New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-17
ROBBERS KILL A CASHIER.
HORRIBLE CRIME IN THE GREAT FALLS
BANK OF SOMERSwORTH. y. II.
JOSEPH A. sTICKNEY FOUND DEAD on THE FLOOR
WITH HIS SKULL. CRUSHED AND HIS THROAT
cJT-THE MCRDERERs NOT
YET CAUGHT.

Soa,e.sworth. n H.. April 1G-While resisting
the entry ot two desperate and determined rob-
heys ard during a heroic but futile struggle to
protect S150.OOO more in money and securi-
ties. which were in the compartments of the open
vault OF the Great Falls National Bank of SOM
ersN orth. this afternoon. Joseph a. Stickney. the
cashier was strucls down and brutally murdered
near tho desk which he had occupied for years
After killing Stickney, the murderers ransaclied
the vault at will, being near to modest
them, and fed with all the cash 1t contained ex-
cept a hve-dolar gold piece As nearly as can be
estimated without making systematic exami-
nation Of the banks books about $4,000 was
taken. but It Is quite 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 Stlckney down
with a blackjack cut his throat. one hundred
thousand dollars in United States bonds which
were kept in of the drawers Of the big vault
and which The robbers evidently examined hasti-
~, were not taken. Neither was any of the
negotiable paper and securities of the bank
Nothing is missing except the cash
No one was aware that there was anything
wrong at the bank until nearly > O'Clock almost
hour after the murder was committed. The
perpetrators had ample time to escape and this
lice and citizens are securing this section Of the
State. and the adjoining State Of Maine. which
Is just across the Salmon Falls River. from this
city. The 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 the robbery that
only uncertain clew and a meagre description
Of them obtainab.e up to = o'clock tonight.
The bank was beseged by hundreds when the
news Of the terrible affair became known, and
large numbers of people came into the city from
Berwick. Dover. salmon Falls. ROllinsfOrd.
Rochester and other towns. Had the robbers
been apprehended soon after the murder and
robbery became public. their captors would have
found ii a difficult task TO prevent Il lynchinS
in the Granite State. Great sympathy is ex-
pressed for the family Of the murdered man.
who in addition TO being cashier and director
Of the Great Falls Bank, was City Treasurer.
He was universally esteemed.
No occurrence in Strafford County, not even
excepting the murder of Deputy Sheriff Smith
by the outlaw Macarthur, at harrington few
years ago. has caused such a tremendous sensa-
ZION in this section. The town is alive with peo-.
pie ard for miles around other topic is dis
cussed. The tragedy occurred during what is
known as the noon hour at the bank that is,
from u until . 1t has been the custom for MIR
Stckney and the bank clerk. Mrs Parker Swa-
zey TO close the bank at II o'clock and not re-
open il until 3 To-day Mrs. Swazey left her
desk at noon and went home to dinner. She left
the cashier looking over the banks accounts
He usually remained in the bank until she re-
turned but it is thought he was preparing to
go out to-day when the robbe.s entered.
The bank is in the centre Of the business part
OF the city. and dozens Of people pass by at that
time of the day. 1t is e two-story building and
stands at Market and Prospect SITS, the rear
Of the structure abutting the side of steep hill
The banking rooms are on the second floor of the
building in the front and the rear is level
with the hill. from which there is entrance.
1t is not known exactly what time the bank
was entered. but it was evidently between and
115 o'clock. as two strangers were seen going
up the hill not far from the bank at !: 20 O'Clock.
One of the men carried a bag The first suspi-
cion that the bank had been robbed at l:JS
o'clock, when Frank p. Reed, local mer ,hant.
went up the staircase Of the bank building and
found the thick plate glass in the front h2lI
door completely shattered. He was considerably
alarmed, and without waiting TO inveatigate ne
hurried from the building and called City Mar
shol Eaton.
rhe two men broke in the door and then found
evidences Of a desp,rat struggle. on the Noe
IN great pool of blood was the lifeless body
xf Mr. Stickney His head had been nearly
severed from the trunk. the "obbers having Gu,
hs throat The head marked with seNera'
6Cep SdSheS Nad@ 10y a uedNN bId' NJdNh n an
the skull was fractured. The bodY was % GOV
cred with blood. and the walls ana luIHiIuI
bore additional evidence Of the terr.hle deed II
could be seen at a glance that Stckney hdd no'
died without fighting desperately An alarm
was quickly given. and all the officers aNalidnir
we're notified and sheTi6s marshais ana .', mr
police in Maine New-Iampshire ana No'thei"
Massachusetts set at work. -,
The first clew that the officers founu was on
tanned from Mrs Joshua Smith. who llVes .. hedr
the bank and Dudley Cheney, VINO was passing
on the street They reported seeing mar ~
dark complexion hurry up the hill carrying pas
heavily weighted over his shoulder. Mr.. Cheney
saw the man throw the bag behind a stone wall
change some Of his clothes and finally get mo
q buggy driven by another man. which wen up
the hill al a rapid gait Other people reported
seeing the buggy and in Wes' Rocheste: a dark
sorrel horse and buggy were seen header TOT
Salmon Falls River. This outfit has disappeared
despite the fact that the whole section mere
abouts is being searched
Tho inside door which led into the apartment
behind the counter Of the bank was fastened
bv a heavy iron lar Marks have been found
,howjng that one Of the men had endeavored 10
raise the iron bar. and Mr.. Stickncy tried to
keep the bar in its paCe ne popDer was rceS zoo
T. was then that the cashier made his last stand
and was felled 10 the floor
PHYSICIANS who have examined the body sa!
ma u ie annarent that the victim was pounded
10 death Another fact brought out at the au-
topsy is that the weapon used TO cut the VIC
TINS throat was a medium sized knlfe the paoe
Of which was dull and left a deep Irregular
wound. - ,, ,,o,,,n
Mr. stckrey was wealthy anl waS vel known cNsn
in New-EDgland banking circles. lie had been
cashier Of the Great Falls Bank for over twenty
five years and had been with the bank nuch
longer Period A..
To-days affair recalls an attempt to rob the
same bank five years ago, at whlch tifhe MI
stckney was gagged and bound The vault was
licked. however and the men got nothng TOT
tAel, pains.
The police know that two men from Waltham.
Mass were IN SomerswOrth last night, ana were
seen a, the station here shortly before noon. The
description OF one Of them answers that OF the
man seen on Prospect Hill with bag, ana on
this suppositOn the Waltham police we're asheu
10 fnA and hold the men wanted.