The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-17
Robber OF The
Bank
AT WHITlNSVILLE,
May Have Been Captured
in a Western City.

Whitinsville. Oct. 16.-There is man
under arrest in a western city on the
charge of burglary, who may be want
ed for the robbery of the Whitinsville
bank, over two years ago, If he is the
right man, his identification will be
furnished by P. D. West of Woon-
socket. Over two years ago, the Whit
insville National Bank was broken into
by burglars, the safe blown open and
money and securities amounting to
| thousands of dollars were stolen. The
Waterman was overpoWered, gagged
and bound hand and foot. A horse
and carriage belonging to one of the
Within family was stolen. The rig was
afterward found abandoned in the
southern part of the state.
The only tangible clue as to the
identity of the burglars was furnished
by P d. West, architect, in the Patriot
building, in Woonsocket. He said that
the morning after the burglary had
been committed, we'll dressed
stranger came to his Office at an early
hour, with a handkerchief around his
left hand. He inquired for a DOCTOR
but neither Dr. Hills nor DR.. Baxter
was in their offices at the time, in the
for the man and bound up the mangled
hand with a piece of cloth. He said
that two of the fingers were badly
mangled and looked as If they would
have to be amputated. Mr.. West said
the stranger told him that his hand had
been cut with a saw. West, after ex
aiming the hand, told the man that
no saw made that wound. The stranger
said, Let it go at that" or words to
that effect. He tossed Mrs. West a
So bill, which the latter refused to keep,
but which the man left on the table
He inquired the way to Providence.
Mr.. West told him a train was about
due. The man replied he did not want
any train that day, and left the office.
Mr.. West did not hear of the bank
robbery until that evening, as he went
to Boston. Mr.. West related this story
to the bank officials and detectives. He
described the mans appearance. Twice
Mr.. West was called to Boston to see
II criminals under arrest could be iden-
tilted. But he saw no one that re-
sembled his morning caller with the
mangled hand.
Recently, Mr.. West was looking over
copy of police publication contain
ing pictures of criminals under arrest
in various parts of the country. His
eye caught sight of a countenance that
seemed familiar. He was quite positive
after close scrutiny that it was his
caller of two years ago. He showed it
to a friend and the latter found in an
other part of the paper description of
the man. 1t tailed almost exactly with
Mr.. Vests description of the man
whose hand he dressed
Satisfied that the matter was worth
an investigation, Mr.. West wrote to
the chief of police of the western city
where the man is under arrest, told
him of the circumstances of meeting
the man, and asked him to see If the
man had either lost a finger or two or
had scar on his left hand. Mr.. West
has not as yet received a reply from
the western city. He declined today to
tell the name of the man whom he
thinks is the Whitinsville stranger,
stating that the identification may not
be completed, and the whole matter
may amount to nothing.
There is no positive evidence connect
ing the bank burglary with Mr.. Vests
visitor, but circumstantial evidence
may not be lacking. There was blood
on the floor Of the bank the morning
after the robbery, indicating that some
one was hurt when the safe was blown
open. Mr. West thinks the mans ac-
tons We're suspicious There is a re-
ward of $4,000 awaiting the fortunate
individual who will furnish a clue that
will lead to the arrest and conviction
of the Whitinsville bank burglars