Henry M. Bates

[2] He studied law in preparation for a career as an attorney, and in 1839 accepted an appointment as clerk of the courts in Orleans County, Vermont, a position in which he served until 1849.

[17] Bates had been empowered to borrow money on the state's behalf; he had taken out several loans of which he made no record, and used the money on speculative investments, including marble and soapstone businesses and the Van Ness farm, now known as the Ethan Allen Homestead.

[18] His misconduct came to light when one of the banks which had made such a loan contacted Bates' successor, who could find no record of it.

Thus exposed, Bates indicated that he had intended to repay the money, but the investments had failed.

[18] He temporarily fled Vermont, but returned to Northfield about two months later, after the Vermont General Assembly passed a law indicating that Bates would not be subject to arrest provided that he met with commissioners to negotiate a settlement.