Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-29
Commits Robbery, Assault
and Arson, Too.
Knocks Over Bookkeeper and
Sets Brick Yard Attire.
Later Developments Make Story
Look Rather hazy.

Dover, ~ H.. Dec. 2S.-The large
brick making plant of Fiske& Co, in
corporated, at Dover Point. was burned
tonight by fire which is believed 10
nav. been started by the two men who
robbed the assistant bookkeeper.
Charles Goldwaite, while the latter was
sitting alone in the office OF the plant
q short time before the fire was dis
civered Goldwaite was knocked uncon-
scious by a blow on the head, and for
hours after the occurrence was unable
to tell a connected story OF his eEpe-
rience, but the police gathered from
him that he had been attacked by Two
strange men and that his watch ana
about s25 in money was missing. The
notice believed that the robbers. fear
ing that they had killed GOldwaite. de-
liherately set fire to the building TO
conceal the crime or else tipped oyer
,amp accidentally in making their. es-
cape.
Coldwaite was found lying race
downward outside the building. 1--WE or
six Feet away from the door or the OF
fee. after the fire was discovered. 1t Is
surnised that he partly recovered con-
seriousness and staggered out or me on
flee. falling again when he reached the
outer air He is ~ years old. Tonight
he was at his boarding house in semi
,ie,irious state and the police could hot
get from him any description OF lils
assailants. 1t is believed that the Wcap-
on with which the men struck nm
down was sand bag, as there are no
bruises On his head.
Treasurer Pierce. who was here today
nepo,iatinc for wood for the brick plant.
estimated the value Of the plant at %r'-
m0 The plant covered about five acres
of land AMI was one Of the itrG' ST III
this part OF New England. MI. Pierce
said he was unable to say how mUch IN
surance was carried
Late tonight GDldthwait". tn" assist
ant bookkcepcr. recovered from hiS daz"d
condition which followed the sandbaS-
cling, and was questioned for an hour
Dr more by Treasurer Pierce. city Sole
itor George l.. Hughes and city Marshal
Edward c. McCone. regarding the as
sauIt Goldthwaite said he was alone III
the private office AT about '.11 with only
Il lantern for IL light. IL had Climbed
on stool and was about to Light i
hanging lamp when his heard two men
talking outside. Before he had li%htc'i
the lamp. !, man whom hc did MT know
appeared in the private office and struck
him over the head with Il san,;bag or
some similar weapon GoidthWaitc said
he had tima to notice tll.ut the man was
of stout build, quite short IN Stature.
with a smooth face and dressed in dark
clothes.
..,l.I Il I, Y,.,t1
bcrcd nothing until l." found himself
surrounded by flames in tie private Of
flee He rushed ont t. the mai:I "iIic
and. discovering that II" outer "ror w.
locked. opened Il window ana jumped I"
the ground. Just then a man naI,i"d
Frank Foss drove along and. taking
GoldthWaite INFO his carriage. carried
him to the Dover Point Hotel. Cod
thwaite said he lost his gold watch and
$25 in money and Engineer Perry of the
brick plant, who was one Of the first to
reach the office after the fir all m wac
given, said he found the door OF the safe
open. The safe is said to have contained
about so.
City Solicitor Hughes after talking with
Goldthwaite said he regarded til" Who'll"
affair as mystery. and that til re We're
various features about it which seemed
incxplicablc. The gate keeper at the
railroad crossing Il short distance away
from the door of the office said h" saw
no ono around there at the time just pre-
vious to the discovery Of the fire. and Mr.
Foss. who drove along the street by thu
mill toward tn" crossing. said H. met 40
suspicious looking characters. He also
said that he noticed no sign Of fire at tho
Office when he took Coldthwaiic into his
vehicle. and did not smell smoke.