The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-20
BIG MYSTERY
T $25S,OOO THEFT
Millionaire Herman 5. Cheney
Robbed of Bonds.
THE FACTS ARE WITHHELD
Lawyers and Detectives Securing Mas
sachusetts in Effort to
Solve the Mys-
terry.
THE FACTS ARE WITHHELD

Southbridge, Mass, Feb. l9.-It was
announced here yesterday that negotia-
bic securities worth about s2s5,oo0, the
property of Herman Cheney Of this
town, have been stolen. The first pub
lie announcement OF the loss was made
yesterday morning by Boston law
firm, but the name and residence of the
owner Of the missing securities we're
not given. The case is surrounded BY
much Of mystery. Pinkerton detect
ives are said to be working on it here
and in Boston.
Mr.. Cheney is a retired manufaetur.
err He was a director Of the American
Optical company here until last spring,
owns a large amount of real estate, is
a member of the Southbridge Shooting
club, and IS a prominent man in finan-
cial and social circles in this vicinity
lie has had the reputation Of being
quite wealthy.
Mrs. Cheney was seen this evening
and says that her husband has been
away from home for the past three
days, and that she has not heard from
him during that time and does not
know where he is. She says that the
missing securities are notes and bonds,
and amount in value to $2S5000, and
that ii they are lost it will take all the
property the family possesses. She
says the securities were taken from the
safe in their house.
The announcement was made at Bos.
ton this morning by the law firm Of
MACPHERSON, Hyde & Damon Of so Con.
gress street, Boston, that securities said
to be the property Of client and to
have face value Of S2s5,000, have dis.
appeared. Beyond the information that
the papers, $4,000 of which are nego.
table, were removed from safe or
vault about January Ia, since which
time unsuccessful efforts have been made
to locate them, little concerning the
matter is made public. The name OF
the owner is withheld, as Il also the
place from which they are said to have
been stolen. When the loss was dis.
covered, private detectives were en.
gagged and the alleged theft was only
made public today, when it was feared
that some Of the paper would be con
yerted into cash before it could be 10
Gated The Boston police had not been
called into the case tonight.
Among the missing securities was a
promissory note signed g. Henry Whit
comb, to his order, and indorsed IN
blank for $4,000. due February 81. and
payable at the Office of the American
Loan and Trust company in Boston.
Mr.. Whitcomb II the former envelope
manufactures OF Worcester, and dis
patch from that city tonight saws that
he is in the West, and that the note
in question was, it was supposed, taken
up last Wednesday. 1t was understood
that he sent Il check to cover the note
before leaving Boston. The missing
securities consist Of bonds, mortgages,
deeds and insurance policies. A com.
plete list Of these could not be furnish.
ed by their client, according to Mac. |
Pherson, Hyde & Damon. The missing
negotiable paper was reported 70 be |
as follows:
A promissory note signed G. Henry |
to his own order. and indoors
ed in blank, $4,000, due February 81
payable AZ the Office of the American
Loan and Trust Company; i note II
the Shaw Stocking company for $4,000
due May 20, payable at the office OF
the American Loan and Trust company;
a note Of the Wauchusett Shirt cont
pany for $4,000, due May i'll, PAYABLE
at WaHchusett National bank of Fitch /
burg; bonds of The Keene Electric Rail (
way company, Nos. LIZ to t40, inelu-
sive, $500 each, $4,000, Office, 407 John
Hancock building, Boston, coupons pay.
able at the International Trust com. /
pany at Boston; bonds Of Noreross
Incorporated, Of Worcester.
Nos. 5si, 5s2 and $50, $1,000 each
(S3,000)i Norcross properties, ineorpor
ated, Of Worcester, Nos, 404, 405. 406 1
407, 40s, $1,000 each (s5,O00); an
unknown paper for $4,000; American
Writing Paper company bonds, numbers
unknown, worth $4,000