Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-17
NO. 1863.
Misfellaaeons.
THE BANK ROBBERY IN UIBRIDGE,

the banks in Concord and Grafton are well
remembered. On Saturday morning the
inhabitants of Uxbridge awoke to learn
that their village had been the scene of
similar rascally enterprise. The at.
tempt in this case, il less successful as to
booty, was even more daring and skilIfu-
ly carried out than any previous operation
OF the sort in these parts. For two or
three hours after midnight on Saturday
morning, the raiding party apparently held
possession of the streets of the village.
moving about with as much freedom as
any honest citizen might exhibit in the day
time. There were several of them, prob
ably more than five. They came in two
teams. which they put safely out of sight
in sheds in the rear of the Unitarian
church. This was their base OF opera
tions. The men were all masked and ad-
dressed each other by numbers Their
first move was to enter the house of Mr.
Hayward, the cashier, and secure the in
mates. The story is told by the Sunday
Herald as follows:
The house Of Mr.. Hayward is situated
on hill near the school house, and is
about seventy or eighty rods from the
bank. The house is some four hundred
feet from the street, and is surrounded
with line dense growth Of shrubbery and
shade trees. The robbers took ladder
which was hanging on the side of the post
office, sawed piece off so that it Just
reached the second story windows of
the house, and carrying it some fifty or
sixty rods they placed it in position, and
five OF them quietly entered through an
open window. After obtaining access to
the house the party silently entered the
various sleeping apartments and stood
ready for action by the side of the uncon-
scious sleepers. simultaneously the Sleep
ers We're awakened by feeling hand
grasp their throats, and hearing a low
voice ordering them to be quiet. and as
suring them that they would not be hurt.
Besides Mr.. Hayward and Mr.. Weston,
there were three other inmates of the
house; Mr.. Hayward's daughter, Miss
Lucinda 5. Hayward; his granddaughter,
little girl twelve years old, Mabel H.
TAFT; and colored servant girl named
Annie Ross, recent arrival from North
Carolina. Each of them were handcuf-
ed. but the bracelets" being too large for
the little girl, her hands We're tied with
piece OF IA sheet. They evidently expect
ed to find son Of Mr.. Hayward's 8 in the
house, as they visited room that he had
been occupying, but he had gone home
only day or two before, and consequent
ly did not know of the affair till about six
O'Clock the next morning. Mr.. Hayward
is a fine looking old gentleman in his
seventy-tiith year, and has been cashier
OF the bank fourteen Years He was start
led out OF sound sleep by feeling hand
grasp his throat, and opening his eyes ne
saw two men, one holding pistol in one
b9 nd a a In in :
other man said, IL arrest You for forgery
MIR. Hayward naturally replied that it was
the first time that he was ever charged
with any crime, but before he could recov-
er from his astonishment the man had
handcutfed him. They then helped him
to put his pants on and told him he must
accompany them to the bank and unlock
the doors to the vault. He told them he
could not do it; that they had SO excited
him that he couldn't get down stairs. and
his appearance evidently impressed them
with the truth of his statement. for they
Immediately demanded to know where
his clerk was. He replied that they prob
ably knew as we'll as ne did. They then
tied his feet together. and also tied his
legs above his knees. and after placing
knotted handkerchief in his mouth, tying
1t behind his head, they left the room,
leaving him lying helpless on the bed.
MIR. Weston is a young man. p or %
Years OF age. He was awakened by hear
ing slight noise ip Mr.. uayward's 5 room.
and on opening his eyes he found a man
standing ut his bedside with revolver
pointing at his head. At first Charlie
thought he would play ,possum and man
age III some way TO get hold of his revol-
yer, which was in II table drawer, but as
the man stood between him and the table.
he gave up thpt idea. He was almost in
stautly handcutfed and informed that she
was arrested. but no cause was assigned
He was allowed to put on his pantaloons,
and one OF the men helped him to put on
his stockings, and then a small cord was
placed around his neck and grasped by
hand. ready at the slightest attempt at out
cry to ''choke off his wind He was then
taken down stairs and out of the back door
by four men. two of whom disappeared as
soon as they got out doors. The Others
walked on either side, and during the
walk to the bank he was hit on one cheek
ny pistol and on the other by a cold
blade Oh an open knife, while a gentle ad-
monition was given him to keep still. The
Unitarian church stands about midway be-
tween the cashier 5 house and the bank.
and on reaching it Charlie was taken into
the doorway by one of the men while the
other Went oil into the darkness. After
waiting ten or fifteen minutes low
whistle was heard in the direction of the
bank, and he was hurried along and the
door OF the bank was opened and the three
men entered. A light is kept burning in
| the banking-room all night, and as soon
as they got into the room Charlie was
/ forced to get down on his knees and all
three crept silently across the room and
behind the counter. Reaching up TO the
outer iron door OF the vault il was gently
unlocked, opened and the men entered,
closing il behind them. The combination
lock on the inner door OF the vault was
the only thing that lay between the rob
bers and their anticipated booty. Charlie
was the only'one present who could un-
lock it. and. fearful lest he might forget
the combinations, his companions told him
TO keep calm and not get excited. Re-
minded OF his position by gentle twist OF
the cord round his neck Charlie soon nm