Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-12-02

Sanction.
On the 23rd of July last, in
the early morning, the safe of
the Winthrop (Me.) Bank was
blown open, and the burglars
stole 100000 in bonds, bank
Irupting the institution. A re-
ward of $4,000 was offered,
but the efforts of the detectives
were fruitless. The officers of
the bank knew, however, that
the bonds could not be readily
negotiated, and so they waited
patiently. The first clue was
obtained by Joshua Taggart,
the Philadelphia detective, who,
being in Boston on business a.
bout ten days after the robbery,
extended his trip to Winthrop.
He examined the safes that had
been sent to Boston to be ex-
changed for new ones, and the
indications were that the bur-
glary had been committed by
persons whom he knew. He
procured a description Of GER
tain men seen in Winthrop on
the day before the robbery, and
soon after wrote to the bank of
ficials asking them to send one
.of their number to Philadelphia
at once with authority to act. -
The mission was given to Col.
Charles A. Wing, Of Winthrop,
and on the 9th of September he
went to Philadelphia with full
authority.
An arrangement was made
for the burglars agent to meet
Col. Wing in a secluded place
on the 9th of September, and
the person who represented the
burglars offered to restore all
the securities except the govern
ment bonds and the currency.
Col. Wing said that if that was
the final conclusion in regard to
the government bonds, he would
not care to negotiate. The
robbers agent seemed indiffer-
ent, and smoked his cigar,
and twirled his cane. Finally
Col. Wing asked what could
be done in regard to the other
securities.
"My directions are for twer-
ty per cent. Of the market val
ue," was the reply.
The interview was then aG-
jourued for three hours, and
another place was selected
for the second meeting. Then
the burglars agent offered for
$4,000 to restore all the prop
erty, except currency and gov
ernment bonds, which the bur-
glars had disposed of. Col.
Wing asked time to report to
the Trustees of the bank.
Col. Wing reported the re-
suit Of the mission to the bank
officers, and they unanimously
thought that the $4,000 should
be paid. As the appointment
of a Receiver by the court was
then pending, a decision was
deferred until after the appoint
ment was made. The Receiver
concurred with the Trustees,
and obtained an order from the
Court authorizing him to offer a
reward, not exceeding ten thou
sand dollars, for the recovery of
Certain assets set forth in his
petition" The Receiver then
gave Col. Wing $4,000, and
authorized him to recover the
stolen property. On the 25th
of October Col. Wing started
for Philadelphia. The agent of
the robbers was in New York,
and Col. Wing and Detective
Taggart agreed to meet him in
the St. Nicholas Hotel on the
evening of the 9th. All part
les were prompt, and a meeting
was arranged for the same eve
ming up town in a small back
room, up two flights of stairs in
a house occupied as a saloon. :
Wing and Taggart wele on
time, and few minutes after
ward the robbers agent entered
with q package. He was not
the came person whom Col.
Wing had seen in Philadelphia,
and evidently did not wish to
be recognized. The collar of
his heavy overcoat was drawn
up around his neck, and his felt
hat was down over his eyes. =
He held a white handkerchief
to his face, which completely
bic faaturaS Tho