Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-16
Arrest Treasurer
Town of Wells on
CHARGE EmbeZzlement

Kenncbunk, July 15-Al1red a.
Whiting, ex- town treasurer OF Wells'
who rnysteriously disappeared In
March and dramatically reappeareo
at a special town meeting on the
evening of July 5, bringing with him
n certified check &c: s22,019.9S, the
amount of an alleged and admitted
shortage of town funs. was arrested
at a hotel at Wells this afternoon by
Sheriff Haven S. Roberts on a
charge of embczZlement Of pubic
funds.
1t is understood that the warrant
issued by Recorder Ralph Andrews
of the Kennebunk Municipal Court
and sworn to by Sheriff Roberts was
requested by County Attorney Ed
ward S. Titcomb of Alfred. This
evening at s o'clock Mr.. Whiting was
arraigned before Judge Harold II.
Bourne in the court room at the
Kennebunl town hall. Preceding the
formal readings of the complaint
there was conference between
Judge Bourne and Attorney Ray
Hanscom. counsel for Whiting. The
latter did not think a large bail was
necessary inasmuch as the defendant
had voluntarily returned and reim-
bursed the town the fui amount OF
his Indebtedness.
Atty. Hanscom stated that the ar
rest of Whiting is nothing more or
less than persecution of the defend
ant his wife and children" Judge
Bourne said that phase Of the ques-
ton was not before him. 1t was
simply question of sufficient bail to
warrant the appearance of Whiting
at the September session of the
Grand Jury. The county attorney
would be satisfied with the bail of
$4,000. said Judge Bourne. and the
court did not think that was excess
sive. If the defendants lawyer
thought differently, he was at liberty
to appear before the bail commits
sioner and that Official had the
power to reduce the amount II he
deemed it advisable. Attorney Han
scom had asked the release of Mr.
Whiting in bonds Of $500.
The warrant was then read to Mr..
Whiting charging him with the en-
bezzlement of public funds on or
about March 1. 1928, to the amount
of $4,000. He pleaded not guilty
Judge Bourne ordered him to fur
nish bonds in $4,000 and five prom
inent' citizens Immediately came for
ward as sureties as follows: Will
liam G.. Colby. one Of the selectmen
during Writings last year as treas
urcr; Walter NJ. Perkins, a former
overseer of the Ogunquit corpora
ton: Lucius r. Williams, ex-repre-
sentative to the Legislature; John A
Carens. of the State Highway Corl-
mission; and c. Herbert Littlefield
who offered the resolution at the re-
cent special town meeting to the eff
feet that the town of Wells was sat
isfied with the settlement of Mr.
Whiting and the Selectmen were IN
structed to take no action against
him.
Surprise to Whiting
MIR. Whiting talked to an Express
representative while seated in the
auto of Sheriff Roberts awaiting the
arrival of his bondsmen. He said:
You could have knocked me down
with feather when Sheriff Rob-
erts drove into my yard and said lie
had warrant for my arrest. I dc
not understand this action after the
vote of the town not to prosecute me
II l returned the money. J was out
a. of reach of the law and need not
nave returned to Wells, but did sc
OF my own free will and paid the full
amount of my Indebtedness. I sup.
pose that time will tell who are my
prosecutors"