Connecticut western news., 1912-08-08
MIR. BAIRD BROUGHT BACK
Comes With Sheriff RhOadeS to Answer to Charge of
 EmbeZzIement

L. H. Baird, the real estate dealer, in- surance agent and ex-local preacher who disappeared from Falls Village, as relat- ed in The News last week, was arrested in Ninevah. N. Y. by Deputy Sheriff Rhoades and brought back to Falls Vil- lage Thursday to answer to charge of embezzlement. The officer found him at the home of his father, in Nineyah, tinkerfng his automobile. Baird seemed surprised at the visit, Rhoades having a local deputy with him, but on consult ing his father, offered no objection to accompanying the officer back to Con- necticut without a requisition. The el- der Baird accompanied him, bringing with him a sum of money amounting to something oyer $200, which the son as- sured him would be ample to cover all 1 indebtedness. .,
 Baird was brought before Justice Miles L. Blodgett for preliminary hearing in criminal action brought by the Moore Brothers Insurance Agency of Winsted for embezzlement of about $287 in iusur- ance premiums, and there was another charge involving $1O0, guaranty on real estate transaction which was never con- summated. These were criminal actions entirely apart from the numerous debts around town and outside, aggregating a large sum subject to civil action, one of which is the debt to Bartle Brothers, on which suit had formerly been brought and the Baird office equipment attached.
 Baird pleaded not guilty to the crim- inal charge of embezzlement, reserving the right to change his plea at the adI journed session of court. Justice Blod- gett placed his bond at $500 and adjourn ed the case to Thursday, Aug. 15. Moore Brothers, were so impressed with the evident honesty of the defendants aged father, and the sincerity of his grief oveI the young mans plight, that although they were the complainants, they volun+ teered to go on the bond and Baird was permitted to accompany the old gentle man hack to Ninevah. The elder Baird says he owns little farm and can man age on the strength of it, to raise money enough to settle his sons bills. Much sympathy was felt and expressed for the grief stricken father, who frequently, with tears running down his cheeks, said to his son, as the damaging evidence concerning local debts accumulated "You didn't tell me of these things. Why didn't you tell me the truth? ?"
 It transpires that Baird had written a letter to a creditor in Falls Village just before his arrest, stating that he had just closed big real estate deal in Min, evah, on which his commission was $400 When this fact was brought out, at the Falls" Village hearing, the father re- proachfully asked his son why he had written such stuff when there was nc ground for it except the negotiation over small property which was not likely to be sold, and even if the deal were made, the confmisson would be very small.
 In addition to the amounts stated last week, a number of other debts have come to light since last Thursday and new bills are coming to the front every day for various amounts, from unex- pected and unsuspected sources. What chance there is for the creditors to get their money will be known after the ad' journed hearing next Thursday.