The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-08-07
ROBBERS SAME AS
WEEK BEFORE
Officers Urge Precau-
tions in Smaller Towns
Less Than Six Hundred Dollars
Worth OF Yaluables In NOrridge-
wOck's Missing Vault


The break at Norridgewock during
the shower of Monday night, during
which the robbers made away with
the vault of the Norridgewock Branch
of the Skowhegan Trust Company
has been under investigation, but no
trace of the robbers has yet been
found. Within the vault there was
less than $500 worth of valuables. 1t
is proven conclusiyely in the minds
of Sheriff Mooers and Deputies Croc-
ker and Tuscan that tho break was
perpetIHted by the same parties as
were the several breaks of the week
previous, that the same car was used
and that 1t was parked for time
during the night, near where the car
was parked last week. After being
moved by a hand truck to the rail-
road station, where the vault was
! loaded on another truck, the tracks
led away in the direction of Water
Vile According to Sheriff Mooers,
two men were seen at IL 40 walking
through the main street of Norridge-
wock toward the bank hy the night
operator, one of them carrying a bag
The Farmers Telephone operator no.
titled the New England operator but
the latter not deeming the incident
worthy of notice, notified no one
According to the officer, at least three
people in Norridgewock knew there
were strangers on the streets and had
an investigation been made, there
would have been time for the officers
to have reached Norridgewock and
prevented the outrage. A wide
search was made for the robbers
covering many miles, Tuesday and
Tuesday night. Many cars were
examined and persons were question
ed with the result that the officials
have all the evidence needed that the
robbers were the same as those Of
last week and that they went in the
direction of Waterville
The officers believe that this is the
same gang that has terrorized Maine
during the past season and that they
intend to visit every small town in
the county. \ local officer suggest
ed yesterday that the merchants and
all others take every precaution to
watch their stores and to shoot on
sight anyone seen attempting to make
an entrance. As it is impossible for
the sheriff's Office to watch every
town every night, the citizens must
do their part.
Norrdgewock. August 5:--Again
burglars have visited Norridgewock
and this time carried away the tenn
pOrary vault of the Norridgewock
branch of the Skowhcgan Trust Co.
here The week previous, burglars
visited nine places in this town, in
cluding the bank. but then only the
outside of the vault was tampered
with and no money was taken The
door was sent away to be repaired
and while it was gone. a small tenn
porary vault has been used and this
was taken Monday night, with its
contents. The break was made dur
ing the heavy thundershower and it
is reported that people were seen in
the vicinity during the flashes of
lightning About 1870 two auto
mobiles were seen and people about
1.-The bank room A hand truck was
taken from the Burgess & Jones store
and after the heavy vault had been
dropped from the outside platform, it
was wheeled to the railroad station
and loaded on one of the burglars
own trucks. The banking room was
again locked, so that the break was
not discovered until the local mana
ger went to open I for bu&iness
Tuesday morning. Fortunately there
was not much money in the vault as
returns are made to Skowhegan each
day. The officers fTa following
several clues.