Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-15
BARRE BANK ROBBERY.
An Exciting Bit of Vermont His
tory Retold.
How the Robbers FIed-ToOk Cashier
King mt Point of Revolver and
with Rope around Neck to
BnnlS to Unlock Vault.

The oldest resident Of Barre recall the
famous ROBBERY of the National Bank Of
Barre the summer of 1875, and the story
of the capture of three of the four rob
hcrs by John Bailey of Wells River. Tho
Ncrmonter will bring the exciting Incl
dents wildly before their minds The
Charles a. King who was cashier al the
time and who was led by the robbers
downtown from his home on the Wash
| inEton street hill. Is the man for whom
tho celebrated Kings Bohemian beer Is
named. The Ncrmonter's article. which is
| largely tribute to Mr.. ia Alleys pcrsis-
| tenc" in chasing the rohcrs. is MS follows;
Hon. John Bailey Of Wells River, tho
| principal Of this story, was born In New
bury, Juno 20, 1922, and has been a life
| long resident Of that town. His father.
also named John, soldier OF the war of
| 1S12. was one Of seven sons of Col. Joshua
Rayley, OF Revolutionary fame who
| cleared and cultivated seven adjoining
| farms in that part of Newbury called
| Jefferson Hill. His Eroat-Crandfath her
| Ten. Jacob Barley, was a distinguished
! officer In the Old French war, and won
| stili greater honors in tho Revolution
| His maternal Ercat-Erandfathor, Rev
| Potter Powers, contemporary Mt Har-
ward college with John Hancock John
Adams and Governor wentworth, was
| pastor of tho Church Of Christ in New
! bury and IInvcrhill at Coos from 1864
! to 17S2. From these ancestors, and others
like them Mr.. Bailey Inherited and has
! developed. certain qualities Of persover-
ance, energy and integrity So wisely en-
pIoYod, that many have found it for their
interest to intrust their business affairs
| to him.
'of his services MS town officer repre-
, sentative. senator aud bank director. II
| Is not IN" purpose Of this article to speak.
| but to give the facts relating TO his mr.
| sun and capture OF the robbers of tho
National Bank Of Barre. Mr.. Raiov was
! trained In the school Of hard work wiz
necessity for A teacher. aud in this affair
displayed those traits Of logged nersevor-
ance and fertility Of resource. which those
| must need acquire who begin ut tho hot -
! tom Of the ladder and work their WAY.
toward the top
I'm tho night Of July c. 1875 four men
entered the house Of Mr. Charles A. King
cashier Of tho Barre bank. bound and
gagged both Mr.. King nnd his wife. and
Will" ono Of tho men, whose name was
Peter Curlev. remained Ia keen guard
over Mrs. King, the other three conDor
Cd him to 20 with them To tho hank IN
order 70 mako him open the con,hinotio,
lock OF N" vault. This was a method
which some Of thom had employed with
success IN other rohherios Mr. King fold
th"m that a time lock thon n nov. tn
vention, had ben placed on tho soeo
within n few DAYS and he could not oro,
tho door. When they reached the HANK
they found this TO he true, and unable r.
open the safe door. they secured only ,
rev hundred dollars in unsigned bills
IhoN returned Mr.. King 10 his house n nd
having bound and gagged both him and
ms WHO made haste to get out of town
When th' affair became known. kilograms
We're sent in ovorv d'~ccton. anu one
r"ached Mr.. Bailey NJ tho same time
mat second message informed him that
Two suspicious mon had crossed Piermort
brldT" that morning who had been fol-
lowed Some miles behind, all the WAY
from Rarro.
"Mr. Bailey. at once divning that they
Nt"nd'd to hit the railroad between FeIle
RIVER ana plymouth, boarded trair
going that way and a. Wentworth on,
or N" mon who had been IN pursuit OF
the robbers came on hoard and NJ N,
second station the mon themselves cam,
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