Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-22
Collected on birmingham,
Mass, Town Notes.
Former SeIectmen Trowbridge
Makes a Strong Protest.
Almost Resulted in Discovery Eight
Years Ago Of Fraud.

Franlingham, Mass, Oct. 2l.-Thc If
rcgularllius believed to have been
practiced Tor many years by Town
treasurer John B. Lombard, whose
method was the issue of alleged fraud
ulent town notes, were on the verge
of being discovered eight years ago,
according to A S. Trowbridge, who
was chairman of the board of select
men at that time. In statement
made to The Associated Press late to-
day, Mr.. Trowbridge said that in 1901
he discovered that town notes were
Icing sold to the State through brokers,
who received large commissions, and
tlat when he called the matter to the
attention OF Treasurer Lombard the
latter told him that he should not in
terfcre in the affairs of the town treas
urer The matter was dropped with
out any further action and no sus-
picion that any of the notes were not
genuine arose at that time
Il heard in 1901 that commissions
were being collected on notes of this
town purchased ny the State treas
urer," said Mr.. Trowbridge, land
went to the State house to investigate.
Bradford and copied the records of
these rotes. Mr. Bradford told me
that Il Was not at all necessary that
brokers should be employed in the
transactions that the State would be
glad II nuv the notes direct from the
town treasurer but that Mr.. Lombard
had refused to come to the State house
to sell the notes direct. Mr.. Bradford
told me that | would be warranted
in pushing the matter against Treas
urer Lombard. =
Il returned to birmingham and con-
frontcd Mr.. Lombard with the records
of the transactions. / asked him what
was meant by any such amount OF
premiums on TntcS sold the state
$4,000 on notes issued between 1896 and
| 1901. Lombard sail. Why, BROKERAGE
| asked him ii II We're necessary to
employ brokers {" fleet these sales,
and he replied TIL: ii was; that the
| notes could not be placed with the
state treasurer except through brokers.
When I asked some further questions
Lombard became angry and said 7
would have you understand l am town
treasurer and 1 don't propose to be
| dlctdted TO. spoke to some OF the
other town officials about the matter
| but as they did not seem impressed
with its Importance. l concluded tina,
there was nothing to be done, and
let it drop"
Since 1901, it was learned today none
Of the genuine notes issued by the
town had been handled by Charles S.
| Cummings. treasurer of the American
Banking Co, who is now in Jail await
! ing the action of the grand jury on
a charge of larceny by means of the
sale of alleged forged birmingham
| town notes.
| With notes representing $1S5,000 and
| bearing alleged forged signatures of
town scloctmcn already turned in to
Tie town clerk, it is believed from
| 1.ombard's statements that the total
amount of these notes outstanding is
fully $4,000. Mr.. Lombard is suffer-
| ing from Il nervous and mental break
| down at his home and sees no visitors
| hut his attorney. He insists that he
did not profit by his transactions and
who actually got the money obtained
| by the alleged forgeries is still mys-
| terry