The Press., 1921-09-01
The mills in the borough will close

, Labor day.
 The registrars will be in session next Tuesday from g a. m. to 5 p. m. for the purpose of receiving names of voters to be made.
 In the preliminary golf matches the past week for the captains cups in the first division J. H. Valentine de- feated A. J. Smith. In the second di- vision C.. H. Moore defeated H. Han sen, David Mitchell defeated 0. B. Brown and William Park defeated James Sheppard (the last match was played in the White mountains). Postmaster Bates Accused of Em-
 bezzling of $3,5OO.
 Leroy Bates was taken into custody last Friday by post office inspector from Springfield on a charge of em- bezzling $3,50O. The inspector visited the Stafford office and found on We'd nesday that Bates accounts were short and Bates resigned and prOmis- ed to make restitution. Mrs. H. F.. Cady was immediately appointed in charge of the office temporarily. Bates was appointed postmaster in May 1920 Mrs. Cady and Bates took the examination at that time but he was given the preference on account of his being an ex-service man. Bates claimed that he had no intention of embezzlement or dishonesty, and did not know he was so much behind in his accounts. Since he took the Officehe has failed to separate the post office money from his own store funds. On previous visits of the inspector he has been al le to produce enough mon ey to cover up" any deficit in the post office accounts, but has evidently been steadily getting deeper into debt. Bates was not formally arrest ed. When informed by the inspector that he was wanted to plead before the commissioner he volunteered to accompany him to Hartford and they went on Friday night. He waived the formality of the reading of warrant, entered plea of guilty to the embeZ- element, explaining the circumstances which made him technically guilty. Under the circumstances heavy bond was not asked. His case was contin- ued to Tuesday. F. J. Glover, who ac- companied him to Hartford, furnished 1 onds until Tuesday.
 On Tuesday Bates pleaded not guilty when arraigned tefOre United States Commissioner Thomas J. COnrOy, and was held in bonds of $3,500 for appear ance at Septemt CT term of the United States district court to be held at New Haven on the fourth Tuesday of next month Bonds were provided ty Fred H. Glover and Charles B. Pin ney.
 Christopher J. Weldon, pOstOffice in spector, appeared against Bates as complaining witness. United States District Attorney Edward L. smith representing the government in the prosecution. Weldon testified that he had been ordered to audit Bates ac- counts from the last balance of March 31, 1921, the actual amount of shortage discovered being $3,545.87.
 In his own tehalf Bates said he wanted to get council to represent him at his trial because, while he did not keep his books as he should have, the amount he estimated as being short in the government funds was about $1 ,OOO less than the amount claimed by MT. Weldon. He proposed to make an effort to make good the shortage efOre his case came up ill court. The limit of a fine, according to law under which Bates was arrested, would be an amount equal to the embezzlement, and the maximum of Imprisonment is ten years for the offense with which he is charged.
 MT. Bates intends to give up his store. Mrs. Cady will prot ably be ap- pointed permanently in charge of the post office. In which case the post office will be moved to the store of her hust and, H. F. Cady.
 Stafford.
 Mrs. James c. Spring of New York is the guest this week of Mrs. Nella Weston.
 MT. and Mrs. Henry Wise and chill dren of Norwich, spent the weekend at F. J. Glover's
 Mrs. Eva Bugbee returned Friday after visiting relatives in Worcester and Boylston, Mass, and Westford
 MT. and Mrs. William B. Batchelder of Milton, Mass, are spending the month of September at the Batchelder homestead.
 Mrs. R. c. Caryl and daughter have returned to Grand Rapids, Mich, aft CT visiting her parents, MT. and Mrs. George Bray.
 Mrs. Emily Thompson has returned after two weeks visit with her son, Rev. George Thompson and family of Northfield, Mass.
 Regular meeting of Wolcott chapter, o. B. s. Thursday evening. A large attendance is desired as the grand officers are to be present
 MT. and Mrs. Leon Chase have as their guests his mother, Mrs. Hattie Chase, MT. and Mrs. Harry Osgood and daughter of Whitingham, Vt Truman Thayer of Amherst, and MT. and Mrs. Chas. H. Phillips of Longmeadow, Mass, have been guests at the Phillips home during the past | week.
 The Ladies of the Universalist | church will serve their regular month ly supper next Wednesday. evening at 6 o'clock. Hostesses, Mrs. Emily Burdick, Mrs. Ella Leonard and Miss Hannah Black
 Mrs. Benjaman Fox was happily surprised last Friday afternoon when a number of her neighbors and friends happened in. Refreshments were served and each one left little token of their friendship, it being Mrs. Fox's birthday.
 The manager of the PR team ac- cepted the challenge of the Handy's l Team of Springfield to play for $50 but the Springfield team failed tC play. September Il the PR team will play Bondsville, September IS the Red Men at Chicopee Falls, anC September 25, Warren club. The Phoenix-Riyerside base hal club defeated the Somersville A. c. al Hyde Park Hydeville, Sunday in { fast game of baseball, featured by heavy hitting of both teams. Connors pitched great ball for the PR team flaming 12 men and he also assisted in 2 infield put outs. The hitting o Huden was feature, getting dou bles and single in trips to the bat Next Sunday the PR team will play the Red Men of Chicopee Falls a Hyde Park. Cyran and Twible for merly of the Monson team are now I NOIg g0wy1va |. l.