Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-03-08
Report in c. &. sIaeIow Cas.

Report IN =. n. biaetoW Ease.
The report OF Hon. o. NJ Barber Of
Bennington, special master, to whom was
referred the chaneery case Of Town OF
BrCokteld We. Charles IL. Bigelow and
| bondsmen. has been received by the parties
| to the suit. The referee gives Mr.. Bigelow
what amounts to a virtual exOneration Of
| the charges brought against him, which
were IN effect. that as treasurer and tax
collector OF the town OF Brooktield for
period Of fifteen years he had mis-
appropriated funds of the town amount
ing to about sl,l3l.42. It was TO recover the
sum claimed to have been Incorporated
that the suit Was brought
Mr. Bigelow has been for many years
one OF the most prominent, influential
and trusted men in his town and county.
So much faith was reposed IN him that he
was permitted to transact alone great
part OF the towns financial business for
q long period. He wai active IN church,
social and political affairs, and when the
crisis came in 1903 held the Office OF
assistant Judge Of the county court.
Early that year the selectmen OF Brook
4 field became convinced that the treasurers
accounts were not straight, and made
/ such Investigation as they could with the
assistance OF an expert, James w. Hall, OF
/ Barre. He found a shortage amounting to
| Sl.13I.42, and when this became known a
! real sensation followed. Mr.. Bigelow bad
/ so long enjoyed the confidence OF the
community that many steadfastly refused
/ to credit the charges, while others, feeling
that the selectmen had taken proper
course. gave them support Mr. BigeloW
strongly denied that be had ever knowing
Is taken a cent OF the towns money, and
said that il there were any shortage
established it must have resulted through
error, for which he and his bondsmen
stood ready to answer. Certain books
that Mr.. Bigelow said would verify him
disappeared, so he claimed, from MI
Office during period of cleaning shortly
before the revelations.
For a time criminal action was con-
templated, but finally it was decided that
the town should bring a civil suit. This
was done at the December term OF
ehancerv court, 1903. o. NJ. Barber was
named as special master. A hearing was
had at Brookheld in August, 1904, at
which Messrs. J w Gordon OF Barre and
". b. c. Stickney Of Bethel represented the
town. and Messrs X. n. Harvey OF Mont
pelier and Darling & Darling OF Chelsea
appeared for the defendant, The report
has been rather anXiously awaited ever
since.
Mr.. Barber rejects Expert Halls book
: keeping findings, and says the yearly
reports OF the treasurer as audited take
precedence. Two points only he hnds
7 liz for the courts consideration as
involving possible liability on the part
/, OF Mr. Bigelow. One Of these is matter
Of $685. alleged uncollected taxes
which it is not found were realized by the
treasurer, and the other is an order loi
$500 which Mr.. Bigelow failed TO give the
Town proper credit for, though the town
had the use Of the money This latter
natter was adjusted after the suit was
brought, but before the master made his
report.
The masters report viii be taken up by
the chancellor, and a decree issued based
upon il. From this there Is the right Of
appeal to the supreme court.