Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-26
LARCENY CHARGE.
Arrest Of Wallace H. Ham at
Boston, Thursday.
Manager Of Branch Of the American
Surety Company.
Alleged That Hams SteaIings Amount
ed to Over 100000.


| manager of the Boston branch of the
American Surety Co. of New York,
| treasurer of st. Luke's Home for Con-
valescents, Roxbury, and until recent
| ~ treasurer of St Pauls Episcopal
| church in this city, was arrested, to-
| day, charged with the larceny of $104,-
| coo from the American Surety Co. He
was arraigned in the municipal court
before Judge Ely, late this afternoon.
ard held in $4,000 for hearing. March
| S. In connection with the hearing
George n. Berry, counsel for the Surety
| Co.. stated that although the warrant
| alleged the appropriation of 100000, he
was ready to prove by witnesses that as
much as $4,000 had been taken by
Ham as manager of the Surety Co. Mr..
Berry said that Ham also was respon-
sible for loss of from $4,000 to $4,000
| in the funds of st. Luke'S Home.
| After Hams arrest, the American
| Surety Co. issued q statement in which
l. they claimed that the accounts of st.
Pauls Episcopal church were involved
| in the general deficit and named $4,000
| as the aggregate Of Hams shortage.
Ham is is years of age. He has
wife ard one adopted child ard his
home is at 133 Winchester street,
| IroOhlnc. He has a summer residence
| at Needham. His explanation of the
| alleged shortage is that the entire mat
| ter is merely an error in bookkeeping
| which he can explain satisfactorily lat
| er Two days ago he resigned as treas
urer of st. PauFs church, giving as
his reason that financial difficulties
| had arisen. AS treasurer both of the
| home and the church, he handled large
| sums of money.
| The arrest of the defendant was the
| result of a complaint sworn out by the
| American Surety Co. The warrant was
| issued. today. and an inspector went to
| take Ham into custody. The latter,
| how tver, had learned of the issuance
| of the warrant and was not to be found
| at the Surety COS. Office at SO state
| street when the inspector arrived. 1t
I appeared, however. that he had LETT to
consult an attorney. Later he Informed
| the rolice that he Was ready to be TAX
/ en- into custody and he was removed
| to police headquarters. Shortly after
| ward the Surety Co. issued a statement
| that the net shortage of Ham as man.
| aEcr of the company and as treasurer
4 of the home and church would aggre-
/ cate $500 The statement was:
| The net shortage of Wallace u.
| Ham, who is treasurer of st. Luke'S
| Home for cnvalescents treasurer of
ST. Paul's church, this city. and mama
ger OF the American Surety Co. of New
| York is about $4,000, in three ac-
counts: but the amount Chargeable to
each account cannot be accurately stat
| ed until final audit of the three ac-
counts. The American Surety Co. of
New York, has forthwith by direction
| Vt it's executive committee, caused the
arrest of Wallace II. Ham and has al
ready charged off out of its surplus of
S2043 161 as its estimated proportions"
The exact condition of affairs by
which the company was able to allege
| shortage did not appear nor was it
explained later when Ham was ar
Iraigned. 1t was understood. however,
that the company felt empowered to
make the accusation in consequence
Of an examination made of Hams
books as treasurer of the home and
church. the books being kept at the
office Of the Surety Co. The company
Ialleged that it's travelling auditor had
discovered the alleged enbczzlcment on
/ recent visit here and that when Ham
| WIS dCtusti VI DeIll5 SHUT III HIS az
counts. he admitted the wrongdoing,
making a full confession to the trus-
tees of St Paul's church. and also to
the trustees of St. Luke'S hoE1e.
when Ham was brought into court,
Lawyer Berry asked that bail be placed
at $1,000 because Of the large amount
alleged to have been stolen. The COM
iplainant felt safe. he said. in saying
that the misappropriation would be as
large as $4,000 ana was ready to
prove this by witnesses He also stat
ed that in connection with this short
Iagc. although not directly bearing up
on it. was the charge that Ham had
lstOlen from $4,000 to $4,000 from ST.
I.ukes home.
| I. E. Jennings. representing Charles
". Bartlett, who had been retained
by Ham. contended that $4,000 in bail
was large enough. There was no dan
ger whatsoever that the defendant
would try TO escape. Tho defence was
ready to show that the alleged larceny
was nothing more than an error in
bookkeeping, which could be cleared
laway if time were given.
Judge Ely then fixed the bond at
$4,000 and continued the case until
| March j. Arrangements at once were
made to secure bondsmcn.
The exact shortage, if any. in the
| funds of ST. Paul's church has not been
determined. Henry G. Vaughan, the
newly elected treasurer OF the church,
is at work upon the books and has
been assisted by Mr.. Ham himself.
Ham has been treasurer of st. Luke's
home for over 90 years. A meeting of
the trustees of the institution was held,
this afternoon, with Bishop Lawrence,
president of the board. presiding. The
claim as to the shortage was investi-
gated and discussed, but no statement
IS to action taken was given out.