The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-04-25
A Martyr to Duty.


Bank, which met with only partial sue
ress. but was accompanied by the most
foul murder of the Cashier, Mr.. j. w.
Barron. The first knowledge OF The crime
resulted from the failure of Mr.. Barron
10 return home as usual on Friday even
ING. Inquiries were made for him and
he could not be found. This excited Sus-
picion. When the bank officers searched
at the bank the doors were found locked.
When the cashier of the National Bank
opened his vault, which is connected NTH
that ,f the savings bank, he found the
door Of the savings bank safe opened So
he could not get through, but could hear
Mr. Barron grooming. They then broke
open the doors of the savings bank rooms
but found the vault locked. They then
passed p small person through the aper-
iure between the vaults. lie found Mr..
Barron lying in the vault handcutfed,
gagged. and a rope around his neck. lie
was taken ont senseleSs, ami remained 20
until about half-past five yesterday morn
ing when he expired. He had several
bad wounds upon his forehead, which
caused his death. The burglars succeed
ed in getting away with less than SlOo u
ihe money in the bank.
The robbery Vas accom- plished probably
between the hours of five and six o'clock.
Dir Parsons. an insurance agent, left the
hank about quarter to five O'clock, and
nothing unusual had occurred then.
Mr. Curtis, the. Cashier of the National
Bank, left his office at five O'Clock, and
uied the door to Mr.. BArron's room and
found it locked He supposed he had
eft the building; so, as he went down the
stairs he locked the outside door. About
xix o'clock. person passing the outer
bank entrance saw three men, strangers,
standing in the entry beside the open
door, evidently preparing to step out.
These must have been the robbers and
nurderers, as no citizens were there at
shat time, and this same outside door
had been previously locked by Mr.. Cur
lis. A lady who passed up the street
about this time saw two men step out
rom the bank entrance and walk rapidly
down the street. The robbers must have
chartered themselves in the Masonic Hall,
III the third story over the bank, as the
doors leading thereto were found unlocked
in the afternoon, and were locked by the
anitOr, but they were again found I'M
locked after the crime WAS committed.
The men accidentally set upon Mr.. Bar
ron IS he went to closet opening out OF
rear room for coal to repenish his fire.
Here was found the partially filed hod,
overturned, and his false teeth and the
pen which he had over his ear were here
lying On the floor. The key Of the hand
EUrfS and Mr. Barron's bunch OF keys were
also found here. These men probably
thought to find the safe doors unlocked
and the funds of the bank unprotected
but tins was not the case. The door Of
The vault must have been open, ana the
outer door Of the safe, but the inner door
ri th, safe. protecting all the valuables
VI the bank, WAS CT sed and locked.
There "a, a Indication lock on this
door, and also q time lock; but the time
.oCk VAS set to close the safe at seven
p'c.o,N, 50 at this hour did not protect it.
Bu; Mr. Barron, although man of slight
build and little fitted for a combat with
AJ, prosecutors, was yet possessed Of an
ron will and faithful purpose-to lay
down hi, life rather than be.ray his trust.
From appearances, il is thought that they
put cord about his neck To force him
10 diyulge the combination He was
probably beaten for the same purpose,
sna wheu they found nothing could be
forced from him, and fearing detection,
ihey locked him in the vault to die. He
vas found gagged with piece Of wood
axe those seen on pail-handies. \ piece
Of co-d-.ine was run through the hole in
sood and securely tied around his neck.
lie was haodcutfed with hi hands behind
sim. the handcutf, being finely flashed
and nickel plated and Of the latest pat
Tern. The thieves mus, have had the keys
70 al parts Of the building As we'll as t.
ibe safe, as they left all the doors locked
behind them The Trustees OF the bank
have tTgrei reward of $1,000 for the APP
prcheusion Of the marderers and efficient
measures nave been taken 70 intercept
ihc;r tight y CoroEer'- inquest was in
,cssi5l N saturday afternoon in regard
70 the death of Mr. Barron
The ,~agic death OF Mr. Barron has
cast gloom over this community never
.cf1re e0ualed He was man Of rare
purity Of character ana purpose, and had
The .lll confidence of the entire commu-
nitv- q confidence which he did not fail to
deserve, As uis faithful. surrender OF his
life rather than betray the trust reposed
IN him shows. lie was man of slight
Nature, about forty years Of age, and had
held many responsible positions Of trust
ior more than ten years. lie had been
Treasurer Of the town, and Treasurer of
he savings bank since it was first organ
usd In 1865 The care of the funds in
trusted 10 him was so great. that when. a