Year: 1879

appeared
be s2ls.319 IL. In looking over the deposit
book of that date he discovered that that day
the actual liabilities of the bank s220.39. max
lns an apparent deficit of $4,000 between the sworn
statement and the actual liabilities as shown by the
general deposit book and trial balance. On making
this discovery they examined all the entries on the
books from that date back to October OF the same
year. On the g7th of October it appered
S2l9.G6s 81 BY the entries ON the general deposit
book il appeared that the liabilities s22l 3 81
They also examined the cash books from November
leI up to February % 1878 the time of the supposed
book were correct. there ought to have been about
$1,000 in the bank at that time.


TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS SHORT


Sandwiched in among the regular entries on the
book between the two last named dates were tound
items of yarious amounts aggregating the sum OF
$1,000, which. it will be perceived, just equals the
amount of money which should have been ON hand
az thai time singular coincidence in connec-
tion with these entries was that they were
and no record Of them appeared on
the trial balance sheet One of these items under
five hundred dollar United States bond, but the
margin where the number of the bond should ap-
pear was blank Neither did the number OF the
series appear in any portion of the book further
examination showed that loans collateral had been
made to the amount Of $l07S9 80, while from the
general deposit book 1t would appear that
the true amount loaned such security
$l2,7S9 so. showing before deficit of $4,000.
Barrons last statement to the Bank Examiner
audited by two of the trustees siessrs Dastin and
Abbott. and the books agreeing with it. the state
ment was approved. BY a more minute examination
the astounding discovery was made that
the figures 81 and "S in Barrons original state
ment had been erased and the figures so" and "0'
substituted. 1t further discovered that in the
sum charged to loans OH collateral securities the
figure '2'' had been substituted for the 0. making
the sum loaned appear s 80 instead of 7ss So
These erasures aud alterations had evidently been
made after the statement had been audited. The
suit of these discoveries only served to confirm the
opinions already entertained by tine president aud
cashier that the bank had not been robbed by
fessional thieves.


FRAUD,


Other alterations subsequently discovered,
but the matter was kept very quiet for obvious rea-
sons. meeting of the directors was called and re-
suited in laying the whole matter before L. A Emery
Attorney General at that time. The first Suspicious
circumstance which Detective Dearborn met
that the trays in which the cash kept still con-
tanned the sum of $l5 when found lying upon the
counter the morning after the tragedy. Strange as
it may seem. not a dollar was missing. and none of
the papers had been disturbed. The safe doors
open. but the steel chest inside the safe. con-
tanning the banks securities, and upon
which there was a timelock was unmolested.
These and other Developments convinced the
detective that the work had not been performed by
thieves. and in confirmation OF this belief he failed
TO learn that on the day in question any strangers
had been seen about Dexter that any strange
teams had either entered left the town. In fact,
after most thorough investigation had been made
in support of the theory that the affair had been
prcmedtaed and carried out by thieves professional
otherwise.


SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.


An inspection Of the gag found in Mr. Barron's
mouth still further served to dispel the theory of
murder and robbery The gag was not at all such an
professional thief would think for moment
of using as it did not at all hinder respiration or
The cord around Mr.. Barrons neck was
very clumsily contrived and hung loosely
the gag (the wooden handle from the bail Of water
pail) secured proved nothing but piece of CON-
mon cotton twine of three strands. There was in
the back a coating Of dust and ashes all the
floor quite thick. This coating distributed only
in direct line from the door to the coal bin,
and had there been q scufie there where the teeth
hood and fan found, there must, it is agreed,
have been evidence Of it. There no dust OF any
kind upon his clothes, and if he had been thrown
been plenty of it. When Mr.. Barron
discovered in the vault window in the
T%s room iang om ss se I % WAS iotna ~ th opT
iavorng the burglar theory, but in explanation.
the town postmaster, Mr.. Woods. now comes forward
and clears up the matter. The Post Office Is To-
Gated in room beneath the savings bank,
and the afternoon in question EIr. Woods,
having occasion to leave the post Office by the rear
the iron shutter thrown back, and 1t would have
been impossible. he says. for any thieves to have
ron was in the bank all that day.


LOCKED IN THE BANK


It is also in evidence that Mr. Charles Curtis
cashier of the Dexter National Bank which is in the
same building. and on the opposite side of the
ridor, went to the Post Office the evening Of Feb
rua5y q, at about t., hye S,, o'clock. got his
there for about fifteen minutes reading his
letters. He then came out secured the door
and in passing tried the door Of the savings bank,
which he found locked. He then passed down stairs
and ont into the street. locking the outside door be-
hind him. When the search for Mr. Barron was
commenced 1t will be remembered that the outer
door was still locked. as was also the one tried by
Mr.. Curtis. The doors leading to the Ma
Building were found open but It would have been
impossible for any to have escaped in that drec
ton without the aid of ropes no signs Of the use Of
vvhi 10 hnva haan Evoua IN
have been the case. the open window in full view
Of the Post Office and telegraph office win
dows, at which were seated. from i've O'Clock until
halfpast seven o'clock the postmaster. his assistant
and the telegraph operator. To dispel forever the
theory that the thief or thieves left the building from
the roof or by the window found open in the rear
ROOM the fact is cited that there was snow the
ground ut the time. and no trace or footprints
anywhere discovered. All these details
fully investigated by Detective Dearborn, who
aided in his researches by Detective Chapman, of
this city. and also by the bank officers.


A WELL MArURED PLOT DETRAUD.


After consultation ali of these gentlemen became
convinced that the trusted and respected treas
urer was not only defaulter and a perjurer. but
that with the aid Of an accomplce he had delib-
erately planned and executed the whole scheme in
order to himself from inevitable exposure and the
disgrace which would follow On this theory they set
to work with renewed energy Barrons accounts being
$500 short, seeming to provide substantial basis
upon which to establish the theory of suicide De-
tective Dearborn informed by Mr.. Bradbury,
president of the bank. that the Newport (Me. bank
mad suspended the week before this affair happened.





had been made, and worried Mr.. Barron in notice.
able manner On the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day preceding the tragedy he Barron) had talked
with the president about the matter, and evinced
much anxiety to the result The effect of his
solicitude was such as 70 induce Mr.. Bradbury to
visit the bank otener than his wont for the pur
pose of conversing with Barron in reference to the
run. He bradbury could reason for any
anxiety on the part of the cashier, who being on
salary. had personally but little ut stake
compared with the stockholders. On the
evening Of the 22d when Mr. Bement commenced the
search for the missing bank officer. came to Mr..
Bradburys housc. that gentlemen Immediately
called the conversation between himself and Barron
about the run the bank remarking at the time
that he might have committed suicide. 1t Is some
what remarkable that this should have been the
Presidents first thought and still more that. from
that moment, this theory never again entered his
mind until suggested by Detective Dearborn.


BARRON WISHING HE WE'RE DEAD.


An interview with Mr. Parsons. who. IL seems. last
the Cashier alive prior to his discovery iii the
vault. then sought by the detective. Mr.. Par
stated that he went to the bank on the after.
noon in question, and on arrival there found
Mr. Barton busily engaged with his accounts.