St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-01
Another Martyr to His Trust.
SAVINGS BANK TREASURER MURDERED
BY ROBBERS.


DEXTER, Me-, February %. j. w.
Barron, Treasurer of the Dexter Saw
ings Bank, did not return home as usu-
al. Inquiries were made for him and
he could not be found. This excited
suspicion. 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 with that of the Savings
Bank, he found the door of the Savings
Bank opened, so he could not get
| through, but could hear Mr.. Barron
groaning. They then broke open the
doors of the Savings Bank rooms but
found the vault locked. They then
passed small person through the ap-
erture between the vault He found
Mr.. Barron lying in the vault, hand
cutfed, gagged, and a rope around his
neck. He was taken out senseless, and
remained so until about half-past five
this morning, when he expired. He had
several bad wounds upon his forehead,
which probably caused his death. The
robbers evidently murdered him be-
cause he would not open the safe at
their command. 1t is thought the act
was done between five and six o'clock
last. night. Intense excitement pre-
walls. The robbers secured less than
800 by their foul deed.
LATER.
DEXTER, Me-, Feb. "a. The tragic
death of Mr.. Barron, the treasurer of
the Dexter Savings Bank, has cast a
gloom over this community never be-
fore equaled. He was a man of rare
purity of character and purpose, and
had the full confidence of the entire
community, a confidence which he de-
served, as his faithful surrender of his
life rather than betray the trust repos-
ed in him shows. He was a man of
slight stature, about 40 years of age
and had held many responsible posi-
lions of trust for more than ten wears.
he had been treasurer of the town, and
treasurer of the Savings Bank since it
was first organized in 1868. The care
of the funds intrusted to him was so
great that when, few years since, the
bank made losing investment of few
thousand dollars, an investment for
which he was not more responsible than
the trustees of the institution, his desire
to protect the interests of the bank was
such that he insured his life for $4,000
IN favor of the bank to cover this loss.
This action on his part they knew
nothing of until an examination of his
papers yesterday revealed the fact.
The robbery was accomplished prob
ably Friday night between the hours of
five and six o'clock. The robbers must
have quartered themselves in the Ma
some Hall, in the third story over the
bank, as the doors leading thereto
were found unlocked in the afternoon,
and were locked by the janitor, but
they were again found unlocked after
the crime was committed.
The men evidently set upon Mr.. Bar
ron as he went to closet opening out
OF a rear room for coal to replenish his
fire. Here was found the partially fill
ed bod, overturned, and his false teeth
and the pen which he had over his ear
were here lying on the floor. The KEY
of the handouts 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 this was not the
case. The doors of the vault must have
been open and the outer door of the
safe, but the inner door of the safe,
protecting all the valuables of the bank
was closed and locked. There was a
combination lock on this door and also
a time lock, but the time lock was set
to close the safe at seven o'clock, SO at
this hour did not protect it, But Mr..
Barron, although man of slight build
and little fitted for combat with his
assailants, was yet possessed of an iron
will and faithful purpose to lay down
his life rather than betray his trust.
From appearance we judge they put
a cord about his neck to force him to
divulge the combination. He was prob
ably beaten for the same purpose, and
when they found nothing could be
forced from him, and fearing detection,
they locked him in the vault to die.
He was found gagged with piece of
wood like those used on pail-handles.
A piece of cod-line was run through