Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-23
THE NEWS IN BRIEF
Cashier Murdered

Aud the National Bank at somers,vor,h.
N. H., Robbed of over s4OOOat Mid
day--Joseph Kelley, the Alleged MUIR
derer, Captured In Montreal.
One of the most startling crimes New
England has ever known was committed
Friday at Somersworth, N. H., when 10
scph A. Stickney was murdered in the
Great Falls national bank, of which he
was cashier, and the institution robbed of
upwards of $4,000.
The bank is situated in the centre of the
business portion of the city and dozens of
people pass by at that time of the dav.
The building is a two-story brick, the rear
abutting the side of hill. The banking
rooms are on the second floor, front side.
but the rear is on a level with the hill, by
which there was a second entrance.
1t has been customary for Cashier Stick
uey and the bank clerk, Miss Swazey. to
close the bank at II o'clock and not re6pen
IL until 2. Miss Swazey went out at the
usual time, and left the cashier looking
over the banks accounts. Two minutes
before the time for re0pening the bank a
merchant went up the stairway of the
building and found the thick plate glass
shattered in the front hall. He was alarm
ed and at once notified City Marshal Eaton.
They returned together and broke open
the door, and found within evidences of a
desperate struggle. On the floor in a pool
of blood was the lifeless body of Stickney.
His head had been nearly severed from the
trunk. The head was marked with sever
al deep gashes made by heavy blackjack
and the skull was fractured. The body
was covered with blood and the walls and
furniture bore additional evidence of the
terrible deed. 1t could be seen at a glance
that Stckney had not died without fight
ing desperately. The outside door had
been locked by Mr.. Stickney after Miss
Swazey's departure, and when the robber
found he could not open it smashed the
plate glass which formed the upper half of
it. He then crawled through the hole in
the door. The inside door which led into
the apartment behind the counter was
fastened by heavy iron bar. The door
was forced and the cashier attacked.
After killing Stickney the robber ran
sacked the vault and took all the cash that
it contained. United States bonds valued
at 100000 which we're in one of the draw
ers hastily examined were not taken, and
other negotiable papers and securities of
the bank were not touched.
say that it is apparent that the victim was
pounded to death. The affair recalls an
attempt to rob the same bank five years
ago at which time Mr.. Stickney was gag
ged and bound The vault was locked,
however, and the men got nothing for
their pains. Mr.. Stickney was nearly 20
years old, and had been cashier of the
bank about % years. He was wealthy and
was well known in New England banking
circles. He leaves a wife, son and two
daughters.
1t was at first supposed that the crime
was committed by two men. A man was
seen to go under some trees and deposit a
package during the noon hour, and in a
short time he returned for the package and
drove away. Evidence came to light with
in short time that tended to show that
Joseph f. Kelley, "a, was the murderer.
He is the son of estimable people in Ames-
bury. Mass, but he has a bad record, and
has served term in the Concord reforma-
tory for breaking and entering. He came
to Somersworth three years ago, and for a
time was a clerk in hotel there, and later
was connected with hotels in Berwick and
Harpswell, Maine. He opened small
jewelry store opposite the Great tails
bank few months ago, and has often
been in the institution. He hired a team
at a livery stable at l O'Clock, drove to
Milton and left it, and departed on the
cars after buying an overcoat and hat.
The officers were soon hot on his trail, and
special locomotive was chartered to fol-
low him to North Conway. The officers
believed that Kelley went to Canada. A
hat which he had worn was found in the
bank, and they also found there part of
a wrapping paper, the other piece being in
krlley's store. A forged order was found
among the banks papers, requesting Mr..
Stickney to give $500 in postage stamps to
Kelley. The order was in the name of the
Berwick, Me-, postmaster.
Later-KeIIey COnfesses That He MUIR
dered Stickney---stOIen Funds Re-
covered.
Kelley made a full confession Tuesday,
and said that the story of an accomplice
was fabrication. He said he had been
planning the robbery for some time. He
went to the bank with a bundle to ask the
cashier to put it in the vault. When the
cashier met him at the door he knocked
him insensible with jimmy, and then cut
his throat with a razor. He threw the ra-
zor away in an orchard, where he hid the
money taken from the vault. He went to
his boarding place and ate dinner, paid his
landlady $50, placed the stolen funds
which were in pillow case in a dress suit
case, secured livery team and drove to
Milton. He took the train to Sanborn'
vile, and from there boarded another train
on which he went to Cookshire Junction
Quebec He sorted over the money anc
hid the silver at st. Polycarpe Junction
Quebec. He then walked to St. Justin d'
Newton, where he remained at hotel un
Ill he took the Canadian Pacific train fol
Montreal. He bought the women's clothes
at St. Justin de Newton. When he LEI
the disreputabe house with the officers HI
said; Goodbye, girls; the next tim'
yop hear of me 1t will be at the end OF
rope" He accompanied the officers u
ST, Polycarpe junction Tuesday and tn
$50 in silver was recovered. There /
still 500 missing, for which Kelley ha
no, accounted.
Judge Hart of Chelsea, Mass, Shot Him
self.
Col. VIM. H. Hart, associate justice o
the Chelsea, Mass. police court, committee
suicide in the Lynn woods Friday by SHOOT
ing through the head. He won his mill
tary title by gallant service in the CIV
war After the war he was employed Il
the customs service at Boston, but foun
time to take the law course at Harvard
tie was one of the most prominent citizen
OF Chelsea, aud his tragic end was a grea
shock to the people of that city. he lei
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