was
/ heavy that morning.
| 4 thorough search was made for him
| and finally he was traced to Oakland and
| from there to North Belgrade, Prof.
Johnson going after him with team and
| nVerhauling him about two miles beyond
| North Belgrade. He was brought back
to the city, Tuesday. and placed in DR..
Dunns charge to await a settlement of
| the case
| In addition to the mileage book bust
! ness which has caused the principal diff
| Guilty, it is understood that Brown owes
| considerable about the city. having given
! his notes as security. 1t is also claimed
| that he has issued checks without the
| necessary backing funds
! Brown had not registered at Coburn for
| the fall term, but evidently intended TO.
| as he was in the Waterville Office of the
Journal a short time ago and talked en-
! Enthusiastically of his football team and
! was then making arrangements to COM
plete the schedule. But he did not LOOK
well at the time in fact he appeared as
if he might be on the edge of a serious
/, illness. He acted differently from what
he did in the spring and last winter. He
I diSpla yed no very marked pecuiiaritieS,
bat to one who had known him there was
a distinct change in his manner.
Those who know him are confident that
his strange actions are caused by phys
ical rather than moral trouble. One Of
! the strongest proofs of this is the fact
/ that he has never shown the slightest in
/ clination to run away until ne left DIR.
, DGnn's home. Within a very short time
he has been on a visit to Halifax and il
he had wished to dodge his creditors he
would have remained there instead OF
coming back and walking into the Office
/ of one of the mileage book agents to
whom he owed the most in Bangor, as he
did
Z Then his actions are wholly contrary to
: his previous character. Up to the pres
ent trouble he has been beyond reproach
a good student and a clean and clever
( young man. His father is now engaged
in business in Hong Kong, China. SO that
he is now practically frien0iess His par
: ent will no doubt straighten the matter
ont as soon as he possibly can.
/ The case is d peculiar and pathetic one
and those who know the boy have only
sympathy and no blame for him.