News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1897-11-03
THE BARRE BANK ROBBERY.
An Old, but Interesting story. Told Ane,

An Old, but Interesting story, Told Anew.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Bailey of Wells
River have just celebrated their gold
en- wedding. Apropos to the event,
the story of a famous robbery is told
anew.
On July Z, 1875, the national bank
of Barre was robbed byfour men and
about S140O in unsigned bills Sc
cured The house of the cashier,
Charles A. King, was entered at one
in the morning; both the cashier and
his wife we're heavily handcuffed and
Mr.. King was escorted to the bank
to open the safe. He assured the
robbers that the safe had time lock,
but they would not believe him.
They found this out when they
reached the bank, and all he could do
for them was to open the door of the
vault. Here they found a lot of I'M
signed bills that had Just come from
Washington.
Early the next morning Sheriff
Bailey heard of the robbery and was
also informed that two men had been
seen in Piermont, n. HI. He i'm
mediately boarded a train and
watched every part of the road for
strange men. When the train reached
Rumney two men boarded it, and
one of them acted very suspiciOusly.
Bailey took his eyes off from him for
moment and when he glanced back
the man was gone. Bailey jumped to
his feet and running through the car
saw the stranger jump from the rear
platform while the train was running
at full speed. 1t took sometime to
stop the train and when Bailey
reached the spot his man was gone.
For two hours and a half he
searched all around the adjoining
country, frequently coming across
the robbers trail and then loOsing
it. At last he saw in a clump of
bushes his man lying fiat on the
ground. Bailey made spring for
him and landed on the mans body
In the scuffle which followed, Bailey
handcutfed him and Peter Curlpy, one
of the boldest of the gang, was
caught. There was plenty of evidence
to convict him, though he stoutIy de.
MED his guilt, and after trial at
: Montpelier, he was sentenced to a
! long term in states prison.
Curleys wife came up to visit him
in the Montpelier jail, and hot words
were the result of the interview. She
+ finally got so mad that she promised
to take the officer to New York and
point out the rest Of the gang. De-
, tective Virgins of Boston went to
= New York with her, and a few days
, later Bailey and cashier King Joined
: them, and they soon located Miles,
. the leader of the gang, and one of the
= most daring criminals in thecountry
, For two weeks Miles lawyer tried
to tire out the Vermont officers by
serving writs Of habeas corpus. After
. all these had been set aside by the
y court, and just as Bailey was cross
. ing the room to arrest his man
Miles lawyer served q writ OF Ger
y y tiorari upon Bailey and Virgins
" This would take the case to a higher
= court and give Miles several months
g freedom. Bailey feigned despair anC
o told Miles that he would give it W
= and go back to Vermont.
o When the case came up next day
T. as neither Virgins nor Bailey wer'
is there, Mr. Butler got the writ sci
J. aside. Papers of arrest were theT
Immediately secured, a two-seateC
team, warranted good for so miles
at a fast speed engaged, and Bailey
IS and Virgins drove to Ludlow jail
S, Before Miles knew what had happened
lie he was being driven through tn
E. streets of New York at front break
"a neck speed with Bailey on the sea
/ looking for any trouble and Wiggin
Is on the back seat, handcuffed ant
lie ironed at the ankles to the prisoner
+ Miles yelled Murder, police" bu
lie was informed by the officer that h
m wouldsmash his head if he opened hi
20 mouth again.
ID The party drove clear to Stamford
Is Conn, making the distance in les
than two hours. Miles talked yer,
little, insisted that there was a bi,
mistake somewhere, and said Bale,
;e had used 9 sharp practice" to ge
II him out of the state. He was take
E to Montpelier, tried and sentenced t.
y a long term of state prison at Wind
a. sor.
- Such, in brief, is the story of tn
e' capture of the Barre bank robbers
u all of whom were brought to justic
T. by Mr.. Bailey's efforts. Though MI
y Bailey possessed no special lega
" training, he had Yankee tact an
a; plenty of sand" and it is somewha
7u remarkable that since he ran dow
=. Miles and his gang, there has no
u | hnan q hank rnhhnru in Nnrnnnt