The Penn's Grove record., 1897-04-23
BANK MURDER At NOON.
Cashier J. A. Stickney, Of Somers.
worth, N. H., Killed by a Robber.
THEcRlME CAREFULLY PLANNED.

The Victim Was Alone in the Great Fall.
National Bank at the Noon Hour
When Found He Was Dead, with His
Throat Cut---Be Had Been Beaten By
HIS Assailant---Robbers Secured $4,000,
SoMERswoRTH, N. H. Special. while re-
sistlng tho entry Of two determined robbers.
IND during a heroic struggle to protect
$3.50. 600 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 brutally murdered be-
side the desk which he had occupied fol-
many years. After numbering Mr.. stickney
her robbers ransacked the vault at will, nc
one being near, and flel with oil the cash 1t
contained, about $4500.
The murderer5 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. SOW
cred with n coat. Several persons looked
over the fence and saw the coat which had
the wealth under 1t. but were afraid TO touch
It. They suspected robbery, but not muir.
der.
The murderers returned to the orchard
fence one hour afterward with a team and
o the money ava unmolested. They
carried 1t several hundred yards to the place
where a horse was hitehed in plain view OF
Arthur S~tackpole, ateamster, who was stand
ing in his barn door only a few rods away.
1t Is generally believed here that whoever
committed the murder knew the cashier, and
that they killed him for fear of being identi-
aaA 0arraraI sNaraAro r1lo on ~, Nhn rnn r,.s1
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 500 900 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 p. M, nearly an hour after the muir
derous work was done.
The bank was besieged by hundreds when
the fact became generally known, aud 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 q measure
subsidized. In addition to being cashier and
a director of the Great Falls Bank Mr.. Stick
ney was City Treasurer.
It has been the custom for Mr.. Stickney
and the bank clerk, Mrs. Parker Swazoy, to
close the bank at twelve O'clock every day
and go to luncheon, r%e-opening 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-
turned, but II Is thought he was preparing to
go 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 been
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 had been shattered. With
out waiting to investigate he notified City
Marshal Eaton, and together they broke in
the door. They ounde evidences OF q desper.
ate struggle. On the floor was the body Of
Stickney. His head had been nearly severed
from his body and was markell with several
deep gashes made with a blackjack, and the
skull was fractured.
The first clew that the police found was OBJ,
tained from persons who saw the two men
drive away with the stolen money, and from
West Rochester u report comes that q DARK
sorrel horse, attached TO a buggy, passed
there, headed for Salmon Falls River. which
forms the Maine State boundary. This out.
fit has mysteriously disappeared.
Physicians who have xamine Mr.. Stick
ney's body say that 1t is apparent the victim
was pounded to death. Another fact
brought oui, too, is that the weapon used tc
cut his throat was a medium-size knife, the
blade OF which was very dull and left o deep
irregular wound.
Mr.. Stickney was wealthy, and was well
known In New England banking circles. He
had been cashier Of the Great Falls National
Bank for a long term of years, and had been
with the bank a much longer period.
The affair recalls an attempt to rob the
same bank five years g o Mr.. S;ickney was
then gagged AMI bound. The vault was
locked, however, and the men got nothing
for their pains.