The herald., 1897-04-17
Murdered a Faithful Bank
Cashier
DEATH MADE D0UBLY SURE
BY DRAINING THE MAN AND
CUTTING HIS THROAT
A Quiet New Hampshire Town Stirred
by an Awful Crime-Robbers
Make Their Escape
Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SOMERSWORTH, N. H., April 16-
While resisting the entry of two des-
perate and determined robbers, and dur
ing heroic struggle to protect $150,000
or more in money and securities in the
compartments of the open vault of the
Great Falls National bank of Somers-
worth this afternoon, Cashier Joseph
Stickney was struck down and brutally
murdered near the desk which he had
occupied for years. After killing Stick
ney, the murderers ransacked the vault
and fled with all the cash, with the ex-
ception of a few gold pieces. AS near az
can be estimated, $4,000 was taken, but 1t
is possible that the loss will considera-
bly, exceed this sum, as none bu the dead
cashier knew the exact amount tn
in the institution at the time. Tie roJs
bers, after knocking Stickney DOVE with
a black jack, cut his throat. TIL most
remarkable feature of the robt cry T.
that $780, 900 in bonds of the United
States, which were kept in one - the
drawers of the big vault, and which the
robbers examined hastily, were not taxi
en- Neither was any of the negotiable
paper and securities of the bank-i>i
fact, nothing is missing except the cash.
No one was aware that anything was
wrong at the bank until 2 o'clock or until
nearly two hours after the murderous
work was done. The perpetrators had
ample time to escape and this evening
scores of deputy sheriffs. marshals, po-
lice 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 BUSH
est time of the day in the locality where
| the bank is situated and so completely
and thoroughly did they accomplish
their robbery that only an uncertain
clew and very meager description was
obtained. The bank was beseged by
hundreds when the news of the terrible
affair became known. and large num-
bers of people came here from surround-
ing cities. Had the robbers been appre-
hended soon after the murder and rob-
berry became known it would have been
difficult to prevent lynching in the
Granite state Great sympathy is ex-
pressed for the family of the murdered
man, who, in addition to his position as
cashier and director of the Great Falls
bank, was treasurer of several local or
ganizations.
1t has always been customary for
Cashier Stickney and the banks clerk.
Mrs. Parker Swaizey, to close the ba ok
at 10 o'clock and not to reopen it un
o'clock. Today Mrs. Swaizey left
desk at noon. The cashier. howe
ha ha NJ
counts, and it is thought he was pl ei
ing to go out when the robbers enc
The first suspicion that the bank
been robbed was at two minutes
when Frank P. Reed went up to
staircase of the bank building andfo
the thick plate glass in the OUTSIDE
hall door of the bank completely 81
tered. He notified City Marshal E.
and they broke in the door and fourd
idence of desperate struggle. On
floor in a great pool of blood was tn
less body of Stickney. His heac
been nearly severed from the bod
robbers having cut his throat. The h
was marked with several deep gas
made with a heavy black jack, and
skull was fractured. The body was
cred with blood and the walls and fu
ture pore dQulllOndl tNluchSCS
terrible deed. Stickney had died fight
desperately.
The first clue that the officers 10
were some persons who reported see
man hurrying up the hill carry.n
bag heavily weighted, over his shou'
He threw the bag behind stone
changed some of his clothes and fin
got into the buggy driven by anot
man. Other persons reported seeing
buggy, and in West Rochester ht
and buggy were seen headed for Salt
Falls river, which forms the Maine ST
boundary. This outfit has mysterioi
disappeared despite the fact that
whole section hereabouts is be
searched tonight.
PRIZE FIGHTERS ARRESTED
WALTHAM, Mass, April 49,
Hartigan, the New England ex-amat
115-pound boxing champion, and Joh
Briggs, were arrested this afternoon
! suspicion of being concerned in the T.
| robbery on Wednesday night. The
GERS had scarcely completed the scare
| the two men, which revealed $50 and 50
confederate coin, when telegram
received from the mayor OF Somerswc
| asking that these very men be apI
| dended- The first telegram was follo'
| in a few minutes by second, and
| in turn by a third, all urging the po
| to use their utmost endeavors to sec
| these men.
| The confederate coin was identified
| yond a doubt as having been stolen fr
| the Teele residence. After his arr
| Hartigan is said to have admitted
/ the police that he had been in Some
worth today. He stated that both
and Briggs went there on Wednesf
| but is positive in his statement thatb
| men left Somersworth at II this mo
| ing, going direct to Boston.
| A fourth telegram to the police fr
= Continued al Pare Threa