The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-17

resisting the entry of two desperate
and determined robbers, and during a
heroic struggle TO protect $4,000 or
more in money and securities in the
compartments of the open vault of the
Great Falls National bank. of Somers-
worth, this afternoon, Cashier Joseph
A. Stickney was struck down and
brutally murdered near the de 'hich
he had occupied for years.
After killing Stickney. the no. ierel :
ransacked the vault and fled with all
the cash with the exception of few
gold pieces.
AS near as can be estimated $4,000
was taken, but ii is possible that the
loss will exceed this sum, as none bul
the dead cashier knew the exact
amount that was in the institution at
the time.
The robbers. after knocking Stickney
down with a blackjack, cut his
throat
The most remarkable feature of the
robbery is that 800. 600 in bonds of the
United States, which were kept in one
of the drawers of the big vault, and
which the robbers examined hastily,
were not taken. Neither was any of the
negotiable paper and securities of the
bank-in fact, nothing is missing ex-
cept the cash.
No one was aware that there W.
anything wrong at the bank until
nearly 2 o'clock, or an hour aILel -
murderous work was done. The rob-
bers had ample time TO escape. and
scores of deputy sheriffs. marsh
police and citizens are securing this
section of the state and the adjoining
state of Maine. which is Just across
the Salmon ans TN Ell iron. a.,
The men made their visit to the bank
at the busiest time of the day in the
locality where the bank is situated
and so completely and thoroughly did
they accomplish the robbery that only
an uncertain clue and a very meagre
description was obtained. The bank
was surrounded by hundreds when the
news of the terrible affair became
known, and large numbers came from
surrounding cities.
Had the robbers been apprehended
soon after the murder and robbery be-
came public it would have been diff
cult TO prevent a lynching in the Gran
lite state.
Great sympathy is expressed for the
family of the murdered man, who, in
addition to his position as cashier and
director of the Great Falls bank. was
treasurer of several local organiza-
tions.
1t has always been customary for
Cashier Stickney and the banks clerk,
Mrs. Parker SwaZey, to close the bank
at u o'clock and not TO reopen il I'M
til o'clock. Today Mrs. Swazey left
her desk at noon. The cashier, how
ever, remained looking over the bank
accounts, and it is thought he was
preparing to go out when the robbers
entered. The first suspicion that the
bank had been robbed was at 1:5S,
when Mr.. Frank p. Reed went up the
staircase of the bank building and
found the thick plate glass in the outer
door or hall door of the bank COM
Marshal Eaton and they broke in the
door and found evidences of a desper-
ate struggle. On the floor in a great
pool of blood was the lifeless body of
Stickney. His head had been nearly
severed from the body.
The head was marked with several
deep gashes and the skull was frac-
tured. The body was covered with
blood and the walls and furniture bore
additional evidences OF the terrible
deed. Stickney had been fighting des-
perately.
The first clew that the officers found
was from persons who reported seeing
man hurrying up the hill. carrying a
bag, heavily weighted. over his Shout
der. He threw the bag behind a stone
wall, changed some of his clothes, and
finally got into the buggy driven by
another man. Other persons reported
seeing the buggy and in West Riches
ter a horse and buggy were seen
headed for Salmon Falls river. The
outfit has mysteriously disappeared.
despite the fact that the whole section
hereabouts is being searched tonight