Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-07-05
One of the BoIdest Bank Robberies
on Record.

The details of the robbery OF the Viii
lage National Bank Of Bowdoinham,
Maine, disclose one of the most daring
bank robberies ever committed in the
United States.
1t appears that the robbers three in
number commenced operations about
two o'clock on Friday morning, at which
time they entered the house Of Mr.. But
terrified, the cashier of the bank, and
proceeding to his room, partially stun
ned him by blow upon the head. Up
on recovering consciousness he saw three
men, their faces disguised with masks,
standing by his bedside, armed with
pistols and knives, who Immediately
seized him and demanded the keys of the
bank. To this Mr.. Butterfield made no
reply, whereupon he was tied with small
cords, being bound hand and foot, and
gag placed in his mouth, made of a pill
low case, and was then violently Choked
until he was forced to tell where the
KEYS were concealed: In the same bed
Law little son Of Mr.. Butterfeld, about
eight years Of age, who was seized at
the same time and bound in similar
manner as his father.
Th9 cries of alarm of the boy, which
could not be entirely suppressed, aroused
the mother who saw two men standing
over her, who 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 third, having OBJ
tanned the keys of the bank vault, pro-
ceeded to the building, but a short dis
lance from the house.
The Inside door of the safe, one Of
Halls patent locks, resisted the efforts
of the robber, who thereupon returned
to the house and forced Mr.. Butterfield
to accompany him to the bank. Per-
ceiving at one time some signs Of re-
sistance on the part of Mr.. Butterfeld,
the rObber put pistol to his head, and
solemnly declared that if he did not at
once open the door he would shoot him,
there was no doubt on the part of Mr..
Butterfeld that the robber was fully ca
pable of carrying ont his diabolical in
tentiOn.
Mr.. Butterfeeld, therefore, submitted
to the inevitable necessity of the case
and opened the door, when the bank was
plundered of the entire contents of the
safe, in all reaching the sum of about
$75 900, of which $4,000 belonged to
the bank in the shape Of its own bills,
bills of other Maine banks, and bonds.
The remaining $4,000 consisted of Ma
oS,I 70 70 I'D In ho
bank for safe keeping by individuals.
Mr.. Butterfeld was then returned to
his house, and all there were gagged and
bound, when the robbers departed, after
loosening little the chords which bonnd
the boy, of the tightness of which he had
made great complaint.
This was done at the intercession of
| the mother. Sometime after the depart
ure of the robbers, the boy was enabled
| to unloose his bonds so as to alarm two
domestics in the rear of the house, who,
after some hesitation, the result Of fear,
| came to the relief of the imprisoned fam
| lily, and released them. When the alarm
was given, the whole village was arous-
ed, and were almost Supplied with as
constituent at the audacity of robbery
| committed in the very heart Of their viii
lage.
They at once armed themselves and
started in every direction in pursuit of
the villains. A reward Of $4,000 was
offered for the arrest of the thieves, and
the recovery of the money, by the Presi
dent Of the bank.
The robbers were tracked to Topsham
this friday morning, but there the
trail was temporarily lost. At 5 IL the
same morning two men were seen driv-
ing rapidly through Brunswick, their
horses foaming. They drove toward
Harpswell, and it is not improbable
these parties are the guilty ones. The
event was unknown in Brunswick at the
time the men drove through there. De-
tectives are out in all directions in quest
OF the scoundrels.
There has been one arrest at Bowdoin-
ham of suspicious person who can
give no satisfactory account Of himself.