South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-05-14
A Strange story of Crime.


Hos hs Milford Bzs& Bond is<rs Rseosersd.
| ON fhs a9th OF octoherls,t the Souhe
gan Nation1l Bank insfnsord. n. II.
was robbed By SIX masked men. who en-
tered thes ouse OF thsscsshier, Mr. Fred
eficlHT. Sawyer. gagged that gentleman
and after closeting his family and put
ting strong guard over it, led him tc
the bank by the aid, Of arope about tho
neck, and compelled him TO open tbs
safe, where were deposited bonds and
securities in considerable amount be
longing to the bank and its consumers
which were taken, and the robbers es
capped. The New York Times says:
Mr.. Towne. president, of the bank,
some months afterward received com
munication from what is known as 'ar
independent detective" in Baltimore
This person signified his knowledge oil
the whereabouts OF the missing proper
ty, and his readiness to conduct negotia
tons leading TO its return. Probably
the wide publicity given TO the robbery,
ton of securities stolen, interferei with
the immediate sale ofthe property. The
brigandJ wanted to realize" without
further delay After various visits 10
the Office OF the detective" in Baltimore,
the details of which lend additional
mystery TO the tale Mr.. Towne salts
fed himself that the man could If he
chose, return TO him the stolen bonds,
The sum demanded was between Si0,-
600 and 100000. We are not told what
amount was finally agreed upon as the
price to be paid for the restoration OF
the property, but an agreement was
reached.
The banker sat alono with the agent
of the thieves, in q lonely chamber, at
night, and in strange city, and having
about his own person, Q. large sum OF
money. Prcliminaries were arranged +;
the money to be paid was known 20 be
in the. bankers pocket.
The Nashua (N. H. Telegraph. which
publishes detailed report ofthe trans
action in Baltimore, gives AN account of
the proceedings in this city as followa /:
In Baltimore Mr. Tovns was met at
the hotel, AMI. in the night time, con.
short distance away, where he was ush-
cred through reception room on the
irst floor of the building 10 an Office u
bout Il by IS feet in dimensions, where
he found desk in one end Of the room,
table in the other, chair, and other
furniture. After the usual courtesies,
Mr.. Towne, who had 60: the idea that
they were to 60 somewhere, lie knew not
where, 10 obtain the stolen property,
inquired, Where shall we go!" This
WAS the detectives cue. and he improy-
ed it. when will You be ready with
the money!" II amready now Then
want you to take ont Of your pocket
so much (naning = sum of money! and
place it upon the table" This" says
Mr.. Towne, was the trying moment OF
my life. Ny mind quickly conjurel up
ell the evils tia: could possibly berali
me. The pcrspiration oozcl from my
whole body, and L was undecided.
feared | was sitting on trap. feared
the presence OF another person, for tie
moment placed roll Of money upon
the desk the man arose, stepped 20 the
door, and gave loud rap, when itquicS-
~ opened, and bundle was thrown up
on the floor. was requested to exam
inc II. l dill so, and for nearly IN hour
was engaged in examining the contents
OF the package and checking what be-
longel to the bank. | should say that
about one-half the bonds were not ours.
During all this time the detective show
ed no impationcc. In fact. he was as
pleasant and agreeable as he we'll could
be under the circumstances.
when got through" continued Mr.
Towne, "he continued his former pro-
cceding. Take out 50 much money! /
did rs requested. when tho door was o.
pcned IS before and bundle thrown
in" Another hour was spent in exam.
ming and checking the contents from
this package, in which Mr.. Towne found
various documents that he had not MISC
ed, and q larger amount of the stolen
property. lie was assured that this was
all that could be done for him. where
upon he tied the bonds AMI papers to-
gethsr, placed them upon his breast,
buttoned up his coat, and asked the de-
tectiye TO open the door. This was an.
other trying moment. Imagination
pictured my assassination in the next
room" says Mr.. Tovne. Passing into
the reception room Of which mention
has been made he. found it empty. He
saw q crowd ofmcn st the door. II was
late, AMI therefore this again alarmed
him lie therefore returned % the Of.
fee and said 90 the detective, "Why.
won't you go to the corner Of the street
with mey" The detective agreed that
he would. conducted him through the
crowd. which made no remarks, anil nc
companiej him TO the express Office.
where the property was deposited, after
which they pleasantly said COOL ii Int
The attention ofChiefDetective Crone.
in this city, has been called 20 this mat
ter, and he yesterday expressed the de-