Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-20
A BRAVE MANS FATE
Cashier Of a New Hampshire Bank
Slain by Robbers.

Slain by Robbers.
DEFENDS HIS TRUST WITH HIS LIFE.
His Efforts to snve the Banks Money
Result In His Own Death-The
Murde1ers Escape with About
10000 in Cash.
Somersworth, N. H., April 17.-While
resisting the entry of two desperate
and determined robbers, and during a
heroic but futile struggle to protect
$4,000 or more in money and securi-
ties in the compartments of the open
vault of the Great Falls national bank
Of Somersworth, Friday afternoon,
Cashier Joseph A. Stickney was struck
down aud brutally murdered near the
desk which he had occupied for years.
After killing Stic'ney, the nurderers
ransaeked the vault and fled with all
the cash it contained with the exception
Of five-dollar gold piece. AS near as
can be estimated, about $4,000 was
taken, but 1T is possible that the loss will
considerably exceed this sum, as no one
but the dead cashier knew the exact
amount that was in the institution at
the time.
The robbers after knocking Stick
ney down with blackjack, cut his
throat. The most remarkable feature
of the robbery is the fact that 100000
in bonds of the United States, which
were kept in one of the drawers of the
big vault and which the robbers evil
IDENTIFY examined hastily, were not
taken. Neither was any Of the negoti-
able paper and securities of the bank
in fact nothing is missing except the
cash.
No one was aware that there was any
thing wrong at the bank until nearly
two O'Clock, or an hour after the muir
derous work was done. The perpe-
traitors had ample time to escape, and
scores of deputy sheriffs, marshals,
police and citizens are securing this
section OF the state and the adjoining
state of Maine, which from this city is
just across the Salmon Falls river. The
men made their visit to the bank at
the busiest time of the day in the To-
cality where the bank is situated, and
SO completely and thoroughly did they
accomplish the robbery that only an UNI
certain clew and very meager descrip-
ton Of them was obtainable.
The bank was besieged by hundreds
when the news Of the terrible affair be-
came known, and large numbers of
people came here from surrounding
cities. Had the robbers been appre-
hended soon after the murder and rob-
berry became public, it would have been
found difficult to prevent double
lynching in the Granite state. Great
sympathy is expressed for the family
of the murdered man, who in addition
to his position US cashier and director
of the Great Falls bank, was treasurer.
Died Fighting for His Trust.
It has always been customary for
Cashier Stickney and the bank clerk,
Mrs. Parker Swazey, to close the bank
at IL o'clock and not reopen it until two.
Friday Mrs. Swazey left her desk at
noon. The cashier, however, remained
looking over the banks accounts and it
is thought he was preparing to 60 out
when the robbers entered. The first
suspicion that the bank had been robbed
was at two minutes to two, when Mr..
Frank p. Reed went up the staircase OF
the bank building and found the
thick plate glass in the front outside or
hall door Of the bank completely shat
tered. He notified City Marshal Eaton
aud they broke in the door and found
evidences Of desperate struggle. On the
Aoorina great pool of blood was the life
less body of SticlSney. His head hac
been nearly severed from the body, the
robbers having cut his throat. The
head was marked with several deeI
gashes made by heavy blackjack anc
the skull was fractured. The body was
covered with blood and the walls an6
furniture bore additional evidence O.
the terrible deed. Stickney had dice
fighting desperately.
| There were undoubtedly two mer
concerned in the affair. The outside
door had been locked by Mr.. Stickney
after Mrs. Swayze's departure and whe1
the robbers found they could not ope,
1t they smashed the plate glass which
formed the upper half of it. The mel
then crawled through the hole made il
the door. The inside door which LEI
into the apartment behind the counte,
was fastened by a heavy iron bar
Marks have been found showing tina
one Of the men had endeavored to rails
the iron bar, and Cashier Stickney en-
deavored to keep the bar in its place
The robber was too much for the cash
Ter, for the door was forced. 1t was thel
that the cashier made his last stand ant
after u short but heroic struggle wa.
felled.
| Physicians who have examined tn
body say thatit is apparent that the vic
tim was pounded to death. Anothe
fact brought out at the autopsy is tina
the weapon used to cut the victim
throat was a medium-sized knife, tn,
blade of which was very dull and lef
deep and irregular wound. Mr.. Stick
ney's family consisted of his wife.
son and two daughters. He was wealth,
and well known in New England bank
Ing circles.
Awaits Governors Signature.
Austin, Tex, April 1.-THE hous
took up on Friday and rushed through
the senate bill taxing sleeping and din
ing car companies ten cents per mile o
,-l 60 M, - 80, -,