Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-11-04
The WINTHROP Hnnk RobbrrN

Shortly amer the Winthrop bank rob.
berry, Joshua Taggart OF Phllade lphia. "A
well-known detective, being In Boston
was led 10 visit Winthrop, aud while tLerr
satisfied himself that the job was done Is
one OF two parties whom he knew. Tut.
bank officers had made such arrangements
with other detectives that they were NOT III
a position 10 avail themselves of Tlgyart'-
services. On his return to Philadelphia
he wrote the officers fur a description Of
the robbers, "hl.h was sent him. \ iew
days after he again wrote the officer, ana
requested thJm TO send one of their num-
Der to Philadelphia nj once with authority
| TO act.
The trustees Of the bank decided 10 com
| ply, and September 9Th Col. e A. Wing
started for Philadelphia. On his arrival
there he learned that raggart had been APP
| preached by II middleman Ia the interests
| Of the robbers, who desired to treat re-
| speeding the restoration Of part of the
property. An arrangement was made for
a meeting by Col. Wing, which took place
September 9th. In the course OF lengthy
conversation concerning the details or the
transfer, the mediator said that the ar
| rangement could not embrace the govern
lnent bonds nor the currency taken, but il
would embrace all the other securities
Col. Wing said: III this be the fact | don't
know as have any further business with
this man. There were a few minutes of
silence. during which the man maintained
! an appearance of absolute Indifference a.
he smoked his cigar and twred a cane
which he carried The silence was broken
by Taggart, who said to the man, Cant
a portion OF the government bonds be
reached in some way?" No" was the
reply, they cannot" Col. Wing then
said: "lnasmuch as | am here, We NAV
as well see upon what terms you propose
to give up the other securities" to which
the man replied, My directions are TWEEN
ty per cent"
Colonel Wing then raised the Question
whether the twenty per cent. had reference
10 the face of the bonds or their market
value, remarking that portion OF the
bonds had greatly deprecated In value
since their purchase by the banks. The
man coolly replied: LAS a business man
l should say the twenty per cent. should
apply to the market value OF the bonds"
Colonel Wing then inquired if this PROPOSE
ton was his ultimatum. Yes" said the
man, ''these are my Instructions"
Colonel Wing then suggested to Taegart
an adjournment of the interview 10 three
hours later in the afternoon, at another
place, of which suggestion Taggart ap-
proved, and 1t was agreed upon.
During the intermediate time it appears
that Taggart saw the man at the instance
OF Colonel Wing. whose object was that he
might get the very best terms on which a
restitution Of the property might be made.
At the time fixed for the next meeting
Taggart communicated to Col Wing the
best and only terms on which the property
could be restored, Taggart acting as the
mouthpiece Of the man who was not pres
ent. He reported that Sl00O must be
paid. and that all the property would be
given up excepting the stolen currency
and the government bonds, which
he CraggarD was satisfied had been
disposed of by the robbers and was beyond
their reach.
Col. Wing asked time of Taggart to re-
port the result of his mission to the Trust
ees of the Bank, and see whether they
would accept or decline the proposition,
and Col. Wing returned to Maine. After
reporting the result of his doings the bank
officers were unanimously OF the opinion
that terms proposed should be accepted.
The appointment of a receiver BY the
court then pending. IL was decided to wait
a while until the appointment was made,
and 1t was necessary that the receiver. in
whose hands the affairs OF the bank would /
be placed. should act in conjunction with
the trustees Of the bank.
When the arrangements were completed /
at Winthrop, Col Wing notified the de-
tective, Mr.. Taggart, that he was prepared |
to pay the $4,000. Taggart put himself /
into communication with the middleman. /
the result Of which was an appointment 4
between the three parties to meet in New .
York at given place on one of the streets /