Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-26
THE SCtsE{o kCfI-s
oylI go.
SUPPOSED TRACES OF THE MUIR
DERERS.
THREE MEN SUPPOSED TO BEEN
GAGGED IN THE DEED.
MIR. BARRON'S BURIAL. FACTS
AND INCIDENTS.

Hamilton. Simon Mudg,tt, Henry l.. Wool, Lev.
Brdg cham, and AZ nine oclork in the afternoon
commenced an Inquest in the mater of the muir
der of Mr.. Barron, Treasurer Of Dexter Savings
Bank. The following Is the material portion OF
the testimony
Henry c. Parsons sworn. The l,t saw oi
Mr. Barron was 20 minutes Ct ) O'Clock, Feb -
in the front room of the Saving, Bank, left the
room at that time, locking the door behind me al
the head Of the stairs; | Observed two or three
times about half past t. two patlie- or more come
to the door and thy for atm s.on aud 20 towards
the stairs that lead to Masonic Hon There were
two or more at n time, tor couli tell hy their
walking.
Charles G. Crowel ssoin. When went up
the Stars saw Mr.. Curtis and NJ. Wood, and
they said Mr., Barron was alive, for they could
hear him breathe. Mr.. Curtis SAID they could get
to him through the National Bauk. Mr. Wood
tried to pass through between the safe. but could
not. took of my oveicost, under coat and boots
and got up over the savings bank safe door, which
was swung open, and could hear Mr.. Barron
breathe. The air vas very hot and sliding; Mi.
Curtis passed me the lantern and put it up ov, +
the door, but the light was 80 dim / could not SEE
who it was. put the lantern still father dow o
and saw il was Mr.. Baron. They put me over
tie door jumped down and found Mr. Barron
gagged, his hands behind lin. | Immediately
took the gag from his mouth he didn't seem to
breathe and tried to initiate his lungs; stood
him his feet well as | could, while they
pushed the door too. Mr. Wood and got him
out through the space between the safes ard car
ried him into the National Bank room; his hands
were secured behind him with hsndcutI., and |
found cord tied loosely around his neck; the
gag pressed into bis mouth veiy hsrd; it WA,
common pail handle.
llenIy l.. Wood, sworn. When | got to the
head OF the stars leading to the bank, found
Hamo on and Curtis tying to unlock the savings
bank door fiom the eLtry; they had no KEY that
would fit the door. Hamilton asked ne If had
an aVe told b IN Lad and would get it; IIap
down the stairs to get the axe ard immt diatey
return snd ricd to iolce The door open, but did
not succeed. While we were at work on The door
Mr.. Curtis, who had goUe into the National Bank
roc N, .aid, Il think he is alive, can hear him
groaniug IN my ioom.' The thought then oc-
CURED TO me that be might be suffering f ON coal
luteth NY lbOt huu hiNhth one Ilgut Oh
glass out Of the door, and got my head through
but could smell no coal gas then took the axe
and broke out another square of glass and then
passed through and jumped upon the counter and
climbed over the VINE letting, because the door
communicating was locked, and jumped down on
the other side and went TO the vault door, and
found It locked and could rot open 1t; then al
ilted Mr.. Curtis, Bement, Bradbury and Hamll-
ton. Nh. Curtis then opened the outer vault door.
We tried the inner vault door and found it locked.
lie said he could not open il, for he had no KEY.
We could then hear heavy groauiug, or very hard
breathing Inside the vault MI. Quits said: Il
think we shall have 10 uy and reach hin from the
vault on the other side" He said it was a very
narrow cl ance We passed into National Bank
Mr.. Curtis had previously opened the vault 10y
hard work | could just squeeze between the two
safes. | then iourd the pa, sage barred by the
right hand of the savings hank safe, with some
limp form on the other side pushing against it.
then tried to climb ever the door and found
could raise u.yself up over the door aud see what
appeared to be human form y ing upon the bot
tom Il The vault; could zee fro N tie light .how-
ing tiom the other side.
Charles G. Clowe said IL will ny and get
over" | helped him over the door aud told him
to get down as carefully as possible and he did
so. As soon ss he got on the othtr side be SAID 4.
40, NY God What sight He is gagged and
bound" passed hun an open knife and told hi n
to cut the cord that held the gag in his mouth |
bad previously passed him lantern over the safe
I b.p told him Ia mn han H.,
he could not Tor he was tand.cutfed. then Il Id
him TO try and raise Nj. Balron's body so could
swing too the door and help him. lie did so and
| swung too the door ami took hold Of Mr. Barron
and saw he was almost dead. Il was much AS two
minutes between each breath; we both tried to in
hate his lungs by blowing into his mouth, at the
same time kept trying to aet the body betw, Gu the
two safes in the shortest time possible and as ten
delly possible, we did so; we then called him
into the National Bank rooms and laid him on the
floor on some coats DIR. Cough requested us to
lay him On the table, and then helped to remove
the nsnacles by holding small anvil while the
ring WAS cut that held the manacles together. We
found the manacles wee not tight about the
wrist, so We did not remove them al that time.
was present when the the key was found to the
III anacles; it found in the coal from at the
right hand of the door. tried and found it fitted
exactly.
w. II. p. Bement sworn. | went down to MI.
Bauon's February %, and he had not returned
home, and his wife was worried about him. The
young lady said she was going up to the bank to
see if she could find him. Mrs. Barron came out
and told her going to the lecture, but
would 60 to the office of the bank. She said he
was probably locked in the bank he was troubled
with heart disease, aud she was afraid there was
trouble.
went to the hall and saw Mr. Cults, .old h i'm
my fears and who was looking for. lie came
down TO the bank. Mr. Wood had an axe and
Bradbury told him to stave in the door. He then
broke GU. two squares aud went into the bank. ]
followed him, and Mr.. Wood went over the graf
ing into the bank room, and | went out into the
back room, where coal was found, the coal bod
turned over. l then passed into the room where
Mr.. Wood was Mr. Cults came 10 and held
the light while he opened the outer door Of the
vault. Dir. Clough came in, and he ard held our
ears down 10 the inner door of the vault and we
could hear breathing the inside of the vault. |
then went round to the National Bank side, and
they were just fetching Mr.. Barron Out of the
vault. went into the coal room an, found his