Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-06
Arraigned Before Commissioner
Bur|eigh, Saturday Morning.
Case Continued to Saturday, Nox IT,.
Taylor Committed to Jail.

Daniel Taylor of Mercer, 60 years old
and a farmer by occupation, was ar
raigned in this city. Saturday morning
before United States Commissioner
Lewis A. Burleigh. on the charge OF
burglarizing the Shawmut post office
on the morning of Oct 2S. The case was
continued until next Saturday morning
and Commissioner Burleigh ordered the
prisoner to furnish surety in the sum of
$500. Taylor was unable to secure
bonds, and he was lodged in the county
Jail.
TaylOr's case is somewhat unique in
the federal crime annals of this State,
and it would seem that he is a sort of
Rural Ratf1eS." Taylor lives in Mercer
a small town in Somerset county, and
the federal officers claim that they have
strong evidence that will show that he
not only had a hand in the post office
burglary at Shawmut. but that he was
also concerned in the burglarizing of
the Phillips National Bank, which Oc-
CURED one week prior to the post office
robbery.
From present indications it would ap-
pear that Taylor has been one of d well
organized band of robbers. whose GRIM
inal operations extend over 4 period of
years, AS far as is known, however.
this is tie first time that he has been
i'll trouble with criminal officers.
Taylor was arrested at his home. Fri
day, by Deputy United States Marshal
Charles 3. Haskell and Post Office In
spector G. w. Robinson. The specific
charge made against him is the robbery
of the Shawmut post office. When this
post Office was robbed one week ago
last Saturday. the burglar or burglars,
after making an entrance to the build
ing. blew open the safe and secured $500
il; money and stamps. The building was
fired and destroyed, entailing a loss of
$500 For this crime, Howard Taylor, a
nephew of the prisoner, was first ar
rested, last Wednesday. but he estab-
lishCd an alibi that could not be doubt
ed. and he was subsequently released
by the officers.
The federal officers, as well as de-
tective employed by the American
Bankers Association. believe that Tay-
lOr. iii company with one or two other
men. at present unknown. perpetrated
the burglary of the National Bank at
1DllllES. winch WIS entered SOIIletllle
during the night of Oct. q. This break
Letted the gang 800 in money which
was obtained by blowing open the safe.
Charles Stain, son of David l..
Stain. who was convicted of the muir
der Of John w. Barron of Dexter, a
bank cashier, in 1878, has given dam
aging evidence against Taylor. Stain
has told the officers a story which they
are rather inclined not to believe. He
asserts that Taylor attempted to get
him to Join the gang for the avowed
purpose of robbing post offices, banks
and similar institutions.
One of the places that it was intend
ed to burslariZe. Stain claims. was the
Shawmut Manufacturing Co. He says
that Taylor drew a diagram of the
cOmpany's office, and elaborate plans
for the robbery were made. Stain. at
that time (Oct. 15l, furnished Informal
ton to the local authorities and the
gang, evidently suspecting that some
one had "squealed," deferred their Wis
it to the Shawmut Manufacturing Co.
Office to some later date.
Stain, it is alleged. told the officers
that he did not want to join in the ma
rauding expeditions, but that he did not
dare to refuse pont-blank, as he was