Background
Smith, Charles Manley was born on August 3, 1868 in West Rutland, Vermont, United States. Son of Hiram Alonzo and Ellen (Manley) Smith.
governor lieutenant politician
Smith, Charles Manley was born on August 3, 1868 in West Rutland, Vermont, United States. Son of Hiram Alonzo and Ellen (Manley) Smith.
He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1891 and served as private secretary to former Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor when Proctor was Secretary of War.
He served as the 63rd Governor of Vermont from 1935 to 1937, and as the 57th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1933 to 1935. 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 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.
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.
He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1931 to 1933, and was Ways and Means Committee Chairman.
Married Mary Stark, November 1, 1893 (deceased). Children: Dorothy (Mistress Andrew C. Matthews), Charlotte (Mistress Theodore Nicolet), Stark (deceased).