Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-08
A BANK PREsIDENrs PERIL.


The deep mystery which has so long en-
velOped the methods employed in recover
ing the securities stolen from the Souhegar
Bank, in Milford, n. H, last October, is al
last unraTeled and the story would pass for
a genuine romance were not the full de-
tails Of the plot SO well authenticated. The
robbery, it will be remembered, was one of
the bOldest ever peTpetrated. On the 18th OF
October ten or twelve masked men forced
their way into the private residence OF Mr..
i. a. Sawyer, the cashier, and, having
gagged and tied all the members Of the
household, forced the cashier to p-Oduce the
keys, with which the bank vaults were
opened and about $4,000 in securities and
$1,000 in currency was secured. The
President Of the bank, Hon. William B.
TOWne, who was in the city transaCting
some business, lost no time in returning to
Milford. Detectives were employed in the
search for the robbers and the securities,
but all to no purpose. Advertisements Of
fering rewards for the restoration of the
securities were published, and at length
anonymous notes reached Mr.. TOWne. The
writers desired to know how much be would
pay. His inVariable answer was "a reasOna-
a small town not far from Boston. Mr.
ToWne was informed that the bonds
should be returned if a liberal sum was
paid for them. The sender Of the letter
requested an interview with him, and Mr..
TOWne resolved to visit the man, and did
so. The bank president was cOOlly re-
ceived by the stranger, who met him in a
hOtel, ana then led nina to a lsrge building
far away. The stranger eyed Mr.. TONue
suspiciOusly as he led him through a long
hallway into a cOmmOdiOus room, and the
banker felt i'll at ease in his presence. The
stranger talked business at once. Mr..
ToWne told him that the negotiation Of
the securities had been interfered
with by publication, bilt that tie bank
was willing to pay a sum not eXtravagant
for the bonds. The stranger named a sum,
and said that he would give Mr.. TOwne
time to think over it. Before going from
the building in which the conference was
had the stranger abused Mr.. TOwne. and
accused him Of nOC acting in good faith.
The banker was afraid to say much then,
but in the hotel be satisfied the stranger,
whom Mr.. TOWne afterWard discovered was
a detective, that no one was aware of his
Mr. TOwne's) object in visiting the town.
Then the President went back to AIilfOsd,
and talked with the Di-ectO's Cf
The bank. Further correspondence
and al length Mr.. TOWne
to pay the sum demanded. lie
drew the money in bank notes Of large de-
aud putting them into an in
side pocket Of his vest, started to see the
detective. lie was again lei through the
long hallway, and INTO the big room. The
door was fastened by the detective Mr..
TOwne was thoroughly frightened. '.ATe
you prepared to negOtiate?H grutliy asked
he detective. Il think l am" was the an
3Wer, given with much deliheation.
& 'IhinE you GT5," 5neured the detective.
Are YOU fixed21 The bank President hes
tated, but answered in the Affirmative
well, produce" was the command Of the
ietec&ye. Mr.. TOWne drew a roll Of bank
notes from MS pocket, ana placed them
N the table. The detective went to a door
opening into another room and knocked.
The door was slightly opened, and a hand
Taspinga bundle wrapped in silk paper of
Oreign manufacture appeared. The tetec-
i've took the package and put it on the
able. snow, sir" said be to Mr.. TOEne,
'baTe you got any more money! "4es,
in, was the reply, and Mr.. TOwne took
another roll Of bank notes from his pocket. /
The detective again tapped on the door,
md another package was handed in. Then, /
more money having been obtained from
dr. TOwne, a third and last package was
iven him. lie quickly examined
ne securities. They were the ones
wanted. Some were MISSING, and likewise
aluable papers were not there. Mr.. |
TOwne tied the three packages together, /
nd was ready to 90. He tTembled Is he |
pprOaehed the door, and asked the de-ec-
i've TO show Him Out. 10 was then a6OEt 0 |
'clOCk at night, and the long hallway was |
cry dark, but he finally succeeded il |
eaching the hotel in safety. The next !
az he was in Milford. The valuable !
apers and some OF the securities are |
Onds was recently found in DickeusOn's !
-OOds, near Jerome Park, il a bottle lying /
y the SIDE Of a man who had evidently /
cen murdered. Twelve stabs were found |
q his breast, and the theory now enter |
aimed here is that the man was one Of the |
ank robbers, and tnat he and some Of his /
alighted from the train near i
be woods, and that soon aflerward in a /
truggle he was killed. From the appear /
nee Of the ground a few feet from the
Ody it vas inferred that other bottles had |
herein been buried aud then hastily taken |
ID, and il vas thought likely that in the |
Jury the bottle containing The bond was /
veTlOOked.