Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-17
THROAT CUT,
Horribly Brutal Murder
at SomersWorth, N. H.
Cashier Joseph Stickney Fourd
Dead in His Bank.
Head Nearly Severed from the
Body by Murderous Brutes.
Horrible Discovery Not Made Till
Some Time After the Deed.
Two Men Held on Suspicion by the
WaItham, Mass Officers.
Intense Excitement and Officers Are Earnest
" Hunting for Every Clue.

Somersworth, y. H.. April 16.-Whil'
resisting the entry of two desperat,
and determined robbers. and during {
heroic but fatal struggle to protect
$500 or more in money and securitie:
which lay in the compartments OF the
tpen vault of the Great Falls Nationa
Bank of Somersworth. this afternoon
rashier Joseph \. Stickney was STRUCK
Town and brutality murdered near the
iesk which he had occupied for years
After killing Stickney, the murderer;
cansacked the vault at will, no one be-
ng rear to modest them, and ned witt
all the cash 1t contained with the ex-
ception of a five dollar gold piece.
As near as can be estimated without
making a systematic examination OF the
banks books. about 5000 was taken. but
1t is probable that the loss viii consider
ably exceed this sum, and no one but the
dead cashier kn-w the exact amount that
was in the institution at the time. The
robbers after knocking Stickney down
WIKI Il blackjack, cut his throat.
The most remarkable feature of the
robbery is the fact that Sltn,0UD in bonds
If the United States. which were kept in
one Of the compartments Of the big vault
and which the robbers evidently examined
hastily We're not taken. Neither wera
ties of the bank. In fact nothing is miss
ing except the cash.
No one. was aware that there was any
thing wrong al the bank until o'cloc,
or nearly an hour after the murderous
work was done. The perpetrators had
ample time to escape and, this evening,
scores of deputy sheriffS. marSha.s. pol!ra
and citizens are securing this section OF
the state and the adjoining State OF
Maine. which from this city i just across
the Salmon Falls river. The men made
their visit to the bank at the busiest time
Of the DAY in the locality where the bank
is situated, and 50 completely and thor
oughly did they accomplish the robbery
that only an uncertain clue and very
meagre description of the men was OBJ
tanned, up to clock tonight.
The bank was besieged by hundreds.
who. when the news of the terrible affair
became known. and large numbers of peo-
pie came into the city from Berwick
Dover, Salmon Falls. Rollinsford, Roches-
GER and towns in this section. Had the
robbers been apprehended soon after the
murder and robbery became known, their
,dptors would have found il a difficult
task to prevent a double lynchins in the
Granite state.
For the first few hours Indignation was
intense but, tonight public feeling has in
A measure subsidized. Great sympathy is
expressed for the family of the murdered
man. who. in addition TO his position and
a director of the Great Falls Bank, was
city treasurer and was universally es-
termed wherever he was known
No occurrence in STAFFORD county. not
even excepting the murder of Deputy
Sheriff Smith by the outlaw Macarthur at
Il few years ago, has caused
such "A tremendous sensation in this sec
ton. The town is alive with people and
for miles around there is no other topic
The tragedy occurred during what is
known as the noon hour at the bank,
that is from Il until .. 1t has always
ton .t.xrf for W
the bank clerk, Mrs. Parker Swazey, to
close the bank at Il o'clock and not re-
open again until >. Today, Mrs. SwaZey
left her desk at noon and went home TO
Inner. She left the cashier looking over
the banks accounts. He usually re-
NAMED in the bank until the clerk re-
turned but il Is thought he was prepar-
ng to go. today. when the robbers en-
cred
The bank is situated in the center of the
business portion of the city and hundreds
,f people pass by at that time OF the
iav. The building is a two-story brick
mo ard stands on the corner of New
market and Prospect streets, the rear of
he structure abutting the side of steep
ill. The banking rooms are on the second
ioor of the building on the front side, but
he rear of the bank is on a level with
he hill. by which there Is second en-
rance.
1t is not known exactly what time the
,auk was entered. but 1t was evidently
between / and lis o'clock, as two sus-
,icious looking strangers, were seen go
ng up the hill not very far from the bank
IT 10 o'clock. One of them carried
,ag AS there We're no witnesses nut the
lead cashier and his murderers. 1t Is not
,novrf how the robbery was conducted, |
mi is is certain that the men lost very
title time in the bank. and their work
they fled with all possible |
taste. Il
The first suspicion that the bank had |
,een robbed was lbs when Mr.. Frank T. |
reed local merchant. went up the stair |
ase of the bank building and found that |
he thick plate glass in the front out |
Idle or hall doors of the bank were com
,IeIely shattered. the fragments lying |
bout the hall floor He had gone up for |
he purpose of completing some business
Nth Mr.. Stickney, but when ne found |
he door shattered he lnstlnctlVeiy knew |
hat something was wrong. he was con- |
;Jer:fbIy alarmed and without waiting TO |
,vestie':,te he hurried from the building
nd notified City Marshal Eaton The
alter RESPONDED as soon as ne was told
f Mr. Reeds discovery. Both men went
d stairs and attempted 20 open the door
ut il was securely locked. The city mar,
hal called the cashiers name several
mes but got no answer. lie Then broke
the door and they found thti nasper- I
tie struggle had taken place. AFTER some
urther difficulty they opened the inside
DOR of the bank which led from the out
de apartment used by patrons. to that
art behind the counter. 4 terrible sight
~ before them On the floor In Il great
DOL of blood was the lifeless body of
tickney. His head had been nearly
avered from the trunk, the. robbers hav-- !,