The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-26
The Remai kable Bank Robbery in Maine
.... The CashIetss Account.

The robbery OF the Village Bank OF Bowdoi1
ham, Me-, on Friday morning, by party OF rob-
bers, was one o tha extraordinary perfor uances
OF these times. The robbers carried off every
dollar contained In the sa es, amounting in all
to about $4,000. The robbery was one which
for boldness OF execution and originality oil con.
ption j. RI, elc exec led. The facts, as related
follows:-
At about o'clock in the morning Mr.. Butter.
field says that he was aroused from HIS slumber
by II ceiving blow upon the head, which for
moment stunned him, and upon awaking saw
thee meu, their faces disguised With masks,
standtng by h 8 bedside, armed with pistols aud
knives, who immediately seized. him and de-
manded the keys OF the bank.
To this Sir. Butter6eld made no reply, where
upon he was tied with small cords, beng bound
hand and foot, and gag pla'ed In his mouth,
made OF pillow-case, which one of the retfians
took from the bed. Not complying with the
demand which was made, Mr.. Butterfeld was
then violently choked until he was forced to
tell, which he did by pointing where the keys
were concealed. In the same bed lay little
son OF Mr. Butter6eld, about eight years OF age,
who was seized at the same time, and bound IN
similar manner as his father.
The screams of the boy aVoke his mother.
who was asleep in an adjoining chamber with
sick infant, who, on rising up in bed, found that
two OF the rutiians, who, as they entered the
room, had extirguished her light, whom she
beheld by the aid OF dark lantern they had,
were standing over her, and who threatened, It
she made the least distur bance, to take the life
oi her infant.
1--WE do not want your lives" they said; 1--WE
have been in this bloody war and it's money we
want" ave want the money in the bank"
She was then left in the care of one of the
scoundrels, who acted as guard over her,
another performing the same service Ia her
husbands room, while the third, who had pos
session OF the keys, descended the front stair
case and joining a companion who vas watching
outside, proceeded to the bank, which was but
short distance from the house.
The building was entered at once, and the
door OF the vault, which is located on the
ground floor, was opened, and the outer door OF
the safe, which was inside the vault, was un
locked. But the insile door OF the safe, which
was one OF Halls patent LOCKS, they could not
unlock; whereupon one Of the party returned
TO Mr.. Buttelfeld's residence. and, with the one
who was watching him, unpinioned his feet and
took him to the bank, where they forced him 10
open the door.
After this, was accomplished they then
rebound him and at once proceeded to clear the
safe of ITS entire contents, which they placed In
d bag.
Mr. Butterfeld was then convey ed back to his
house and placed in his chamber. His wife wa:
then bound and gagged, after which procedure
the robbers decamped with their booty.
During this time Mrs. B. was not conscious
that her husband had been taken from the
house. She was assured that he was perfectly
safe and uniniured. At her request her little
boy was brought into her room, who was sui
ferlng very mnch py the tlghtness OF tne core
around his ankles.
AC the request of his mother the cord wa:
loosened bv one Of the robbers, by which mean:
the boy subsequently was enabled to unlooser
himself and alarm two domestlcs in a rear cham
Der OF the house, who, after considerable delav
occasioned by fright, came to the rescue, anC
all the parties were released.
Mr.. Butterfeld then at once proceeded to thu
house of Mr.. Carr, one of the directors of th'
bank and informed him of what had takeI
place. The news of the robbery then a
once made known, and sped like wilddrC
throughout the village.
Pursuit was made in different directions b.
the cit zens. 1t is supposed that the robbers
after hey had plundered the safe, took thel
flight in rection, according to indication
found IN a piece OF woods near the road t.
Brunswick, where were also found several pair
OF stockings, pieces of cord, AMI a Montrea
newspaper, bearing date of the 18th inst.
The President OF the bank has offered re
ward OF $4,000, as tollows:-$3000 will be pai'
for the rec covery Of the bonds and money, or
proportio nate sum Tor a less amount, and 5000
will be paid for the apprehension OF the thieves