by Laurel | May 4th, 2010
May 4, 1899
Returned by the Grand Jury.
The grand jury rendered its report to Judge Maynard in the criminal sitting of the superior court yesterday afternoon. True bills were returned in all but tow of the cases heard by the jury, but the chief interest in their report centered in the finding of six indictments for embezzlement against James C. Keough, the ex-collector of taxes of Holyoke. The Keough indictments were not taken from the box until among the last. When Clerk Morris called the name of James C. Keough, the ex-tax collector stepped forward from a seat in the rear of the courtroom and stepped inside the dock. Clerk Morris announced that there have been six indictments for embezzlement found against him, and asked him if he would waive their reading. Mr. Keough replied affirmatively, and was then asked to plead to them. He entered a plea of not guilty to each of the indictments and stepped out of the dock. The sic indictments are alike in form but the dates and amounts alleged to have been taken are different. Each indictment covers a period of six months preceding its date. The first alleges the embezzlement of $30,000 to October 1, 1895; the second $30,000 to April 1, 1896; the third $50,000 to October 1, 1896; the fourth $50,000 to April 1, 1897; the fifth, $50,000 to October 1, 1897; the sixth $50,000 to April 1, 1898. This makes a total of $260,000 covered by the indictments.
From The Springfield Republican.