Oxford's Top Official Says an Arrest Will be Made Over Missing $1.8 Million Earmarked to the Town

By Brian McCready, Patch Editor

In March, Oxford First Selectman George R. Temple made the sobering announcement that $1.8 million was missing from the estate of deceased resident Miriam Strong.

Oxford was named as a beneficiary of Strong’s estate. Those funds had been earmarked for construction of a library, open space acquisition, and scholarships to benefit Oxford students, officials said at the time.

In an interview this week, Temple said the criminal investigation is ongoing but he vowed an arrest will be made.

He also said in speaking with investigators, it looks good that Oxford will recoup most if not all of the missing money.

He said the Bar Association has a fund it created for cases such as this one, where an attorney is accused of stealing funds. Temple said the Bar Association would cover most if not all the losses.

Last month upon the motion of the town of Oxford in Probate Court, Attorney Peter M. Clark of Woodbury was removed as executor of the Strong Estate, Temple said. He has been replaced by retired Probate Judge Clifford D. Hoyle.

Clark has already resigned as an attorney, Temple said. When charges are officially filed it will be for first-degree larceny, Temple said.

Temple said he’s heard rumors as to what the missing money was spent on, but nothing definitive.

Temple said he’s uncertain what will happen to the Oxford Library in light of the missing funds. The library operates in a 3,000-square-foot space in the downstairs area of Town Hall, and plans called for a new 10,000-square-foot separate space.

Temple said a third of the total funds needed for the library project were supposed to come from Strong’s estate.

Temple said while he is confident Oxford will receive most of the funds back, the future of the library project is still undecided.

He said he is personally committed to seeing a library “built in this town.”

“It’s a very worthy project,” Temple said, adding he’d like to bring the proposal to a town meeting.