Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-15
HOW A BANK WAS RUINED.
A STARTLING STORY OF CUNNIN G
AND CRIME.
Robbery of the Lancaster Bank by Its
President-Allcged Completely of Pres
ident Nelson and Treasurer Neo of
the West Rutland Marble Co.

The story of the robbery of the Lancas'
ter bank at Clinton, Mass, and its connec-
ton with the officers of the West Rutland
Marble company is one OF the strangest
chapters in recent criminal history indeed
it seems to have no counterpart except in
the romantic tales of the deeds of pirate
kings and robbers of the distant past. The
robbery and the method of concealing the
booty was we'll planned, but bunglngly
executed And when the tale is all told
it will probably be found that Mcneil
and Neo did not do all the planning, nor
was it done for their sole benefit. 1t
appears from Neos and Barnum's state
ments-so much of them as the detectives
have permitted to be given out-that Mel
son, the president of the marble company,
took an active part in the execution of the
plan; and it will doubtless soon appear
that the robbery was planned as much in
the interests of the marble company,
which was in financial straits, rs for Nc
Neill himself. From present indications,
President Mcneil, DR.. Nelson and Charles
II. Neo are an unsavory trio of personages.
Early in the stages of the trouble the bank
officials, or at least some of them, were
well satisfied that Nelson knew consider
able of McNell's previous plans, his APP
pearance at the bank and his movements
afterward and it may yet be shown that
the bank was wrecked mainly through
McNeill's connection with Nelson and the
West Rutland Marble company.
About the last of November the direc-
tors of the Lancaster bank were sur
prsed at the receipt of letter from
Comptroller Cannon, stating that he be-
lieved President Mcneil was specializing
Ill ts.l. fol- Of
the receipt of this letter Mcneil denied
that he was specializing, but said he held
some stock in the Low Cattle company
and the West Rutland Marble company,
both of which, he said, were sound. The
directors were not satisfied and continued
their efforts to get at his financial opera
tons. They held Il meeting at Boston
December %, at which Mcneil was pres
ent, and continued their pumping opera
tions, but with no better success. On
that evening Mcneil accompanied
Director Batchelder TO his home in Lowell,
and they passed through the railroad acct
dent at Billerica. Mcneil claimed to be
injured and stayed in bed at Batchelder's
home six days, from Wednesday, Dec 23
to Monday, the 10Th. The physician, DR..
Chadbourue, financial victim of the
West Rutland Marble company, pro-
nounced him uninjured, and the directors
concluded that he was shamming. A COM
mittee, including Mr.. Batchelder of the
directors went to Washington on Saturday
and saw Comptroller Cannon on Monday,
December 2e, and he advised them to de-
pose Mcneil. Mcneil was suspicious
that such action had been taken, and on
Tuesday, Dec. 20, the day before the direc-
tors returned left Batchelder's house and
with Veo committed the robbery.
On Batchelder's return Wednesday
he went Immediately to his office and at
once telephoned to his wife an inquiry
about McNeill.s health. MIS-; Batchelder
,namt ai'a~ ou thn ev rGpS nrnin, bi1t
she did not know where. The Whole
truth instantly flashed upon Mr.. Batchel-
der. His wife said there had been a great
nu.iioei VI Taiieis ~ SEE ;ictSeilI u.LlnS
der,s nnrstio,, as to who thev We're she
,,ove ne names Of , nuuhar Of I oyalI
6usiness men, she added "Of course tha
Joctrr co,ne and tben H. EalSou ond -
vOI1np man nn,ned Veo were there a'i, as #
y1ighf and staved some limo y
II caar,c mat Nfc\nilI want iop,odi,ta,v,
IN R1ctnn r.thared mn ali thn trnet fund,
tbat ware in his name thera and took aIl
the money that he could get from the
hanit;S Jenositors Uo also fool, Win him
iii the vnImnhle contents If tho honk v,uIt
and bo u,as nccomnnnied NV v"iino Voc
Voc vas finally trired Inv the noIica f.
RntlanJ and he was there nrreeted on
Tueedav Last Wben +aten 70 Clinton bn
ot first denied all UuiltV knowlpIya al Nc
Waiiiis ronvama,TS Gb;af Wodo 81 10
Stata nniice ana col Er.nk ' ~ KHAN eir'
cnunsaf fo, Tho directnrc had , Inna t.iE
9TH Voc Wadnecdov afternoon M
inrnnsiStencies in biS Stow yare nointnd
nnt f. bim and he fnaIlv raali1pad ne
neril If his nositinn Tba91 Voc tall, nd
Freely concernfnfr lis connection With Wc
Ve,li and hi. fr;ands "''A -'i
,.,,','',',',.,.,....,,l,.
NEo .oNf hssioN'
Il have been studying dentistry in Low
ell with DR.. +. y. Nelson. When Dr. Mel
son hecame Interested in the West Rutlanf
>I,lIo a., ,,,,,,, 49,, ,,,,,,1,,,,,,,
n"i 'io Ooiip""S nc S"'c my v"'pioS men
examining the compahy's DOCKS carry II
December. | first met Mcneil at the
Adams House, Boston, about December
Is. A meeting of the Marble COMPANY
directors was held there that day There
were present DR.. Nelson. Mr.. Mcneil, c
ii, Bacall and myself | made n partial re
port upon the condition of the books
stating that they were not in satisfactory
shape. 1t was voted to declare the office o
treasurer vacant, thereby deposing Mr.
W. w. Clark. Mr.. McNeill was chosel