Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-11

w :ngate, VINO led them through WIN
dow upstairs into the Representa-
tives' hall, where proceeding to the
rostrum on which the speakers desk
rests, he stripped to his shirt and
stockings, then removed a drawer
ing taken up a part of the
floor within, entered the aper
ture which he had opened feet fore
most. disappearing from sight, The
boxes Of money were soon handed out
one by one, until nearly all that We're
missing We're produced. The money
was later returned to the vault while
the prisoner was returned to Jail
The history of the robbery was in
tcresting. 1t seems that the Wingates
Boston in which city the safe of the
bank was made. Observing the safe
une Gay on the sidewalk in front Of
Adams. Hammond & COS manufac-
tory, where it was placed 10 be var
nished with the key in the lock. they
snapped it out. took an impression on
wax, from which they made a dupli-
cate. The safe was then watched and
seen on board a packet at r wharf for
Augusta, to which place they followed.
They learned it was designed for the
Augusta bank. and that vault was
vault was visited and examined. and
during their three weeks stay in town
they kept a constant oversight upon
the bank buildings and matured their
plans. AT length the vault was placed
in the safe for the purpose of bricking
it in where they visited ii in the night
to try their key, which they found
worked perfectly. Measurements were
made Of the wall to know where the
opening could best be made.
Having perfected their plans they
waited for the bank to place its treas
ures in the safe. This was done. Sat
urday, December 20. In the evening Of
that day after they had procured their
horse and Sleigh at the Cushnoc. put
it up at the JosseIyn tavern they Went
to the Stanley House, entered the back
window on Commercial street which
was screened from observation by a
pile of lathes, and while George w
Jones in an adjoining store was selling
goods at auction. by his strong voice
ana professional wit was making noise
they worked upon the wall without
fear Of being heard. Once or twice
Edward went into the auction room to
see if the bar could be heard Having
made their opening they took their
horse from Josselyn's to the Augusta
House, then prepared the place Of de-
post and removed the money from the
safe to Commercial street. After this
they took it by team to the State
House and then went to Gardiner.
planned and successfully executed
robberies on record. 1t was remark
able for the perfect security of the
public and accessible place in which
the money was secreted defying all at
tempts at discovery. They alone
possessed the secret which was forced
from Edward in an unguarded mo-
ment. Edward Wingate was let out Of
Jail on bail and escaped punishment. |
His brother. Frederick Augustus. who |
was the master spirit in the robbery
and most guilty, was apprehended in |
Quincy, Mass, and large part of the |
money he carried away recovered He |
was brought to Augusta. tried. con- |
victed and sentenced to the States |
prison. where he was employed in the |
blacksmith shop at the forge Here |
his skill and ingenuity We're brought !
into requisition to effect his escape |
He made a key to the prison door. and |
when alone with the guard seized a |
stick of wood. knocked him down. I'M |
locked the door and escaped. never to !
be heard from in Maine again.