Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-29
YECCMEN VISIT
POST OFFICE AT
NORTH MONMOUTH
Postmaster McKetchin Aroused
by Work of Burglars Has
Narrow Escape from Pistol
Shot Aimed at His Head
Burglars Escape without Loot

North Monmouth. Me, April Is
Yeges. who visited the postofice here
between one and two o'clock this morn
ing, took pot shot at Postmaster WILL
McKetchin, who frustrated their effort
at robbery and then made their escape
down the road toward the tracks Of the
Maine Central railroad.
The postofflce at this place is located
in framed building mean the mill of
the Winthrop Wooden Co., owned by c.
c. Clark. Postmaster McKetchin makes
1t a practice to sleep in q small room
at the rear Of the building. Thursday,
night, having made all secure in the
office, closed the safe and made sure
that the stamps and money were safe.
he retired at about his usual hour. He
was tired and slept rather sound. The
first he knew Of any trouble was when
he heard ripping sound. as though
some building was being demolished.
Rising from his bed, for the noise
was so close at hand that he instantly
realized something was occurring in
side the building, he stepped to the door
Of his sleeping room. This opened into
the private portion Of the postoffice;
that is the section behind the box par
tition.
In the dim light Of the room he saw
a man on his hands and knees crawling.
through the lower part Of the door
which separated the private office from
the main foyer Of the office.
At almost the same instant he saw
1H1yt hn Inn
At about the same moment Post
master McKetchin discovered the sec
ond Of the burglars, that Individual
acted.
He brought his right hand upward
on a line with his face and the next
instant there was a squirt of flame and
a report which, in the close confines Of
the office sounded like the report Of a
IS meter gun.
The mans aim, thanks to the dim
light, was poor.
Instead of finding a lodging place
in the postmaster's body, the bullet
struck the door behind Mr.. McKet-
chin.
Although he had no weapon and
there was none in the office Of MIR.
This disconnected the robbers and
they beat a retreat.
An alarm was at once sounded.
though the pistol shot had aroused
many of the townspeople, while the
rushing footsteps of the yeggs were
heard as they made off down the road
in direction Of railroad, which is
couple of miles distant. Beyond MAX
ing sure that the men went that way
and telephoning to Monmouth Cen
ter and to Winthrop, no pursuit was
attempted, but cities under direction
of Deputy Sheriff George Bartlett
stood guard for the remainder of the
night.
Smashed Two Doors
Before breaking into the post office
the yeggs entered the wood working
establishment of Adam Morse and
secured sledge ana an axe handle.
These they used to force open the
they demolished the door to the in
ner Office by ripping off the lower
half. It was this which reused Post
master McKetchin.
Mr.. McKetchin says that the man
who fired at him was short and thick
set and he thinks, wore a cap. Be
yond that he can give no description
of the men.
Among those who heard the men
running away from the post office
were A. S. Smith, barber. who sleeps
in his shop near the office, and c. S.
Willard store keeper, who sleeps over
his store