Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-05-26
QUESTIONS ASKED.
HoWthe Milford Bank Bonds were Recov.
efed-PresIdent TOwne Describes His Ne
EQUATIONS with an Agent of the Thieves
Trial OfNerye 1EN =. =


ered-President TOwne Describes His Me-
rtions with an Agent of the Thieves
Trial OfNerve. aEH .n.8# ITlt
From the N Y Times. a,.. ....
On the 10Th Of October last the
Souhegan National Bank in Milford, N.
H., was robbed by six masked men, who
entered the house of the Cashier, Mr..
Frederick T. Sawyer, gagged that
gentleman, and after closeting his fami-
ly, and putting a strong guard over it,
led him to the bank by the aid of a
rope about the neck, and compelled
him to open the safes. Recently the
most OF the stolen property has been
returned by the thieves for considera-
ton, incorrect accounts of which trans.
action have been printed in some of the
papers. From Mr.. William B. Towne,
the President of the bank, who was the
person actively engaged on behalf of
the institution, the Nashua On. H.
Telegraph has obtained the true story
OF the negotiations, and we reproduce
it below:
One day, about two months after the
robbery, Mr.. Towne received dispatch
| from an independent detective in Balti-
more, in which the sender said he had
information concerning the stolen prop
erty, and requested an interview. To
this he paid no attention. A little later
he received second dispatch, in which
the detective expressed so much conf
dence that Mr.. Towne thought there
might be something in it, and conse-
quently he replied that he would be at
well-known hotel in that city at stated
time. He accordingly went to BaIti-
more, and shortly after he had register
ed he was cordially greeted by the de-
tective. After a few commonplace
remarks the detective referred to
the nature of the business
upon which conference was desired,
stated that it would be better to seek a
place where they would not be inter-
rupted, and invited him to his office.
He was conducted to q place not far
away, ushered through a reception
room on the first floor Of the building to
an Office about IL by in dimensions,
where he found desk in one end of the
room, table in the other, chairs and
other furniture. This was in the even
ing. Mr.. Towne presumes that the de-
tective, if such was his real avocation,
eyed him sharply with a view of deter
mining his character and the amount of
nerve he possessed, and he is certain
that he returned the compliment for the
same purpose. The two men sat down
in easy and unconcerned chat.
There was no bombastic bantering as
has been reported, and no incivilities in
word or accent. After some prelimi-
nary conversation in which Mr.. Towne
was informed that the speaker obtained
his information concerning the bonds
from an attorney who was negotiating
for a client, he was asked if the bank
would pay $40, 900 or $50, 900 to recover
the property that had been stolen.
Mr.. Towne replied in guarded state
ment that "the bank would pay some
thing for the recovery of the contents
of the vault. GO Where are the bonds %
asked Mr.. Towne. CT don't know"
was the reply. The interview lasted
about an hour and half, and in it Was
accomplished the sounding Of each other
very thoroughly. AS they were about
to separate, the detective said, "In the
course of the night [ think I can get a
schedule of the property. Will you
meet me at this office at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning?" CT will, replied
Mr.. Towne. The two men then sepa-
rated.
At 10 o'clock the next morning Mr..
Towne was prompt to meet his engage
ment. He found his man waiting to
receive him. A schedule had been pre-
pared and he was invited to examine it
at his leisure. He did SO, thoroughly,
and after satisfying himself that the
property did not belong to the bank,
said: eff this is correct schedule the
bonds are not ours" There was a
short pause. "Then there is nothing
more to be said,' added Mr.. Towne.
The detective acknowledged as much
expressed his disappointment and hint
ed that he would try again. The two
men parted, and Mr.. Towne came home
and reported to the, Directors of the
bank, and after a conference it was
agreed that in all probability something
more would be heard from the ostensi-
BILE detective. It appeared like matter
of dollars and cents; as though no posi-
tive information was to be obtained
whereby the law could reach the vii
lains, and that the interview had simply
served both sides with a knowledge OF
whom they were dealing with. It was
agreed to keep quiet and wait for furth-
er developments.
About a week after Mr.. TONNES re-
turn he received letter in which moth
ing definite or eliminating was stated,
and which contained the Interrogation,
''Do you mean business?" Shortly
after a telegram was received request
ing another interview. A consultation
was had, he became satisfied that he
was on the right track, and arranging,
as matter Of prudence, with his family
as to what place it could track him
should it happen that he "was missing
again went to Baltimore. He arrived
in the morning, and was met at the
hotel as before. He again went to the
detective Office, and was in consultation,
without being interrupted Or annoyed,
until IL o'clock. This interview was
unlike the first in many respects. "Have
you the money 2" was the detective's
first inquiry. ''No," was the an
swer, 81 have only enough for