Lieutenant George Aiken Political party Republican Party Republican Party Preceded by Benjamin Williams Education Dartmouth College | Governor Stanley C. Wilson Role American Politician Preceded by Stanley C. Wilson Name Charles Smith Succeeded by George Aiken | |
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Born August 3, 1868
West Rutland, Vermont ( 1868-08-03 ) Spouse(s) Mary A. Stark Smith (1864 1935) Died August 12, 1937, Rutland City, Vermont, United States | ||
Charles Manley Smith (August 3, 1868 – August 12, 1937) was an American politician from Vermont. He served as the 63rd Governor of Vermont from 1935 to 1937, and as the 58th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1933 to 1935.
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Life and career
Smith was born in West Rutland, Vermont on August 3, 1868. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1891 and served as private secretary to former Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor when Proctor was Secretary of War.
Active in banking and insurance, Smith became President of Marble Savings Bank in 1920.
A Republican, Smith served in the Vermont State Senate from 1927 to 1929. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1931 to 1933, and was Ways and Means Committee Chairman. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1933 to 1935.
Smith was elected Governor in 1934 and served from 1935 to 1937. During his gubernatorial administration, old-age pension and unemployment laws were enacted by the state legislature.
In December, 1936 Smith and other Marble Bank officials were charged with fraud for failing to inform account holders and authorities about an embezzlement. In May, 1932 Smith had learned that his bank's bookkeeper had stolen $251,000. Smith let him leave quietly, kept the theft secret, and charged the loss against the bank's surplus.
In July, 1935 the bookkeeper was named Rutland's Assistant City Treasurer and planned a candidacy for Treasurer. To prevent this, his opponents leaked word of the theft to the press. The bookkeeper was convicted and jailed, and the bank Treasurer received a suspended sentence and a $400 fine. Charges against most other parties were dismissed, and Smith was acquitted at his trial.
Death
Smith became ill in June, 1937 and died on August 12, 1937, just eight months after leaving office. He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Rutland, Vermont.
Family
He married Mary Aurelia Stark and they had three children, Dorothy Smith Matthews, Charlotte Smith Nicolet, and Stark Smith.