The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-23
BOLD OUTRAGE.
Burglars Enter the Residence of
Alfred Cole in Buckheld.
The Proprietor and His Wife ChlorO-
formed and Robbed Of About $4,000.
No Clue to the Robbers Great Ex-
citement in the Community.
Especial Despatch to the Press


BucEFiELp, May 22.-The residence Of Al
fred Cole, $50, Of this village, was entered
this morning AT an early hour by party OF
parties unknown, who proceeded to his sleep
ing room on the second floor (Hr. sCole
with his wife were the only occupants of the
house) and robbed him Of between $4,000 and
5000 in currency and money that he had re,
ceived during the last two weeks of his agenti
for collections ON delivery of fruit trees, sc
Mr.. Cole arrived home from Boston Saturday
afternoon last in company with his wife who
met him in Portland He has had his heed
quarters at the Quincy House, Boston during
the last few weeks.
The house was entered from window on
the back piazza. The lower part Of the house
shows signs of a thorough ransacking. A nap
kin was taken from the dining-room table and
found on his bed this morning having the
smell of ehloroiorm about il. The vest in
which the package of money had been was
found on the lower floor near the open win
dow.
The whole affair is involved in profound
mystery. There is no clue and seemingly not
much chance for the detection Of the burglars.
Mr.. Cole is one of our most respectable eiti-
zens, is a justice OF the peace and is in poor
health The loss to him Is a serious calamity,
A
lsEcoND DESPATCH
The whole village is terribly excited over
the daring burglary at Mr.. Coles, Ii seems
that Mr. Cole when he arrived here Saturday
night with his wife, did not 90 to his own house
but went to his brothers. Mr.. Pixies, where
he remained until yesterday afternoon, when
they returned home. Their house is large,
comfoi table story and a half residence situated
on Main street, not forty rods from the centre
of the village. On either side, not a hundred
feet away, are neighbors, another resides iast
across the street. The street is the direct thor
oughfare from Bnckheld to South Paris.
Mr.. Cole had formerly b cen agent for Il. e.
Chase & Co. in the nursery business, but Of
late years had done business on his own ae-
count. 1t was customary for him to visit Bos-
ton every May, make his headquarters at the
Quincy House. and there receive from his
agents the orders they were to fill and money
for the same. He would then return home, on
the way depositing his money in the Canal
National Bank in Portland, where be deposited
his funds. A request was made by him on
Monday morning to friend to carry some
money to Portland TO bank for him, and the
friend at once consented, but later. Mr.. Cole
came TO him and said he had decided to carry
the money himself the next day, as ii would
then be necessary for him TO visit the city
The friend came to Portland therefore without
il.
The effect of the chlorofoFm administered Mr.
and Mrs. Cole was very strong Mrs. Cole came
out OF her stupor late in the morning, but Mr.
Cole did not come to till long time after
Neither Of them have any idea Of how. or by
whom The robbery wos committed. MF. Cole
Is one Of the most respected citizens In the viz
lage and Of excellent character, and the only
theory Is that parties knew OF his practice OF
collecting this money for trees, and planned
their visit very skilfully. The one thing that
puzzles the citizens is how any strangers could
remain in tho village 20 long as from Friday or
Saturday TO Monday night and not be obsery-
ed In such place as this every stranger is 3
marked man from the time be enters IT, There
was stranger, it is reported, seen here on FRI
day night. He could not remain IN the vii
lage unless be was secreted. He may,
however, have gone to Mechanic Falls and
driven ever from that town Monday night, but
II So how could he have known when Mr. ard
Mrs. Cole were going back to their own house2
It is said that two suspicious persons were seen
on the Bnekfeld road this morning, aud took
the Grand Trunk for Portland.