The record-union., 1897-04-17

SOMERSWORTH On. H). April 16.-
While resisting the entry of two des-
perate and determined robbers, and dur
ing a heroic struggle to protect $iJ, 900
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 y.
Stickney was struck down and brutally
murdered near the desk which he had
occupied for years
After killing Stickney, the murderers
ransacked the vault, and fled with all
the cash. with the exception of few
gold pieces. AS near as can be esti-
mated, $4,000 was taken, but it is possi-
BILE the loss will considerably exceed this
sum, as none but the dead cashier knew
the exact amount that was in the in
Stitution at the time.
The robbers, after knocking Stickney
down with a black jack, cut his throat.
The most remarkable feature of the
robbery is that S100 900 in bonds of the
United States which We're 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 was any
thing wrong at the bank until nearly
O'Clock, or an hour after the murderous
work was done. The perpetrators had
ample time to escape, and this evening
scores of Deputy Sheriffs. Marshals. po-
lice and citizens are securing this section
of the State and the adjoining State of
oh, oi+ ie, i,,r
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
so completely and thoroughly did they
accomplish their robbery that only an
uncertain clue ana a very meager de-
scription was obtained.
The bank was beseiged by hundreds
when the news of the terrible affair be-
came known, and large numbers of peo-
pie came here from surrounding cities.
Had the robbers been apprehended soon
after the murder and robbery became
public it would have been difficult to
prevent a double lynching in the Gran
ite State. Great sympathy is expressed
for the family of the murdered man,
who, in addition to his position as cash
ier and director of the Great Falls Bank,
was Treasurer of several local organiza-
tions.
1t has always been custOmaryforC Cash
ier Stickney and the banks clerk, Mrs.
Parker Swaizey, to close the bank at l.
o'clock and not to reopen it until
O'Clock. To-day Mrs. Swaizey left her
desk at noon. The cashier, however, re-
manned looking over the banks ac-
counts and it is thought he was prepar-
ing to go out when the robbers entered.
The first suspicion that the bank had
been robbed was at two minutes to :,
when Frank P. Reed went up to the
staircase of the bank building and found
the thick plate glass in the outside. or
hall door of the bank, completely shat
tered He notified City Marshal Eaton,
and they broke in the door and found
evidences of a desperate 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
robbers having cut his throat. The head
was marked with several deep gashes
made by a heavy black jack, and the
skull was fractured. The body was
covered with blood, and the walls and
furniture bore additional evidences of
the terrible deed. Stickney had died
fighting desperately.
The first clew that the officers found
was persons who reported seeing man
hurrying up the hill, carrying a bag
heavily weighted over his shoulder. He
threw the bag behind q stonewall,
changed some of his clothes, and finally
got into the buggy driven by another
man. other persons reported seeing the
buggy, and in West Rochester a horse
and buggy were seen headed for Salmon
Falls River, which forms the Maine
State boundary. This outfit has mys-
teriously disappeared, despite the fact
that the whole section hereabouts is
being searched tonight.
Cabinet Meeting.