Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-14
Official Prefers
Death to Facing Jury.
A. ". T.Back Takes Life onEve Of
Second Trial at Binghamton.
indicted on Eight Charges Of Forg.
cry and Grand Larceny In office.

Binghamton, N. Y, April 13.-On the
eve of his second trial on charge Of
stealing BrOome county funds which
was scheduled to open in Cooperstown
today and as tragic climax of the in
vestigation of the county affairs in
Broome county, which began in 1907,
Arthur w. T. Back, former clerk of
the Broome county board of super
visors, former custodian of county
buildings and former chairman of the
Broome county Republican committee.
committed suicide early today by
shooting himself through the head
Arthur w. r. Back was indicted by
the Broome county grand jury in
August, 1907 on eight charges of
forgery and grand larceny, growing
out of his conduct of the offices OF
clerk of the board of supervisors and
custodian of public buildings and
grounds. His occupancy of those Of
fees gave him control of the work of
building roads, on which Broome coun-
ty embarked on generous scale in
1903, and as a result, Back built up a
powerful political machine and is al
legged to have attempted to overthrow
George w. Dunn as member of the
state Republican committee.
District Attorney Clark and State
Comptroller Glinn. however. investi
gated Backs conduct of his offices and
as 2 result Mr. CHM reported that
Back had 'usurped the prerogatives
Of the BOARD Of supervisors and with
the aid of complaisant county treas
urer had absolute control of the county
treasury
Mr.. Glinn also stated that $4,000 had
treasury upon the sole order and audit
of Back ard that of this amount $780,
SGS was paid directly to Back and $176,-
1853 was paid to a clerk in Backs en-
ploy and dispersed by them. Back
subsequently resigned as clerk of the
board of supervisors.
David K. King, the former county
treasurer, was also indicted on a charge
of misappropriating county funds and
resigned two days before he was to
appe ar before Gov. Hughes for hear
ing.
in the bitter fight which ensued, two
of the editors of a Bingham paper We're
indicted for making charges against the
district attorney.
The suicide occurred shortly after
7.3G O'Clock this morning but the body
was not found until two hours later,
when clerk in Mr.. Backs office
found the dead man sitting at table
clutcning a revolver. Two shots We're
fired, one through pane of glass, pre-
sumably to see il the revolver was in
working condition, and the second
through the back of the head.
While the shots We're heard in the
building they attracted no attention
and Mr. Back was supposed to be or
his way to Cooperstown. having an
nounced last night that he would leave
at o'clock this morning.
The suicide closes a long series Of Of
fetal Investigations of Broomc coun-
ty good roads affairs by state and
county officials, which. until lately re-
suited in the returning of q indict-
ments. the resignation of Mr.. Back
from his offices of clerk of the board of
supervisors, custodian of county build
ings and chairman of the Broome
county Republican committee, the res
ignation of County Treasurer David
r. King and the resignation of Jasper
Smith as county superintendent of
poor.
The amount involved in the nine in
dirtments against Back aggregated
$134S9 and four charged larceny and
five forgery.
Orlv one of the series of cases has
beer tried and the second was sched-
ulod to begin in Cooperstown today.
The first trial, on a charge of misap-
preparation of 500 of county funds.
tok place in January and February.
1908, and resulted in the conviction of
the defendant.
Mr.. Back was sentenced to Auburn
prison for a term of not more than
three and one-half nor less than one
year, The granting of certificate Of
reasonable doubt bv Justice Clark
served as a stay of sentence and the
appeal is still pending before the APP
pellate division.