St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-02-07


Dexter answer perfectly for two, al
Least. of HOPES "pals" in former rob-
berries. He also says that the presence
of the screw driver and lamp I'D tneli
accustomed place proves nothing I'D sup
port of the suicide theory. II Mr. bar
ron bad used them specially III MS al,
Iedeed suicide he would have found
some way of removing them, as they
were the only traces he left. LII he couio
carry out such an intricate plot as calm
" as he must have done to be SO sue
cessful, he certainly would have remoV-
ed every single trace against him. AS
for the weight that is attached to Dis
anxiety about a run on the Dank, IL IL
claimed that, as treasurer OF the oank'
he would naturally have shown ankle
ty, and it is somewhat significant that
in the July following there was a run on
the bank which badly crippled 1t. Inc
fact that an attempt was made to enter
this same bank once before shows that
there were burglars who knew the ground
well. and could therefore make their es-
cane with some ease. Mr.. Wiggin thinks
the suicide theory decidedly untenaDle
one all through. The fact that particles
of food, ETC., were found IN Masonic MAJ,
which no one can account for, is gooo
proof to him that some one was there
when the members were not, ana ne
thinks the burglars used this room as
hiding-place.
POINTS IN DETECTIVE VIRGINS STATE
MENT.
On the 25th of February, I878-says
Mr.. Wiggin-I received despatch from
Mr.. George Hamilton of Dexter, Me-,
saying that the attorney general wish
ed me to go Immediately to that town
for the purpose of investigating the Cir
cumstances connected with the murder
of j. Wilson Barron, treasurer of the
bank. l Immediately went to that town.
/ first endeavored to ascertain whether
there was evidence enough to convict
the criminal if caught. L found that
Jimmy Hope had attempted to rob the
same bank. He was also concerned ill
the Winthrop robbery in 1875. and was
in Jail in Deepriver, Conn.,, for another
robbery there. In Connecticut learned
that Hopes friends had sent to New
York to get money for his counsel. In
due time the messenger returned with
word that Hopes friends had failed to
get money for him, and during the in
terval the Dexter tragedy took place.
The description of the men seen in Dex-
ter answer well for Hobbs and Sam,
who were partners in the Deepriver
robbery with Hope. Hoping to get some
information, l had Hope brought to
Maine and tried for the attempted rob
berry of the Dexter Savings Bank in
1875. The facts which have obtained
in addition to those which appear in
these cases convinced me that these men
were familiar with the country around
Dexter, and could easily make their en-
trance to the town and escape unno-
ticed.
After making a thorough search for
traces of the muIdeIers in the State OF
Maine, and being satisfied who the per-
petrators of the deed were, l went to
New York city. While in that city the
captain of the detectives 1T the central
office, an Inspector and two detectives,
did all in their power to assist III bring
ing the murderers to justice. These men
were interviewed in New York by MI.
Bradbury, president of the bank, cOun-
ty attorney Hutchins and the attorney
general, all three of whom knew just
what was being done and here let me
say they expressed perfect satisfaction
with my efforts. The following month
the man | was looking for, aud who, il
my opinion, with the aid of his ''pals,
did the job, Jumped away" TO Europe
he having learned of my arrival i'll the
city, and knowing that l had papers fol
him for being concerned i'll the Barre
(Vt.) bank robbery. The man | refer
to is Sam Ferris, alias Worcester
Sam | then notified the bank officials
county attorney and Encouragement
further efforts at that time, because the
man had lett the country. The officers
were very anxious for me to continue,
but, knowing that there was no use, /
refused, telling them ut the time that
if L heard OF anything new they would
be notified Immediately. So much tol
my connection with the affair.
suspicious parties were seen in and
about the bank on the day of the muir
der, and MI. Wiggin gives the con-
densed testimony of eight such witness
es. And their description of these men
describes very accurately well known
burglars, who, in Mr.. Wiggin's opinion
did the foul deed.
ASHES AND CRUMBS.
Mr.. Parsons testified, us you will re.
member, that on the afternoon of the
murder several parties tried the door Of
the bank, and failing to get in, started il
the direction of Masonic hall, in the up
per part of the building. 1t is matter
of record that the doors leading thereto
were found unlocked. My theory is thai
the robbers came to town several DAYS
prior to the robbery, with the idea OF
robbing the bank the first time they goI
an opportunity, and not on any partic.
ular day as Mr.. Dearborn would have
us believe. 1t has been the case in 9
great many robberies that the burglars
have lived in the town for several DAYS
and even weeks, unknown to any of the
townspeople. This was the case when
the Northampton robbery was commit
| ted, and it is doubtful whether, if Edison
had not ''squealed," the authorities
would ever have found out that they
stopped several days in a school house,
while waiting for chance to do the
job. There was nobody found who had
been in the Masonic hall for at least two
days before the robbery, and yet traces
of cigar ashes and crumbs of crackers
were found on the cushions of the set
tees i'll that room. Every member of the
lodge was examined, and they were
unanimous in saying that not one of
them had ever carried any article of
food into the main hall. That being the
case, where did the crumbs come from
Perhaps MIR. Dearborn will explain that
also.
THEORY AND ARGUMENT.
To continue, the robbers concealed