The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-14
Impression is Growing Hourly
in Maine
THAT HE HAS SKIPPED OUT
And That the Defaulter Left the Note
to Cover His Trail While He
Was Making Good His
Escape.

| Portland, Me-, Feb. l4.-Belief that A.
| w. Shaw, the absconding shoe manu-.
! facturer, has not committed suicide, as
stated in the letter left behind at his
disappearance, is growing here hourly.
The subject of possible suicide of the
| missing man has exceeded in interest
that of the amount of his defalcations.
1t is held by many that Shaw was not
man that would take his life by Jump
ing from steamer in md-ocean, and
that the letter in which he stated that
as his intention was but blind to cover
up his trail in his flight to escape eonse-
quenees.
1t is believed that $4,000 will cover
the defaleation from the funds of the A.
w. Shaw shoe manufacturing corpora
ton of Freeport, for which Shaw admit
ted he is responsible.
j. w. Amick, the treasurer and heayi-
est stakeholder in the corporation. who
gave out the letter from Mr.. Shaw on
Monday, declared that, although exist
ence of deficit has been known for two
weeks, it is impossible now to given
exact figures. 1t cannot exceed $4,000
and will not be under $25, 900, he said.
The A. w. Shaw company is cor
poration factory and by an arrangement
made with the employees they were per-
mitted to contribute 10 per cent. of their
wages toward the purchase of stock. A
meeting of the employees was held at the
shoe factory late Monday afternoon, aud
the story of the deficit was told them by
Mr.. Amick and Mr.. Wheeler.
They were assured that the business
Nt.,N 4
their salaries and wages weekly as be.
fore and that the money contributed for
stock would be paid back as soon as pos
sible. This amounts to only few thou
sand dollars, as most of the employees
took their money out by arrangement
when it reached any considerable sum.
The letter Shaw wrote to his partner
was dated New York, Feb. l." and
mailed in Boston at p. m. on Feb. @. In
this he asks that the news be broken to
his family, that they be told all, and that
his wife be directed to collect his insur-
ance policy, which it is understood is all
he leaves. He stated in the letter that
he had only money enough left for pass
age on a tramp steamer.
The letter was as follows.
Friend Amick: 1t is all over but the
mourners. played the market and lost.
must confess that for several years
have gambled in stocks, making and los.
ing by turns. / had luck year and a
half ago and cleaned up 100000 and
had the goods; then, like all the rest, |
wanted ten millions, and the whole is
now gone. have used the money of the
firm. If | had won, instead of lost, +
would have been hero; now | am son
of gun.
my courage is gone, my brain is
worn ont. So I shall end it all.
"When you get this l shall be ON or IN
the ocean, can't tell which. My plan
is fixed. / have only enough left for
tramp steamer like Europe, but you
know a pauper in Europe is up against
it, so have decided to pass over the side |
in mid-ocean. 1t is a slick way to go, !
and always liked the water
Break things to my family and tell |
them all. / have not courage enough TO |
say goodbye. Tell my wife to collect
my insurance policy.
81 am deathly sickl You know my
kidney troublef Well, 1 have had three
since July, but was away and |
it would worry my family if they knew,
Carrie,
Il am all through. Goodbye. We
have worked well and hard.
"Once more adieu
"Yours,
iSiOnedl "a W.