Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-03
NOT so MUCH OF A HERO.
TIC Mystery of the Derter Bank RoDbefu
Recedled-The Cashier Not a Nartgr but O.

Boston Special (Jan. 81 to Chicago Times.1
1t Is matter Of general knowledge that on Feb.
%, 1878, the savings bank of Dexter Me- was robbed
and the cashier, F. W. Barron, murdered in shock
lngly 1nhuman manner. At least that such was the
case no one has hesitated TO affirm until within a
week Mr.. Barron was held in high esteem by all the
citizens OF Dexter, and had won reputation for
fidelity to the trusts of his Office which he maintained
even IN his death. The surroundings indicated that
the murder was committed by party of three men
who found the cashier alone in the bank and falling
to make him aid them in their scheme of robbery.
murdered him by beating, gagsing aud binding him.
and leaving him inside the bank vault to suffocate
The non.appearance of Mr.. Barron at his home on
the evening of the murderous attack first excited sus
picon, but he not discovered until the next morn
lng when the cashier of the National bank adjoining
the savings bank opened the vault for the davis
business. The groans of Mr.. Barron then attracted
attention, aud he was fouad bound, gagged and bad
~ bruised about the head and died after being
opened at the time, as well as the outer
door of the safe, but the door of the inner safe.
where the yauabes were kept, closed and locked
binaton cost $50 it has been believed) the faithful
treasurer his life. This heroism has been the theme
OF many hgh-soundlng encomiums from pulpit and
press and has evoked the sympatties of the public
to a marked degre-. Indeed, contributions for the
murdered cashiers family have been taken nm
throughout New England, and Barron memorial
cnurcn Is IN process of erection at Dexter. The
high character of Mr.. Barron coupled with the cen.
dltlon in which he was found aud the fact that only
small sum mi sing from the bank would seem
:
suicide; but two prominent detectives of this city
who have been at work the case at the instipa-
ton OF the bank officers, will publish three-couHu
statement In the morning papers, attempting to
prove and, it must be said with an unexpected de-
gree of success that the memory of Barron instead
OF being surrounded with a nImbus of plory is
black with an tneffaceabe stain of Disgrace Two or
three noted robbers, among them Jenny Hope have
peen charged with the robbery and murder, but
were acquitted because of lack of evidence The
detectives give their reason for believing that
Barron committed suicide, deficit of $4,000 which
ne wished to conceal. I gag, they saw. was not
such as ls used by professional thieves. The cord
which was around Barron's neck was secured
simply by piece of cotton Irvine, and various
other bits OF crcumsantia evidence go 10 show that
the respected treasurer not only lefauter and
perlurer (having sworn to false statement of the
banks afars(, but that with the aid of an accom-
pce, he had deliberately planned and executed the
whole scheme In order to himself from newt
Bile exposure aud the disgrace witch would follow.
The physicians are quoted by the detectives affirm.
Ing that the slight wounds which were found on Bar.
ron could not have caused deah, and that the coma
tOse condition in which he when found was what
eight or ten grains of c.orphine would have pro-
duced Neither does the theory of suffocation hold
that Barron could have locked himself i'll the vault
and then swallowed the poison and adjusted the
rope, gag and manacles. Detective Dearborn SAYS
that he did all this in just four and half minutes.
This the outline of this astonishing story the fruit
of q years patient investigation. Many suspicious
acts and words of the dead cashier have been collect
ed and taken in connection with his financial em-
barrassment and morbid sensihveness, constitute an
almost irrefragble chain of evidence against him.
The officers Of the bank and many prominent citi-
with the detectives story given above, and it's publ
cation will convert the public from the nero-Horshin
and MISUNDERSTANDING of year to sullen belief.
with the psalmist that "all men are Hars.''