Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-02-28
Robbery of the Dexter Savings Bank.


The Treasurer. J. ". Barron. Murdered.
Friday evening. J. ". Barron. treasurer
of the Dexter savings bank. did not return
home a. usual. When inquiries were made
for him. he could not be- found. This ex-
cited suspicion, when the bank Office was
searched AT the bank. and the doors We're
found locked. When the cashier OF the Ma
tioual bank Upcued his vault which Is con
ncctel with that Of the Savings bank, he
found the door OF the Savings bank safe
open, So that he could NOT get through but
could hear Mr. Barron grooming. They
then broke open the doors OF the Savings
bank rooms, hut found the vault locked.
They then passed "A small person through
au aperture between the vaults. He found
Mr.. Barron dying in the vault. hardcufrd.
gagged and rope around his neck. He
was taken out seuSeless and remained 50
until about halGpsst five saturday morn
log. when he expired.
lie had several bad wounds upon his
forehead. which probably caused hi, death.
The burglar, evidently murdered him be-
cause he wouldn't open the safe at their
command.
Il i thought the act was done between ;
aud O'Clock Friday night. Intense excite
ment prevails. The robbers secured no
more than 500 by their foul deed.
a special despatch TO the Lewiston Jour
nal on Monday says: The clue to the muir
derers OF Mr. Barron is A. yet slight, but
probably will be sufficient 10 lead 10 their
detection. A Mr.. Winslow saw three men
standing In the stairway leading 10 the
bank. about six O'Clock FRIDAY evening. A
~ entrance "A little later, aud his de-
scription OF the men corresponds with that
of Mr.. Wiuslow. \ Mrs. Russell also saw
two men come out OF the same entrance.
about the same time. aud walk rapidly
down the street.
team containing three men WAS driven
from the vicinity OF Dexter Friday evening
shout six o'clock, and was seen at various
points between Dexter and Moosehead
Lake, driving very fast. II passed through
Greenville and on 10 the lake. Another
team started from Dexter about the same
time containing two men and was seen
driving furiously and has been traced
through st. Adams village. One OF the
men in this team was recognized and Is
known 10 be a desperate character who for
merly gamblra freely on 'b' Maine Central
and other railroads. Other very suspicion,
characters have been seen around, and
some are spotted, who will he likely 10 be
overhauied. One of these mcn called him
self Detective"
The excitement here i intense. A crowd
OF people has remained around the scene OF
the tragedy during each day since the
event.
A skilful detective from Boston arrived
by special locomotive. Sunday morning,
and every measure possible has beet taken
TO secure the criminals. The trustees OF
the bank offer reward OF one thousand
dollSss for the detection OF the murderers.
or Of any one Of them.
The fuparut nf Mr. RAJ
residence at two o'clock this (Monday) AZ
ternoon. lie will be buried with Masonic
honors
1t is possible that had Mr.. Barron been
discovered soon after the robbery. he might
have recovered enough to have made some
statement, and possibly his life might have
been saved. His head Law on 4 trunk when
he was discovered. ard b.. hsd probably
Lain there for nearly three hour.
IL VA almost impossible for the men to
breathe in the vault when il was first open
ed. There was but small amount of air
space. and the atmosphere must have been
many times breathed-over by the unfortu-
nate man. The robbers were undoubtedly
masked, but could Mr.. Barron's lips have
opened in Ineligible words, his story
would have been OF great interest and inn
pOrtaBce.
One OF the sad lest OF the aiter-.cenes of
the tragedy was the agony of Mrs. Barron
when she was brought u the Bank to see
her dying husband. All the while lie was
breathing heavily and painfully. with Occa-
siOnal fits of great pallor and faihtness
when 1t seemed as though life were almost
extinct AT midnight all supposed Mr.. b.
was dying, but the fit passed away, and
the heavy breathing was resumed. Sever
al other attacks OF the same nature fol-
hQfnPa fna aka q
O'Clock on Saturday.
Said Mrs. Barron again and again. as
she stood beside the dying man through
that terrible ordeal of hope and overburd.
ening fear. II could have he I'd him speak
II he could have died at home in his bed
from disease, 1t seems as If could have
been more reconciled. but to have him
brutally beaten and chOked and murdered
y. that Is too much"
Mr.. Barron died on bed in the National
Banking Room, adjacent to the scene Of
the tragedy. He was watched with pain
full interest during the night while couriers
and dispatches dew in all directions. Once
or twice his eyes opened slightly. and il
was thought consciousness was returning,
and that his dying breath might aid in the
discovery Of the murderers. but the hopes
OF the watchers were destined to disap-
pointment.
On Saturday the remains OF the deceased
were removed to one OF the sadde,t house
hollis that WAS ever Seen Ia Dexter.
The murderers took possession Of all Of
Mr. BarIOns keys. With them they were
enabled to lock and unlock all the doors
but the very door they most wanted to
OpeD-the door OF here's conscience On
that door their gags and slung., hot. their
kicks and threats could make no impres.
sion. The enthusiasm Of admiration inr
the heroic conduct Of Mr.. Barron, is only
rivslled by the hot. popular indignation at
his cowardly and brutal murderers.
Mr.. Barron could easily have opened
the safe. He alone knew the combination.
The chronometer attachment had not vet
been put on. There was nothing between
the robbers and the strong box but his
obedience to a sense of duty
Another indication of the Conscientious
ness Of Mr.. Barron 10 the DISCLOSURE IL the
treasury OF the Bank Of 5000 policy on
his life. with letter stating that II on Mr.
BIS. decease any errors should be found