The sun., 1879-01-30
THE DEXTER BANK MYSTERY
a STARTLING INTIJITTON REG G4RDING
CASHIER B4RRON'S DEATH

hN 'HhpheF OF ~ Ofcnt Tragedy
DEXTER. Me, Jan. 20.-On the afternoon Of
Feb. %. 1873, the manaclcd. gagged and uncon-
scious body cf James W. Barron. the cashier Of
the Dexter tNle.l Savings Bank. was found in
the space between tho inner safe and the outer
door Of the banks vault. There were cuts on
the face and bruises on tho body. Tho outer
Office was in such n state OF confusion as ndi-
Gated Il struggle But the safe door WIS closed
tho funds all there. and only n hundred dollars
loose change that had been placed in the desk
drawer were missed. Mr.. Barron died without
word. and the report Of what was regarded ns
an act Of uncqualled heroism spread far and
wide. Bank officials all over the country sub
scribed TO n Nurse for his family. and money
was raised to build church. to be called the
Is 4rron Memorial Church.
Every onou WIS made to discover the robbers
and nurdercrs, but the detectives were baflled
from the stait They were unable to find tho
81 ehtcst clue. No strangers had becn seen in
or near the little village. and none were secn to
depart although Mr.. Barron was found soon
after sundown. only two hours after he was
seen In his Office by a neghbor. II seemed to
th" detectives almost impossible that even one
man. TO say nothing ot the three or four they
snd must have taken part in the assault. could
have got out OF the building and out Of the
town without being seen. and on this account
t'.re was always more or less suspicion that
the crime had been committed by some one in
tue village.
At length the detectives went away and the
tragedy seemed likely always to remain my
terry.
Recently the excitement has broken out
afresh, Detectives from Boston and New York
have been seen here: there have been many
meetings Of the bank trustees; District Attor-
MY Hutchins has had frequent interviews with
the III .iuls and It at length began 10 be whis-
p"rid that the banks officers gained intorma-
ton which promised to clear up the mystery
Whispers developed into the rather vague as
sertious. These grew into pos tive statements
People in the village became almost as excited
It's they were upon the day Of the tragedy. 1t
was said that missing bond had been traced
20 Washington. and that through this clue the
crime had been brought to the hand OF prom
inent citizen Of Dexter. People seemed to for
get that the bank officers never admitted that
they had lost any bonds. 1t was insisted that
the citizen had been arrested in Washington
and would reach Dexter on the evening train
Later. the rumor changed. II was asserted
positively that a Methodist clergyman recently
settled over a church in Dexter was suspected.
and there was another assertion that fixed the
crime upon gentleman who now lives here.
The rumors were all groundless. but thero is
ceria My some cause for the spread OF them
The banks officers have been following UP \
certain line OF investigation which promises to
clear away the mystery. but TO expose sensa-
ton as startling rs the discovery of the tragedy
Mr.. G-orge Hamilton, the Treasurer Of the
bank, admitted this much 70 THE SUNS corre-
spondont to-day. He said there had been no
arrests thut rumor was all wrong 10 that ex-
tent. hut that Il was trne that Investigations
were Dee NJ made by the trustees ana experts
anu that the Developments thus far are of a new
aud painful character, but have not progressed
lar enough TO be given 70 the public The na,
ture % thes" developments Is plainly intimatcd
IN the following ed torial article. published in
the Bangor DAILY Commercial this evening:
The interest OF our whole community Is
ncnln painfully aroused in reference TO the
Dexter hank robbery, which Is supposed 20
have occurred on tho 22l Of last February. The
universally accepted belief has been hitherto
that the cashier sacrificed his life in a brave
OF any facts connected with this sad affair which
excited such Intense interest in every bank cir
Gle throughout the entire country last spring.
II would not be proper 10 lay thcm before
the, community, At this moment. 1t is
sufficient TO say that the bank officers are now
engaged IN a most thorough and searching in
yrstgation INTO the melancholy affair. in the
light OF new and strange circumstances that
have come within their knowledge; II IL sui
ilrient for US to say this evening that all theo-
rI's Of experts and detectives hitherto in rela;
ton 10 the startling tragedy are at fault. and
that an explanation Of II will have 70 be sought
N direction not oven dreamed Of heretofore
by those VINO have not had an intimate know-
edge u the internal affairs Of the bank. We
should eXtremeiy regret any development that
would darkeh the halo of glory that has for
nearly twelve months encirleda name that has
become synonym Of all that was noble and
hrnye and self-sacriheng IN the discharge Of
duty ana in defence OF trusts committed 10 his
charge. hut perhaps II is better that the truth
should be known. even though It comes al the
eH'rliicr OF a1 adnlraLon raised on an unstable
AMI shifting ioundatlon.
oi course, tnle intmation OF the eeI-
banE Officers see @ their Investigation lead
ing is plain, and the Bangor CONNER
eidi is regarded as too cautious journal to
publish such an lntimHtlon without very strong
evidence. At the same time the circumstances
OF Cashier Barron's death We're such as 10 seem
imposs bic to have been brought about by him
sell He was las; seen NJ 8 o'clock on the after
noon OF Wnshington's. Birthday, The day was
!rgal holiday. and he took the oppQrtq-
wriing. II. G. Parsons. S"an an insurance agent GENT
oc'1pici a desk at the front window
floor Of the Masonic building lie chatted
with Mr. Barron. and leir him in apparently
good spirits az ) o'clock. Search was made for
Mr. Barron two hours after, rs he did not come
home To- supper. The hall door Of the banking
room WIS lpch'u ana In r'sppuuru 10 no calls
IL was only after going INTO the National Bank =
rooms, which were across the hall. and stand
ing near lho vault. that feeble meanings were
hard. and the searrhers wore satisfied that Mr..
Barron WIS Inside and suffering-from n sud
d"n attack Of heart disease they supposed. Then
tlry burst open the door OF the savings
bluk room. and still were unable 10 find him,
There lay upon the floor an overturned coal
e.uttl~ a uoEer a piece Of rope and Mr.. Bar
open, his bat and oyercoat We're on the rack,
ut where Mr.. Barron was remained n mystery
The great door Of the vault in which the bank =
safe stood WIS shut and locked. THIS vault
also contained the safe Of the National Bank,
aud IA door opaucd into 1t from that bank s
Office. A ad wis pushed through tho narrow
aperture between tne National Banks safe and
the wall ot the vault, and on the other
side between IN" savings bank safe and the
vault door. n passage barely eighteen inches
de-. the lad found the body Of Alr. Barron. By
rYp"s, which the lad fastened around Mr. Bar
r0us shoulders. the unconscious body was
gently pulled over the top Of the safe door,
which stood open. and pacnd on an mprOylsed
clt n the National Bank Office. The dying man
opened his eyes once. seemed to recognlze his
w.Ie for an instant. al then closed his eyes
forever. There was n gag in the mouth made
from the handle Of n water pail, that was drawn
s9ughfly that the phys cian said i was won
der tuat he had not chOked to death NJ once.
j sides thIs. n rope mad been drawn through n
ulY-r $50 tightly around tho neck as TO leave
lril marks. The hands were mnnacled with a
I.rgpt Now handouts made of the finest Nor
way steel, and there We're slight cuts about the
iI'-.
very one supposed at the time that Mr..
IRON wa7 surprised while gt work after Mr.;
r-pns wrut away. and that he WAS seized
li'u u"und. gagged in an instant and hand
c4ii"d. Then Ae WAS told 10 open the inner