Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-17
G-s FOUND DEAD AT HIS POST. A Bank Cashier Makes a Desl
 perate Fight TO SAVE THE BANKS FUNDS
  But Loses His Life in the Effort-After Secur- ing the Cash the Murderers Fled
 No Clues.
TO SAVE THE BANKS FUNDS

Somersworth, N. H., April 16-While resisting the entry of two desperate and determined robbers and during a futile struggle to protect st5o,O0O or more in money and securities in the compartment lof the open vault of the Great Falls Ma tional bank, of Somensworrth, this after noon, Cashier Joseph I. Sickney was murdered near the desk which he had oc- cupied for years. After killing Stickney the murderers ransacked the vault and fled with all the cash it contained, with the exception of few five-dollar gold pieces. As near as can be estimated, about 5000 was eaken, but 1t is possible that the loss will considerably exceed this sum, as no one but the dead cashier knew the exact amount that was in the institution at the time. The robbers, after knocking Sticluney down with a black jack, cut his throat. The most rema rk- able feature of the robbery is that $100,- were kept in one of the drawers of the vault, and which ths robbers evidently examined hastily, were not taken. Neither was any of the negotiable paper. and securities of dhe bank; in fact, noth- ing is missing except the cash.
 No one was aware that there was any thing wrong at the bank until nearly 9 o'clock, or an hour after the muderous work was done. The perpetrators had ample time to escape.
 This evening scores of deputy yheriffS, marshals, police and citizens are securing this section of the state and Madne, which, from this city, is just across sihe Salmon river. The men made their visit at the bank at the busiest time of the day in the locality where the bank is sit- ua.ed, and so completely and thoroughly did they accomplish the robbery thar cGlly an uncertain clue and a very meagre de- scrfption of them was obtainable. Had the robbers been apprehended soon after the robbery and murder becam me public it would have been difficult to prevent a double lynching in the Granbe State.
 The murdered man, in addition to his position as cashier and director of the Great Falls bank, was its treasurer. It had always been customary for Cashier Stickney and the bank clerk, Mrs. Parker Swazey to close the bank at 12 o'clock and not reopen it until 2. Today Mrs Swazey left her desk at noon. The cash fer, however, remained looking over the banks accounts, and 1t is thought he was preparing to go out when the rob bens entered
 It is not known exactly what time the bank was entered, but it was evidently. between 12 and o'clock. as two strangersl were seen going up the hill near tlhal bank at 20. MT. Frank B. Reed a l9-' cal merchant, was the first to discover the crime. He went up the staircas se' of the bank building at ? o'clock and found the thick plate glass in the hall door com pletely shattered. He was considerably alarmed and without waiting to invss-. tigate he hurried from the building and notified City Marshall Eaton. The hat ter responded at once. They broke in the door and then found evidences of a des- perate struggle. On othe floor in great pool of blood was the. lifeless body of Sticzriay His head had been nearly sev- cred from the body. The robbers had cut his throat and the head was marked with several deep g2siles from a 3h@avy black jack and the skull was fractured The body was covered with blood, and the walls and furniture bore additional evidence. of. the terribla deed. Sticliney had died fighting desperately.
 Waltham, Mass. April 16.-Con Harti- gan, the New Eng land ex-amateur 125 pounds boxing 9eha mp'on, and Johnny Briggs. wera arrested this afternoon on suspicion of being concerned in the Teel robbery of. We tuesday night. PTha off, cers had arcely-completed the search Of these two men, which revealed -$Sa and some eounterfait coin, when telegram was received from the mayor of S5mers- worth, N,4 H. 2skias.. that these men be aporahendsda The first telegram was followed in. a few minutes by second ard that in turn, by, a third, all urging the police to use their utmost endeavoTs to secure the men, The .cnnffd rate cfn was identified beyond doubt as having t
 Aftsr, his aSTest Hartigan is .sasd to have admitted td the .pollca thst he had heen- in, Some tsKorth stoday.s He Stated that both, hs' and Briggs went there on WednesdaX...-, but was positive in hts s.aten1e1t that both Of them left Soners- worth at 10 o'clock this morningafgoing direct to Boston. The police have not as yet found any <tSa sgage belonging to;men
 BriggssiS described as being of "a thar slight build. and weighing about 140 pounds, When arrested he had on an en- tire ne-V suit of clothing, light overcoat and light felt hat.
 Tha first clue was obtained from, Mrs. Joshua Smith, who lives near the bank. and Dudley, ,Cheney,swho reported seeing 2 man Of dark comrlexi'n hurry up the hill carrying bag fieavi1v wsighte1 ever h's shoul9eraHChehev saw tho nnaa throw the hag z behinsi g. stonewall. change s1me of his. Glothes and fnlasly get intosa buzz. gv, driven, by arcther man. which start ed up tfise'hf1f. The bag was also tskan. Others peSrile rSnSrted teeing the buegv and in. West Rochester q dark s,rrel horse and buggy were observed he,7drd for Salmnn's Falls river, which forms the Main street boundary This outfit has mysterious1y disappahre5 despite the fact that the whole section hereabouts is being ssasTfched t itiFght.s
 MT. Stir,Sney's family consisted of him, self. aewifss ard tivo'd 4aighters He was wealthy and we'll known i7 bankina. cir c'es in New Engl-n3- Hs had been cashier of the Great Falls National bank for .oveis twenty-f years.
 z ~----->---- --------- -----------