The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-18
ALLEGED NOTE FORGERY
CAUSED SENSATION
Two Notes Purporting to Be Drawn by
South Framingham, Mass, Will Not
Be Honored.

Boston, Oct. ls.--Charles F. Cummings
and Edward A. Mead Of the American
Banking company, MIX street, were ar.
rested to-day for alleged connection with
the South birmingham note forgery
case. The men were taken to East Cam
bridge for arraignment.
There was a sensation in South Franz
ingham yesterday, when it became
known that the selectmen had appointed
Arthur NJ. Fits, prominent business
man. a. town treasurer in place Of John
b. Lombard, who had held the position
continuously for nineteen years. The
only explanation offered By the select
men was the following statement;
"0n Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock the
treasurer Of a Boston savings bank came
here and produced paper purporting to
be note OF the town Of Framingham
for $4,000, dated Oct, 20, 1905, and pur-
porting to be approved BY William Fl.
Walsh and Frank P. Stockwell, due Oct.
IS, 1909, and Purporting to be signed
by both.
1T does not appear on the auditors
record Of town notes. and does not ap-
pear on the town treasurer's record Of
notes, and no record Of the approval Of
any such note appears on the selectmen's
records.
.srhose who are familiar with the sig
natures Of Mr. Walsh and Mr.. Stockwell
are Of the opinion that the signatures
purporting to approve the note as SCI
lectmen, are not the genuine signatures
Of Mr. Walsh and Mr.. Stockwell.
Yesterday noon a representative Of
a Boston trust company was here with
another note for SIS 1000, dated Oct 20,
1908, due Oct. Is, 1900, pnrporting to
be approved by Mr.. Walsh and Mr..
Stockwell. No record Of this note ap-
pears on the auditors records Of town
notes al on the selectmen's records Of
approvals Of town notes.
Those who are familiar with tie sig
natures OF Mr. Walsh and Mr.. Stoekwell
are Of the opinion that the signatures
purporting to approve the note as select
men, are not the genuine signatures of
Mr. Walsh and Mr. Stoekwell.
Last evening the selectmen held a
meeting, notified the surety company of
The town treasurer's bond, the United
States Fidelity 4 Guarantee company,
Of what had come to their notice, and,
having received certificate from Dr..
Lewis III. Palmer that the town treas
urer II not able. mentally or physically,
ia perform his duties, thev voted to ap.
point Arthur NJ. Fits temporary treas
urerR
Lying in an upper chamber, apparent
~ a very III man. Mr.. Lombard sienifed
a willingness to talk,
did you,g he was asked, sign your
name in approval Of note Of the town
of Framingham for $25 900 to the
Savings bank Of Boston in October,
l9osgs
"Yes," he answered, feebly, but dis
tinetly.
ibid you, IN approval Of that same
note, sign the name Of Seleetman Frank
p. Stockweilg"
II don't remember. You'll have to ask
my counsel he replied slowly and, APP
parently, with effort
fDd yol. IN approval of that same
note, sign the name Of Selectman VIII
liam n Walsh r
n can't remember details. Go to my
council
"How about the other hoteg Did you
in October, lo0s. sign your name IN APP
proval Of note Of the town Of Fran.
ingham for $4,000 to the Trust
company Of Bostonf'
"0ther notef" the sick man asked. but
gave no answer The questioning ap-
parently SO agitated him that, consider
ing his condition, It was unwise to try
further to get at the root Of the matter