Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-26
| AN UGLY BURGLAR
At Oakland Opened Fire on
Sheriff Hersom
And Escaped, Though Surrounded
by a Crowd Of Armed Men.
4 6enuias Sensa!ios- Attempt 10
6ursIarizs Ps.t 0aiee.

OtkLASb, May 25.-( Special. -
Wednesday night, between II and IL
o'clock, the pos,oifice was broken into BY a
burglar, eyids ntly inexperienced in the bus
mess, but smart enough to escape from the
sheriff and several other persons surround
ing the building at the time. About II
O'Clock Dr. Jadkins, dentist, having
rooms over the office. and Mr.. Albert
out the window noticed a man walk up and
back by the postoitice, closely examining
the building. This was repeated several
| time, the man also examining the back of
| the Office.
The occupants of DIR. Jahkins' Office i'm
mediately mistru.ted the actions of the in
/ divIdusl OUTSIDE, but could not get out TO
warn the police without announcing their
presence to the burglar. Finally the man
started for Blaisdeifs stone works about -
, rods down the street where he succeeded in
stealing bar to aid in forcing open the
window. Taking advantage of this move,
| Judkins procured Sheriff lIersom, and the
two, with Mr.. Swain, surrounded the build
| ing.
| When Sheriff Hersom arrived, he found
| the window on the north side of the build
| ing partly forced open and supposed that
| the man had entered hy this window when
in reality he entered by the west side
| ifersom therefore stationed himself on the
| north side placing Swain on the east end
Judkins on the west
| BY this time the fellow had drilled a hole
in the safe and was preparing to burst it
| open. As Judkins was going down to the
NJ. c. X. X. track on the west side of the
| office he was detected by the thief, who
opened fire upon him. Sheriff Hersom i'm
mediately returned fire, but the shot strlk-
| ing the SILL caused no damage. Jud-
kins meanwhile, not being armed, retreated
behind box car. and il is thought that the
burglar took this opportunity and escaped
| from the window left unguarded. Think
| ing that they had their prisoner,
word was sent to Postmaster Stacy, to
come down and unlock the door. When
Mr.. Stacy arrived, Mr.. IIersom with Ian
tern in one hand and revolver in the other,
entered the room only to find the prisoner
had departed.
Teams were sent out to scour the sur
rounding country. and try to obtain some
clew of the escaped burglar. Mr.. Walter
| Goodwin WAS sent to Sidney, Mr.. Eugene
Mills to Fairfield, Mr.. O. NJ. Sibley to
Waterville aud W j. .Judkins to South
| Belgrade. while Mr.. lIersom boarded the
early morning train going West to try and
| find some trace along the road. The
| searches were fruitless and not the slightest
| trace was found.
His tools, consisting of bit
stock with necessary attachments
and dark lantern were left behind. This
man was thought to have arrived on the
1.i5 Y. NJ. train going east, and to have an
accomplice, but as no trace of another per-
son has been found this story cannot be
vouched for. The description given by the
| conductor on the evening train compares
/ exactly with one given by Mr.. j. Il. Harris,
| cashier of the Mesalonskee National Bank,
who saw the man in Oakland Monday morn
ind.
He describes the man as a short, thick
set man, with a small black mustache and
a derby, exactly like one found by llersom
in the morning. Mr.. Harris was perform
ing his customary duties and noticed The
man come up the street and stop before the
bank, and after standing there few min
utes turned around and walked away. Its
the general opinion that the man is not far
from Oakland. and may be hiding in the
woods for the present.
TN the same night he entered Mr.. btis
Bickford's stable. across the track from the
postutfce, and took two horse blankets,
probably to throw over the safe and prevent
the pieces from scattering and to deaden
he sound.