Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-07
A Treasurer's Adventure.

Edmund X. Ingalls,, Town Treasurer of
Gambia, \. H., who was gagged Tuesday
morning in his own house and robbed of 49,,
700, gives the following account of the affair,
which has startled the little town, which thinks
it has narrowly escaped a Barron tragedy Il
went to the depot village last evening, and
returned at 7 80 p. NJ. Then went into
store near my house, and went back to nv
house at 8 40 r. NJ. / wrote on the town ac
counts until A. NJ, when | went to bed
slept with my wife and child in the front par
lor. Something awoke me and | heard the
town clock strike four; thought heard a
noise in the barn; got up and went into the
middle room; did not dress me or light a
light; saw nothing out of place and got a
drink of water and then went back to bed. In
few moments heard more noise. thought
it might be the horse or COW in the barn.
dressed myself and lighted lamp, went Into
the back room, and saw that the back door,
leading to the passageway TO the barn, was
open. l thought perhaps my father might
have gotten up to learn the cause of the
noise"
IL went along into the passageway, contin-
ned Mr.. Ingalls,, land had gone but a few feet,
when bright light was thrust into my face
from dark lantern, dazzling my eyes. At
the same moment, before | had time to cry
out, large man jumped on to me and tried
to cover my mouth with his hands. At the
same time two other men sprang out from the
darkness, and all attacked me. | sprang
away from them once, but they caught me
and bound heavy scarf tightly over my
mouth. They then put handouts on me and
bound me to an upright ladder in the barn.
As soon as was tied the men all disappeared
out of the barn. The only words that were
| oIa,, he, :.
to another, bring robe The answer was,
we have no time The men were not
masked but did not see them plain enough
to recognize them if | should see them again.
should say one man was stout-bult man
and the others were smaller persons. They
wore rubbers or soft shoes, AS | could tell
from one of them stepping on my foot
81 was bound perhaps half an hour con,
| tinued the victim, ''when my wife looked into
the barn and called Ed She could not sec
me, and could only groan, which frightened
her, and she went back into the house and
gave the alarm. My father at once came and
my wife alarmed the neighbors. | was taker
into the house, with handouts on, and sc
weak that l could hardly walk. One OF
my hands was badly SCARED when thu
handouts were being put on. Then went
TO bed and lay until the Police officer, J. NJ
iouhH, Shihc anu bfohe tnt fidnucu1fs. Il hen
others and myself examined the premises
An auger-hole had been bored through the
back door by which the inside bolt wa.
drawn and the door opened. Near the doc,
was the augsr and an axe of mine, which had
been taken from the barn Ny attention wa.
also called to my secretary, which was in IN,
sitting-room The middle drawer had beer
forced open and about 300 in money sto
len. / then looked under my pillow. wher,
| left $500, and found it safe. My gold watcl
had been snatched from its place near tn,
bed. Our silver spoons were missing. blu
were afterward found in the barn. After tn,
robbers left me, thought / heard fain
sound like sleigh-bells, and got the idea tina
they had a team with them"
A consultation of town officers was held a
Mr.. Ingalls, house in the afternoon, and hi'
accounts and papers were examined. They
found the manuscripts. which Mr.. Ingalls,
had prepared tor the town report, all missing
and also Mr.. ingalls, memorandum book
which he used in town work The bondsmen
are all citizens Of property. The money sto-
| len was in national bank notes and green