Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-09
TRYING TO ROB
Bank of a Large Amount of Money
How Detectives Foiled the Scheme
Arrested While in Bed for Completely
in the Matter.
BosroN. Jan. (

! DoSTON. Jan. ..
State Detective Dyson arrived in Boston
| from Rutland, VT, this morning with the
valises containing the property stolen from
Lancaster National Bank of Clinton by Pres.
/ ident McNeill. They were found secreted a,
Tinmouth, Vt. yesterday. The property VI as
turned over to Chief Wade, who, with Dyson
and an officer of the bank, left for Clin-
ton on the l0.l5 A. NJ. train, taking with
them the securities and money brought bv
Detective Dyson. On examination one bag
was found TO contain $50, 900 in interest bear
ing bonds of the West Rutland Marble Co.
A quantity of bonds and certificates of the
| Wyoming Beef Co. and Lane Cattle Co were
found. These were badly soaked with rain,
water and melted snow which had found its
way 10 the place OF concealment. In the bag
was nearly SIS 900 in bank bills done up in
one thousand dollar packages of 500 notes.
Several bills had been distracted from two
| or three of the packages In this bag were
found also McNeill's personal eff, cts, letters,
etc, and a number of certificates which have
been claimed bv Al Lowell, a music dealer,
as a collateral he had deposited as security
for notes which the bank had discounted for
him. These instruments were leases which
had been given for a large number of pianos
and other musical instruments, and are said
by the music dealers TO represent some
Sl3, 200. Several checks PAYABLE TO McNeill
a number of trinkets, several railroad tickets
and other small articles were also in the
| vslse.
DIR. f. NJ. Nelson, president of the West
Rutland Marble Co, of Rutland, VT, was ar
rested in bed this morning bv the chief of
police tor completely IN the Lancaster Bank
fraud. He is prostated by excitement, and is
under guard at his house. DR.. Nelson seems
to have acted rather peculiar, not to say
criminal part IN the matter of hiding and en-
deavoring TO secure the property left at Rut-
land BY McNeill. After Veo, man who was
sent to the cashier by President McNeill to
get certain securities, was arrested, DR.. Nell
son told Barnum. clerk of the Marble Co,
TO go to Tinmouth aud get the vslises. Bar
mum, actuated by honest motives, gave him
an evasive reply. That night Nelson left
Rutland. Wednesday, the day after Veo's
arrest, Nelson came to Barnum and told him
that he wanted to meet him that night on the
Pittstield road, and to be sure to bring the
satchels. Barnum didn't meet him. and when
questioned told Mrs. Barnum the whole story
After talking it over with her he decided to
notify the bank. This action, however, was
rendered unnecessary by the confession of
Veo and the arrival of Detective Dyson with
a communication which led to the discovery
of the missing valuables.
1t is supposed that McNeil became fright
ened at the thought that he would be over
hauled by the officers of the Canadian line,
and left the money and securities at Rutland
until such time as they might be removed in
safety. All that he had with him when he
left for Montreal was 5000 in gold taken from
the bank. Nothing has yet been heard of his
whereabouts.
CLINTON, Mass, Jan. 8.
This afternoon Deputy Sheriff jenkins of
Clinton appeared on the scene with a writ of
replevln in favor of the American Loan &
Trust Company of Boston, that concern
making a demand for notes sent there for
collection. Bank Examiner Getchell refused
to surrender the property desired without in
structions from Washington. The idea
being advanced that the bank premises could
be lawfully searched, Getchell informed the
officer that he should resist such an action as
the bank is now a United States office, which
he is in charge of for the present,