Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-08
A LAUNDRY MARK
Leads to Arrest in Goffes Falls,
N. H. Robbery Case.
Handkerchief Left-Mark Identified
Postmaster Lurvcy Arrested.
in Fiction.

Manchester, y. H., Dec. There is
little in fiction more astounding or SEN
sational than the testimony given be-
fore the municipal court here, Satur-
day, ut the preliminary hearing in the
case of James NJ. Lurvey. postmaster
at the little settlement of Goifes Fails
a suburb Of this city, four miles to the
southwark.
On the morning of Aug. ., last.
Joseph II. McDermott, aged 10 Of
Waverly. Mass. who was acting as
telegrapher and station agent ut Gof-
fes Falls depot. was robbed OF S211e, all
in bills. which had come by the
American Express Co. from tho Ma
tional Bank Of the Republic in Boston
and was intended for the weekly pay
roll al the Devonshire mills.
With the package OF bills was bag
containing ST. in silver. McDermott
receipted for both and tossed them both
into Il corner Of a desk to await the ar
rival of a messenger from the mills
After working about the depot for
few minutes young McDermott return
unlocked and in short time McDer-
itlDlL ~ a SNGB bGiiiHu illtil, ullt'
turning around was confronted with q
man wearing a mask.
Just as Mcpermott turned the
stranger threw a lot of red pepper in
the young fellows face. McDermott
was temporarily dazed. but recovered
ana grappled with the. stranger. The
thief threw him off. however, and Step
ping to the desk grabbed the package
Of $271o in bills. showed it into what
McDermott took to be a Boston bag
and started out of the room.
McDermott followed. but the man
flashed what looked like a revolver,
ana then dashed across an adjoining
field and escaped unseen save by Me-
Dermott. A mask made from a nand-
kerchief was later found in the field
through which the thief passed.
Detectives were ut once employed by
the railroad and express company and
they caused the arrest of McDermott
The ground around the depot was dug
up in homes OF discovering the lost
money. but to no avail.
When the case of McDermott was
submitted to the grand jury. that body
returned no bill and the young fellow
was liberated. He thereupon brought
suit for $4,000 against the American
Express Co. on grounds of false i'm
prisonment.
Detective Clifton Il. Hildreth of the
Manchester police force. then started
n fresh investigation. On the hand
kerchief found near the depot, and
which had been used as mask. was
the laundry mark ''2f-G."
Hildreth tried TO trace the handker-
chief To some laundry IN Manchester,
but with no success. He then went to
Providence. II. T., where he learned
Postmaster Lurvey was in the habit Of
AT Providence the detective
learned that Aliens laundry was using
a mark similar to that on the hand |
keTchief found near the Goffes Falls |
station.
Mir. Hildreth learned also that Lur- |
vey had had work done at Aliens |
and also that he was not in |
at the time Of the robbery |
at GofTes Falls.
From Mrs. Bessie V. Stone or 216 /
Point street. Providence. at whose
house Detective Hildreth learned Lur-
vey had STAYED. 1t was ascertained |
that Lurvey had been much concerned
est anyone should make inquiries as to
his whereabouts on Aug. q.
To Mrs. Stone. it is alleged, Luryey I
gave $500 in s. bills to say that he
was IN Providence, Aug. q.
When Detective Hildreth learned |
-hese facts he caused the arrest of |
LUrvey on the charge of committing |
the robbery. After his arrest there |
was found on his underclothing the |
mark. ''24-G."
This was in main the evidence Of |
Tered at Saturdays hearing. Besides |
Detective Hildreth, the witnesses were