The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-24
Especial to the Farmer.)

Bedding, March 24.-In the tax ac- counts muddlement everybody involved would seem to be now practically out of the woods with the exception of
 former Collector Everet I. Gorham.
 As a result of the searching review to
 which the Selectmen have subjected
 the rate books covering the years from
 1902 to 1907, inclusive. Q demand will
 be made upon Mir. Gornana for his pay
 ment to the town of $1, 1,O96, this being the total shortage indicated by the
 figures on the rate books for 1903-4-5,
 the years when he held the office of
 collector. Emory P. Sanford was his successor. serving for one year. His book show by the town treasurer. MT. Sanford d1d not call in question the correctness of the treasurer's figures but promptly adjusted matters by handing over check for the balance of $32. The 1907 book of EIbert M. Sanford, the pres
 ent collector, showed treasurer's cred
 it's or receipts Of $190 in excess of the
 books total collections. It was found, however, that this excess came from credits which belonged on the 1908 book, and therefore error cas- fly corrected John M. Sullivan was collector for 1902 and his book turned out to be more nearly probe proof than any of the others inasmuch as the two sets Of totals, that is those represent ing collections and those representing l treasurer's credits showed a discrep- ancy of only $1-27 The towns annual tax levy is from SIP, GOO to $13,00o.
 It was expected that MT. Gorham would meet the Selectnen last Sa.tur- | day to discuss the situation, but on l account of the unavoidable absence of l MT. Pinkney the board held no ses- l sion. Report has it, however, that MT. Gorham will refuse to recognize I or make good the alleged deficit on the ! ground that he has turned over to the | treasurer all the sums collected by i'm nd tI1af ,rfI7 1 ing. The Selectmen are waiting with l considerable curiosity to see what l facts or allegations he brings forward l in support of this claim. At the time 1 Selectman Pinkney obtained from Mr. 1 Gorham the three books or at some 1 subsequent period he particularly ask l ed the latter if he disputed the cor l rectness of the credits entered upon | the books by Town Treasurer W. H. Hill. MT. Gorham said he did not. | He was also asked if the entries indi- 1 eating payments to himself of tax bills | were all right and regular, and he said 1 they were. Between these two sets 1 of figures, both of which he endorsed 9S correct, there nevertheless exists l difference in totals of about $1.1 100 which constitutes a balance for which ] MT. GorEam would seem to be indebt- ed to the town. TEere is of course a possibility that l MT. Gorham may advance the claim 1 that the books have been tempered with and the figures altered since the hooks passed from his possession. To effect such changes, however, and do 1 it in a manner calculated to deceive would be an expert forgery job, and one either performed or procured by the Se1ectmen, because the books have been continuously in their possession since they left that Of MT. Gorham The Selectmen could have no possible motive for lending themselves to such criminal act and the idea that they may have done so can be dismissed as too ridiculous to be entertained for a moment.
 Some of the ex-co11ector's friends say the Se1ectmen may have reached wrong conclusion in the matter through charging against him sums on the three books which were collected
 by Attorney s. c. Shaw and by Mir
 Shaw turned over directly to the town
 treasurer. It is a fact that Mr. Shaw
 did collect some of these bills or rather
 that they were paid him, such pay
 the release of liens when the real es-
 tate bearing the liens changed hands
 The Selectnen assert positively, how
 from this cause. They had before
 them a, list of the tax payments made
 MT. Shaw, and these were excluded
 from their computations referring to
 MT. Gor11ann and his accounts At no
 time were the rate books in Mr.
 Shaw's possession.
 MT. Gorham might have a, technical
 defence sufficient to shield him from
 financial responsibility in the affair,
 provided his accounts had been accept