The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-09-11
TREASURER'S BOOK LOST
Which Leaves Matters so the Selectmen
Claim to Have Found Deficit Of $3.50
in c. H. Bigelow's Accounts.

Br00kheld sept 1.-THE Randolph
Herald and News publishes the following
story Of the local topic Of discussion for
the past few weeks.
An unfortunate condition exists with rel
gard to the finances Of the town Of Brook
field. involving, 1t is alleged by the select
men, the accounts of the town treasurer,
Charles H. Bigelow. The selectmen claim
that they have found a deficit amounting
to about 80 $50 between the receipts Of
the town and its expenses for the past
seven years that the treasurer is unable to
account for. Mr. Blgeiow denies that
there is any such deficit, or any deficit for
which heis to blame.
Several weeks ago the selectmen. j, WI.
Untiedt, A. f. Churchill and Al. ID. Reed,
became suspicious that something was
wrong and went to Mr. Blgelow, asking
for the chance to inspect the treasurer
account, receipts, vouchers, etc Mr.. Big-
Glow told them that he was unable TO show
one book that contained the itemized ae-
counts for the reason that when his Office
at East BTookfield was cleaned last April
this book, unbeknowu to him at the time,
was destroyed by mistake.
There was left substantially only the
| printed town reports for reference. The
selectmen took the matter up and claim to
have discovered from them a shortage
amounting to about $3.50. They say Il
came about chiefly In this waythat when
the uncollected taxes for the year we're
| paid to the treasurer Id ensuing years be
4 failed to make account Of them to the
towns credit Mr. Bigelow has been town
clerk and treasurer for l3 years and all
taxes were payable to him until the expir-
tion Of the discount period in October Of
each year.
Mr.. Bigelow asserts his innocence Of
both error and guile. He says there is no
leakage and that the lost book, If he had
It, would sustain him He has offered 70
leave the whole question out to expert ac-
countants to determine. From the data at
hand It would seem very difficult to show
anything c0ncluslvely iR any way. The
system Of bookkeeping has not been siln-
pie, and town and personal accounts have
been mixed, ii Il said The banking has
been done at the Barre Savings bank
Anything reiecting on G II Blgeiow's
character would require q good deal of
proof 10 this vicinity. He has been es-
teemed by his townsman and those Of
neighborIng towns as a gentleman OF ire
proachable virtue, fine personal bearing,
high business ability and excellent judg-
ment. He has enjoyed the confidence Of
BroOkheid voters to a marked degree and
has been honored BY Orange county in be-
ing chosen assistant judge, which place he
now holds He has been prominent in
church work and has stood among Brook
fields best people. He has no bad habits.
The selectmen, too, are gentlemen cf
strength and honor who would not will
fully accuse Judge Blgelow or anyone Of
wrong without believing themselves right.
Brookfeld people are divided in opinion.
some sustaining the seleeHnen while others
hold that the error Is not on the part Of
the treasurer There IS general disin-
olination to believe Judge Bgelow Grim
inally at fault.
Judge Bigelow has farm and store
business at East Brookfield His bonds
men this year are II, NJ. Gaylord, NJ. Peck
and r. Calagan. The town Is amply in
sured against loss, If II Is established that
any has resulted.