The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-12-30
Murder ANA Bank Robbery.
Escape Of the Assassin.
FULL PARTICULARS OFF
TEE .AEFAGx2.

Yesterday, at high noon, in the center
of the town OF Maiden, and on Que OF its
prineipal streets, was comm tied one OF
the most daring and cold. bloode mur-
ders that has ever saddenca and excited
any community. As tNeuty minutes be
fore twelve clock, Ftauk Converse. the
son Of the President Of the Mliden Btnk,
was found within that bank. just ut the
point OF death, having been shot through
the head BY whose hand the fatal bullet
was aimed, or upon whose soul res $ the
guilt OF this atrociou; crime, the invest:-
cations actively made by the "fi ;ers Of
justice have as yet been insufficient to
brir 9 to light. The facts and circum-
stances connected with the tragedy SO iar
as developed, are "a follows: 4r--ss.
L. s Converse, Esq, brother Of Hon
j. z. Converse, OF tins city, and Treas
arer OF the Boston Rubber Shoe Company
is also President OF the Maiden Bank,
in which his sou ffaul not quite eighteen
years old at the time OF his death, has Tor
bout cight months acted as cietk Every
morning either Frank or Mr.. Ch.r.es
1GrriN, tie Cashia has been accustomed
10 come into Boston f0r tie purpose OF
making up the balances between that bau;
aud the Boston banks, and 1or this reason
there is but one person usually in the
bauk from nine O clock untii twe.Ye. Yes
terdAy morniny Frauk had intended 10 go
10 Boston, but it was finally declled that
Ir. Merrill should go, and Frank was left
IN charge of the bank. Before going away
AIr. Merrill took 1--WE thousand collars
from the vault to be used ii required dur
ing his absence, aud lett tie vault lock
ed.
The building in which the bank is loca-
ted is used for no other purpose, and Is u
small cdifce OF brick, with stoGe pillars
in trout, standing on Pleasant street, near
the Square, and IN one OF the most promi-
nent locations in the village-houses and
stores all round. Nothing peculiar was
noticed during thefore noon, and at TWEEN
ty-ive minutes past eleven, as he states,
Mr. George Railey, stove and tin ware
dealer in the village, wens to the bank and
received from Frank Converse Sill in
cash on check which he presented.
About fifteen minutes alter, not later
than twenty inmates OF twelve, Robert
Merrill, the little son OF the cashier, rush
cd into the grocery store of DIR. Sharles
Shepard, near the bank, and called for
some one to 20 into the bank, saying that
| Frank has got Il fit, auI there ) Il horrid
great hole in the side OF his hoLu.' Mr.
Shepard at once went into the bank, ana
saw Frank lying on his back behind tht
| counter, and supp, s,ng lie was in lit
| 4. 10 t,r
| bursting of boil. He called him by
name, and the dying boy turned his eye.
upward, but could not speak. Que ol
two laore persons had now come in, i'm
they raised HIM up and carried him to the
door to set the fresh air, still wlthoutany
suspicion of the terrible crime that haC
been committed, DR.. Burbee was imme
ldiatcly sent for, and he at once saw wha
hal Teen done, bat it was too late fl
medical aid, aud in about twenty minutes
dea h came 1t was not until the arriya
OF the physician that the true state of tht
case Was understood, and the surprIs'
aad Consideration oil that group of neigh
Doors and friends when theannouncemen
was made that IA murder had been couimit
ted. as it were, under their very eyes, Cal
hardly be imagined; that young mai
whom all loved and esteemed had beel
sent into eternity by the foul hand cf tn
murderer, when Il single Cry Of alarm
would have called a hundred stong arm
to his defense, might well strike disma.
20 the hearts Of all. In such a momen
of matual distrust, what wonder that eacI
should look upon his neig hbor with sus
picion, as it forced itself upon his min'
that there was OF in the.heart of that vii
Ilage, who had just imbrued his hands il
the blood Of a brother man. ssk az
So paralyzing was the effect of this sud
den revelation Of crime, that n, efort wa
made to seek or detain the murderer, VIII
must still have been near. by, since no
more than ten minutes could have elApse'
from the time of the commission OF TIA
deed till its discovery. But there was il
that quie. town no one on whom the.
could rely in an emergendy SO sudde
and peculiar, and the assassin escaped.