The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-04-22
BANK MURDER At NOON.
Cashier J. A. Stickney, Of Somers-
worth, N. H., Killed by Robber.
THE CRIME CAREFULLY PLANNED.


National Bank at the Noon Hour
When Found He Was Dead, wieh His
Throat Cut---He Had Been Beaten by
His sAssailant-..Robbers Secured S450O.
SoMERswoRrH. n. Il. (speciaD.--While re-
sisting the entry o, two determined robbers,
and during heroic struggle to protect
$780, 900 in money and securities which
were in the compartments of the open vault
ofthe Great Falls National Bank, of Somers-
worth, Friday afternoon, Joseph A Stick
ney, the cashier, was brutality murdered be-
side the desk which he had occupied for
many years. After numbering Mr.. stickney
the robbers ransacked the vault at will, no
one being near, and fiei with all the cash 1t
contained. about s4500.
The murderers carried of their booty In
plain view OF several well-known residents
OF the place. They left the bag containing
the money, the greater part OF which was IN
gold. in the orchard OF DR.. John Hayes. COW
cred with coat. Several persons looked
over the fence and saw the coat which had
the wealth under II. but were afraid to touch
It. They suspected robbery, but not mur-
der.
The murierers returned to the orchard
fence one hour afterward With team and
took the money away unmolested. They
carried II several hundred yards to the place
where horse was hitched In plain view OF
Arthur Stackpole, ateamster, who was stand
ing in his barn door only few rods away.
It Is generally believet here that whoever
committed the murder knew the cashier, and
that they killed him for fear OF being identi-
fed. Several persons who saw the men with
the bag say they were strangers, and one OF
them looked like an italian.
One Of the most remarkable features OF
the robbery Is the fact that Sl00, 600 In
United States bonds which were kept In one
OF the drawers OF the big vault, and which
the robbers evidently examined hastily, were
not taken. Neither were any OF the nego-
table paper and securities OF the bank. No
one was aware Of the crime until about 2
o'clock D. M, nearly an hour after the muir
derous work was done.
The bank was bes eyed by hundreds when
the fact became generally known, and great
numbers Of persons came into the city from
Berwick, Dover, Salmon Falls, Rollinsford,
Rochester and other towns in this section.
For the first few hours Indignation was In
tense. but public feeling has in measure
subsided. Iu addition to being cashier and
director Of the Great Falls Bank Mr.. Stick
ney was City Treasurer.
1t has been the custom for Mr.. Stickney
and the bank clerk, Mrs. Parker Swazey. to
close the bank at twelve o'clock every day
and 90 to luncheon, re-opentng again at two
o'clock. On the day OF the robbery when
Mrs. Swazey left her desk the cashier was
looking over the banks accounts. he usually
remained in the bank until the clerk re.
hut Ia "a uya
90 out when the robbers entered. The bank
is situated In the business portion OF the
city, and dozens OF persons pass at that time
OF day.
The first suspicion that the bank had besn
robbed was aroused at two O'Clock, when
Frank P. Reed, a merchant, started into the
bank and found that the thick plate glass IN
the front outside hal been shattered. With
out waiting to investigate he notified City
Marshal Eaton, and together they broke In
the door. They found evidences OF desper-
ate struggle. On the floor was the body OF
Stickney. His head had been nearly severed
from his body and was marked with several
deep gashes made with blackjack, and the
skull was fractured.
The 1rst clew that the police found was OBJ
tanned from persons who saw the two men
drive away with the stolen money, and from
West Rochester report comes that dark
sorrel horse, attached to buggy, passed
there, headed for Salmon Pals River. which
forms the Maine State boundary. This out
fit has mysteriously disappeared.
Physicians who have examined Mr.. Stick
ney's body say that 1t Is apparent the victim
was pounded to death. Another fact
brought ou.:, too, is that the weapon used to
cut his throat was medium-slze knife, the
blade Of which was very dull and left deep,
Irregular wound.
Mt. Stickney was wealthy, and was well
known In New England banking circles. he
had been cashier Of the Great Falls National
Bank for long term OF years, and had been
with the bank much longer period.
The affair recalls an attempt to rob the
same bank five years ago. MI. Sttckney was
then gagged AMI bound. The vault was
locked, however, and the men got nothing
for thar rainq