Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-26

i0a 81 bhha VA hiohsy III houSS. tiile
time Goldsmith was living at Medield, about
three quarters of mile from fathers house
Two days before the robbery father sent me
to Goldsmitas house to tell him that he
father wanted to see him right away. He
returned to fathers house with me at the
time. Cromwell was at fathers house at
that time. Goldsmith and Cromwell and
father were at fathers house all the after
noon, planning to rob Messenger. l was not
present when the men planned the robbery
but after they had talked the thing over,
father called me into the room and told me
what had got to do.
They had planned to rob the old man on
the night of the second day following. Faith
er told me, in the presence of Cromwell and
Goldsmith, that they were going to Norfolk
and go through old Messengers house. He
said he knew that there was considerable
money hid there. That afternoon father,
Cromwell and Goldsmith had planned to go
together from fathers house to do the job.
Father told me that was to hitch up the
team after they had gone and drive up past
Messengers house to the railroad, or 90 up
by Albert Morses house, where they would
come after they got the old mans money
Father told me at that time to hold my
tongue for he meant business, and had got
to do as he told me. while lived, and that
was all there was about it.
This was their plan that afternoon. In
stead Of following out this plan father aud
Cromwell went over to Goldsmith's house the
next day, and father changed the plan and
arranged for Goldsmith and Cromwell, on
the afternoon before the robbery in the eve
ming, to take their guns and go off over the
fields and woods if they were hunting,
and bring up at dusk in the woods near Mes
sengcrs house, and get the lay of things
Messengers house was four or five miles
from fathers. They were to come out of
the woods at about nine o'clock, on a wood
road leading to the main travelled road,
where father would meet them and they
would go and do the job.
dense wood and on the other an open field
Goldsmith and Cromwell were to keep hid in
the woods and keep an eye out on Messen-
gers house. On the afternoon of the rob-
berry in the evening, father told me that he
and were to go with the team 50 as to
get to Messengers little after nine o'clock.
On the way going, father told me
to drive into the wood road Ga road from the
main travelled road ran into the woods just
before reaching Messengers house from
Medfield way,) hitch the horse and come out
into the main road and stay there until after
they had got the old mans money and then
come back. Before got to the wood we
met Goldsmith and Cromwell. Father got
out of the team and Goldsmith said "Messen-
ger is all alone. No one is round. We
have examined the premises and they are
clear for us" Father didn't get i'll again.
Father and drove out in a double seated
covered carriage, with black horse which
father owned Father, Goldsmith and Crom-
well started out on the main travelled road
toward Mr.. Messengers house at about nine
O'Clock. Father brought along in the team
a valise which the men carried with them.
1t contained masks, DISCUSSES, revolvers,
knives, dark lanterns and a full kit of burg
lars tools. About eleven they came back to
where was went and got the team and
came out into the main travelled road. Faith
er Cromwell and Goldsmith got into the team
and father took the reins and drove rapidly
towards Medfield. heard the following
conversation between father, Goldsmith and
Cromwell, as we drove back. Father said,
Messenger bad the most grit of any man
ever tried to rob He wouldn't tell where
he had his money and said he would die first "
| further found from their talk that the
three men went into the honse together. I'M
mediately after they entered the house they
tied Messenger to bedstead in his OWL
room and tried to make him tell where his
money was but he would not tell. TheI
they gagged him, aud took the gag out of his
mouth, after a short time. to give him one
more chance to tell him where he had nls
money. Meanwhile they had been hunting
for his money and found some, but hadn'
got what they knew he had. Father sais
Messenger stubbonly refused to tell where
his money was, after they took the gag ou
of his mouth. They gagged him again an'
left him. They hunted high and low all owe
the house. They got something over slsoo
and they said they found it in bureau draw
er that was locked, which they broke open
They said they left Mr.. Messenger at abou
quarter to eleven. They had been in th'
house nearly two hours before
they found his money. Father Cromwell
and Goldsmith divided the money in the car
riave. Goldsmith said, 1--WE might have Ia
ken the gag out of his mouth. No one live
within quarter of mile of the old man.
Father and Cromwell said they didn't car
If the old cuss did die, and that it was hi
own fault as he might have told where hi
money was. Father drove rapidly to Med
field. to Goldsmith's house, and left Gold
fmith there. Father, Cromwell and I wen
home. 1t was somewhere about 1880 ~he
we 90, home Mr.. Messenger was foun'
dead the next morning, tied to his bed an
gagged.
Regarding Rufus Goldsmith whom Charlie
Stain connects with the Messenger murder
| Stain saws he lived at MedHeld at the time o
j the murder. He says he was member Q
the celebrated Stain gang and is now know