The Shasta courier., 1866-08-11
SH ASIA COURIER.
One of the Boldest Bank Robberies OIL
Record.

The details of the robbery of the Village
National Bank of Bowdoinham, Me-, have
been received, and taken altogether it prove:
to be one of the most daring of the kind evel
committed in the United States.
1t appears that the robbers, three in num-
Der, commenced operations at about two
O'Clock on Friday morning. at which time
they entered the house Of MIR. Butterheld,
the Cashier of the Bank, and proceeding TO
his room partially stunned him by blow
upon the head. Upon recovering conscious
ness, he saw three men. their faces disguls
ed with masks, standing by his bedside
: armed with pistols and knives. who imme
diately seized him and demanded the keys OF
the bank. To this Mr.. Butterfeld made no
reply, whereupon he was tied with small
cords, being bound hand and foot, gag
placed in his mouth. made of pillow case,
and was then violently choked until he was
forced to tell where the keys were concealed.
In the same bed lay a little son of Mr.. But
terfeld. about eight years of age, who Vas
seized at the same time and bound In a sim
liar manner as his father.
The cries of alarm Of the boy, which could
not be entirely suppressed. aroused the
mother. who saw two men standing over her,
wko threatened her infants life if she made
the least disturbance, adding that if they
kept quiet all would be right as what they
wanted was the money in the bank. She
submitted. and one man was left to guard
her. a second her husband while the third.
having obtained the keys Of the bank vault.
proceeded to the building, but short dis
tance from the house.
The inside door of the safe. one of Halls
patent locks. resisted the efforts of the rob
ber, who thereupon returned to the house.
and forced Mr. Butterfeld to accompany him
to the bank Perceiving at one time signs
of resistance on the part of Mr.. Butterfeld,
the robber put pistol to his head, and
soiemnlv declared that if he did not at once
open the door he would shoot him, and there
was no doubt on the part of Mr. Butterfield
that the robber was fully capable of carry
ing out his diabolical intention.
Mr.. Butterfeld, therefore, submitted to
the inevitable necessity of the case and open.
ed the door, when the baak was plundered
of the entire contents of the safe in all reach
ing the sum of about S75, 200 of which Sl0,-
900 belonged to the bank in the shape of is
own bills, bills of other Maine banks, and
bonds. The remaining S65, 900 consisted of
National and State bonds, deposited in the
bank for safe keeping by individuals.
Mr.. Butterfeld was then returned to his
when the robbers departed, after loosening a
little the cords which sound the boy. of the
tightness ef which he had made great com
plaint. This was done at the intercession of
the mother Some time after the departure
of the robbers, the boy was enabled to un-
loose his arms as to alarm two d0mestics
in the rear of the house. who after some hes
itation. the result of fear, came to the relief
of the imprisoned family and LEASED them,
when the alarm was given. The whole vii
iage was aroused, and were almost stupefed
with astonishment at the audacity of rob-
berv committed IN the very heart of their
village.
They at once armed themselves and start
ed in every direction in pursuit of the vii
iains reward of 5000 was offered for
the arrest of the thieves and recovery of the
money, by the President of the bank.
The robbers were tracked to Topsham, but
there the trail was temporarily lost. At
half past five the same morning two men
were seen driving rapidly through Bruins
wick, their horses foaming. They drove
towards Harpswell. and it is not improbable
these parties are the guilty ones. The
event was unknown at Brunswick at the
time the men drove through there. Detec-
tives are out in all directions in quest Of the
scoundrels.
There has been one arrest at Bowdoinham
of a suspicious person. who give no sat
isfact ory account of him elf.