Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-09-19
The Blue Hill Bank Robbery.
NEARLY FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND Doll
LARS STOLEN.

money, anu Heu. Toi tuudtely Tie
reported murder proved false, but
most daring robbery was perpetrated
at quarter before twelve o'clock in
the forenoon, and at the present writ
ing no arrest has been made of the
perpetrators. From the statements
of the cashier and others, we are able
to give the following version OF the
affair:
The Blue Hill National Bank Is
located in Lower Mill Village, Dor
chester. 1t was one of the oldest of
our banking institutions under the
State bank system, and was formerly
known as the Dorchester and Milton
Bank. In 1850 it was entered at
night by Jack Wade and associates,
and robbed of some thirty-three thou
sand dollars, portion of which was
recovered. Wade was sentenced to
the State Prison, and after fourteen
years servitude was pardoned out,
the bank officers making no objection.
After this robbery the bank assumed
its present title.
The banking rooms of the institu-
ton are located in wooden build
ing, up one flight of stairs, the lower
portion being used as a store, but at
present it is without a tenant. The
main room is in the rear of the second
story, the door to it opening upon an
entry which communicates with the
Directors room. Yesterday the bust
ness of the bank had progressed as
usual, Mr.. Eleazar J. Bisphan, the
cashier, and Mr.. Robert F. Tolman,
his assistant, being present. About a
quarter before II NJ, Mr.. Tolman had
occasion to leave the premises, and
though the burglars, three in number,
were undoubtedly prepared to meet
the resistance that both might have
offered, they undoubtedly availed
themselves Of the absence of Mr.. Toll
man, to carry out their bold, and as
lit proved, successful scheme.
Mr.. Bisphan was standing at the
counter, which is protected by an iron
railing, when a young man came up
the stairs and in a loud tone asked ::
Can you break ten dollar bill for
me ?" Mr., Bisphan took up the bill
to inspect it, when two others entered
the room, and the man who presented
the bill Immediately passed through
the entrance leading behind the coun-
ter, which unfortunately was not
locked against intruders, and pre-
Sented pistol Mr.. Bisphan stamped
his feet and gave loud call, when he
was knocked senseleSs by the burglar,
who Immediately placed a gag some
six inches long, in his mouth, tied his
legs with tarred cord, and placed a
pair of handouts on his wrists. The
burglars then scooped the contents of
the money drawer, amounting to some
, ten or twelve thousand dollars, and
taking trunk from the vault which
. contained an amount of Londs and
other valuable papers, the property
, of various citizens, they jumped into
their vehicle, which was standing al
the entrance of the bank, and de
camped, locking the upper door anG
taking the key with them. The door
: has two locks, the key being left il
: the lock which is only regarded as Sc
! curity during the day time.
Across the street from the bank
building, is located a building which
is occupied as a grocery store by Mr.
Talbot. The young men employed
: there heard the shout given by Mr.
: Bisphan, and went over, and looking
: up the stairway found all quiet au(
. returned. They stated what they haC
. done to an older person, Mr.. Jenkins
, in the store, and he went over, and a
, he passed up stairs the three burglar
! were getting into the vehicle. H
went to the upper door and finding i
. locked, at once gave the alarm, tn
; burglars while he was at the uppe
% door having driven off.
/ An attempt was made to break il
y the door by those who speedily as
= sembled, but it was suggested that, b
r. ascending to the top of a portico OF
the side of the building, an entranc
through a window into the bank roor
er could be obtained. Upon reachin
e. the top of the portico and looking il
is they saw Mr.. Bisphan lying on tn
d floor, and, as the gag had draw
It blood, they concluded he was dea(
y. Constable Hillard, Mr.. Hines an
v Mr.. Hubbard, without waiting for pa
m ticulars, Immediately harnessed the
rs horses, leaving the place under I'll
lis impression that the cashier was sh'
ell and probably murdered. They fc
Id lowed the vehicle, tracing it from i
er formation obtained as far as Dow,
he street, where they lost track, an
ay after putting up their horse, reportt
nut the facts to Chief of Police Kurt
ed who Immediately started officers
nut pursuit.
90 Mr.. Bisphan, after being release
,u- was conveyed to his house, sho
10. distance from the bank, where
ed soon recovered his consciousness, az
60 though somewhat bruised, was not
. riously injured. He thinks the bl
he glar used his fist in knocking h
ed down, though the butt of the pist
ain may have produced the abrasion
ad- the skin On the side of his temp
me He had no weapon of defense in t
ain room, and against three opponents
for would have been useless.
Persons who were in and arou
the building, state that the vehi,
ed came up the road from the directi
the of Neponset, and that man got o