Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1897-04-23

A special from Somersworth
N. H, says:
While resisting the entry OF
two desperate and determined
robbers and during futile
struggle to protect $I5o,ooo OF
more in money and securities in
the compartments of the open
vault OF the Great Falls Nation,
al Bank, Of Somers worth, Friday
afternoon, Cashier Joseph A.
Stickney was murdered near the
desk, which he had occupied for
years.
RANSACKED THE VAULT.
After killing Stickney the
murderers ransacked the. vault
and fled with all the cash it cons
tanned with the exception of a
five dollar gold piece. AS near
as can be estimated about SO, 900
was taken, but it is impossible
that the loss Will considerably
exceed the sum, as no one but
the dead cashier knew the exact
amount that was in the institu-
ton at the time.
The robbers, after knocking
Stickney down with a black
Jack, cut his throat. The most
remarkable feature of the rob,
bery is the tact that SIoo,ooo i'll
bonds of the United States,
which were kept i'll one of the
drawers of the big vault, and
which the robbers evidently ex-
anined hastily, were not taken.
Neither was any Of the negoti-
able paper and securities of the
banks; i'll fact, nothing is mis-
sing except the cash.
No one was aware that there
was anything wrong at the bank
until neatly ? o'clock, or an
hour after the murderous work
was done. The perpetrators
had ample time to escape.
SECURING THE COUNTRY.
This evening scores Of deputy
sherifs, marshals, police and
citizens are securing this sec
ton of the State and Maine,
which from that city is just
across the Salmon Falls river.
Had the robbers been appre-
hended soon after the murder
and robbery became public, it
would have been difficult to pre-
vent double lynching in the
Granite State. The murdered
man, in addition to his position
as a cashier and director OF the
Great Falls Bank, was its treas
urer.
1t is not known exactly what
time the bank was entered, but
it was evidently between I and
IFS o'clock, as two mon, strang-
ers, were seen going up the hill
not very far from the bank at
I:2o o'clock.
Mr.. Frank B. Reed, a local |
was the first to dis
cover the crime. He went up
the staircase Of the bank build
ing at o'clock and found the
thick plate glass i'll the hall door
Of the bank completely shattered.
He was considerably alarmed,
and without waiting to invests
gate he hurried from the builds
ing and notified City Marshal |
Eaton. The latter responded at
once.
A DESPERATE BATTLE.
They broke in the door and |
then found evidences Of a des-
perate struggle. On the floor in
a great pool of blood was the
body Of Stlckney. His
head had been nearly severed
from his body, the robbers havc
ing cut his throat. The head |
was marked with several deep
gashes made by a heavy black |
! Jack and the skull was fractured. |
The body was covered with
blood and the walls and furni>
ture bore additional evidence of
the terrible deed. Stickney had
died fighting desperately.
y cLltW FOUND.
The first clew was obtained
from Mrs. Joshua Smith, who
lives near the bank, and Dudley
Cheney, who was passing on the
street, who reported seeing a
man of dark complexion, hurry
up the hill, carrying a bag heav-
lily weighted over his shoulder.
Mr.. Cheney saw the man throw
the bag behind a stone wall,
change some of his clothes and
finally get into a buggy, driven