St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-07-19
Bank . Robbery.

The robbers came to the village i'll
two teams, which they quietly hltched
under the sheds of the Unitarian church,
as the tracks Of the carriages were
clearly visible the next morning.
The cashier of the bank, Mr.. Ebenez-
er W. Hayward, who has held the po-
sition for fourteen years, is ii fine look
ing old gentleman, ill his seventy fifth
wear, and his house is situated Oh Il hill
near the school house, some seventy or
eighty rods distant from the bank and
some four hundred feet from the street,
surrounded with shrubbery and shade
trees. In order to obtain access to the
house the robbers took Il 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 placed it III 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
the inmates were simultaneously awak-
ened by hand grasping their Threats.
and an order in Il low voice to keep qul-
ct and they would not be hurt. The
inmates of the house, besides MIR. Hay
ward, were the clerk of the bank, Mr..
Charles :. Weston. Mr.. Hayward $
daughter, Il twelve years "ld grand
daughter and IL colored servant girl.
They were sevtrallN hand cuifed, with
the exception of the little girl, whose
hands were tied with il piece of Il sheet
Mr.. HAYWOOD describes the manner
in which he was awakened from sleep
It's above. and on opening his eyes he
SAW two men. one holding Il pistol III
one hand and il candle i'll the other.
while the other man said, Il arrest YOU
| for forgery" Mr.. Haywood naturally
replied that it was the first time he WAS
ever charged with amy crime, but he
| fore he could recover from his aStonlSlI-
ment the man had handcutfcd him.
They then helped him /" 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; they had 50 excited him that
| he couldn't get down stairs. and his APP
pcarancc evidently impressed them
! with the truth of his statement. for they
/ Immediately demanded to know where
/ his clerk was. He replied that they
] y
/ then tied his feet together. and ais"
tied his legs above the knees. and after
placing Il knotted handkerchief in his
mouth. tl ing it behind his head. they
left the room. leaving him ~ ing help
less on the bed.
Mr.. Weston. who l. Il Young man OF
/ twenty two or three Wears. WAS aroused
/ 10y hearing IL Slight noise i'll Mr.. Hay
wards room. and on opening his eyes
he found II man standing AT his bedside.
with IL rev" Oliver pointing at ms head.
| He WAS almost instantly handculttd
and informed that "hc was arrested.
/ but no cause WAS assigned. lie WAS
allowed To put on his pamtal""m>. and
one of the men helped him To put ON
his stockings. and then Il small cord WAS
placed around his neck and graSped 10y
IA hand. ready at the slightest attempt
at outcrN to choke him. He was then
taken down stairs and out of the back
dool 10y four men. two of whom di>ap
peared as soon as they got out doors.
| The others walked on eli her side, and
during the walk to the bank. he was
hit on one cheek 10y pistol and on the
other 10y il cold blade of an open knife,
while Il gentle admonition waS given
him to keep still.
On reaching the Unitarian church.
which stands about midway between
the house of the cashier and the bank.
Mr.. " eston was left for ten or fifteen
minutes with one of the men. while the
other left him: and soon after. on
hearing Il low whistle from the direction
of the bank, he was hurried along into
the open door by the two men. \ light
is kept burning in the banking room all
night. and as soon aS they entered Mr..
Weston WAS forced to get down on his
knees. and all three crcpt silently
across the room and behind the count
er. The outer door of the vault WAS
soon unlocked, and the men entered
and closed it behind them. Reminded
of his danger by an extra twist of the
cord around his neck. Mr.. Weston was
forced to unlock the combination lock
Oh the inner door of the vault. which
revealed to the robbers THEN expected
treasure, which they proceeded to eN-
anime without delay.
They first empticd Il small leather
carpet bag containing papers. and threw
into it what bank bills and scrip they
found. amounting III the aggregate t" Il
little over Sl2 ,cOO. They then burst
open trunk, the personal property ot
Mr.. Hayward. in which they found
5000 in bank bills, IL gold watch. dia
mOmd ring, Il seal ring hearing the let
tiers II. ;. T.. and several other arti-
cles of ieWelrN. \ number of notes
payable at the bank they examined.
but did not take: and they also left
some $40 i'll coppers and tiNc-cenl
pieces. Every thing else of value they
threw into the calpet-hag. They then
asked if there were no bonds III the
bank. and We're obliged to reluctantly
accept Mr.. Weston's assurance that
there were none.
They then left the bank. carefully
locking the door as they found it, and
escorted Mr.. Weston back to the house.
leaving the carpct-hag in the street.
near the Unitarian church. and Mr..
Weston did not see them leave any one
i'll charge of il.
After returning to the house Nth Mr..
Weston, the consIdcratc robbers re
moved the gags from the mouths of all
and gave them some water to drink.
They were then seated III chairs their
hands placed in handouts back of the
chair, cords were bound round their
ankles and above their knees. and the
gags replaced. Mr.. Hayward was left
on his bed. his hands handcutled be
hind him, and his feet and legs bound.
He suffered considerably. his whole
weight being on his hands, and they
endeavored to ease him by placing pill
lows under his shoulders. and that not
accomplishing the object desired. they
placed il chair under the pillow.
The affair took place between two
and three o'clock Saturday morning.