Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-30

fence at this point had been freshly
cut and the trees trimmed to afford
a path to the nearby rabbit road.
About so cartridges of .32 calibre
were found beside the tracks and
scattered through the woods, evident
fallen from the pockets of the two
as they fed.
Neighbors reported seeing an au-
tomobile waiting on the by-road. The
state highway is a mile away and 1t
was believed by the police that the
robbers escaped by this route.
In Amesbury the report of the rob-
berry caused a near riot about the
Powow Bank when employees of the
Biddle and Smart automobile body
factory stormed the institution out OF
fear that their weekly pay would be
held up. Police controlled the crowd
until President Frank Sargent an
nounced that the bank could meet the
pay roll with other resources.
The older robber, who took the lead
had ridden on the train several times
before, the baggage master said. The
younger, about 20, appeared highly
nervous, but pointed out the desired
sack to his companion. The old man
wore a blue pencil striped suit while
the young man wore khaki pants and
a gray cap. No description was OBJ
tanned of third man who was re-
ported to have assisted in their es-
cape with a waiting automobile.
Postal authorities stated that the
standing offer of $1,000 for each person
concerned in a crime of this nature
would apply in this instance, so that
a total of $4,000 stands az a reward
for the arrest and conviction of the
robbers and their accomplices
Bank officials said that they notified
the postal authorities when money
was to be shipped from Boston. Up to
about year ago these shipments were
brought in railway mail car direct to
Amesbury, but discontinuance of sew
eral trains since then has resulted in
the money being transported in the
baggage car from Newburyport to
Amesbury.
Harry 0. Babcock, the freight
brakeman who was riding "deadhead"
on the train, saw only one sack of mail
thrown from the train In describing
the trip and the robbery, Babcock
said:
THE train left Newburyport and the
tall fellow, one of the robbers, was in
the baggage car in the rear. He was
sitting right across the aisle on the
left-hand side in the third seat from
the front. He stayed there until We
arrived at Salisbury. There were no
ether passengers in the car. He had a
regulation ticket which Conductor
Thomas took from him.
after we left Salisbury another
fellow came into the car from the
smoker ahead. He passed me. We
left Salisbury and went about 800
yards from the depot. The fellow
pointed gun at my stomach and said:
stick 'em up He had a blue steel au-
tomato. Get up he said. 1 did.
Back up he said l did.
THE other fellow had the gun
pointed at Jordans throat I didn't
hear what was said. They backed up
both into the same compartment. The
small fellow opened the side door of
the baggage compartment. He mo-
toned with his gun and said Jump
out The train was going about 10
miles an hour.
Il said. NO, we won't get OUT
THE big fellow said Get over there,
them motioning to the side of the car
THE baggageman was backed out
the side door. The little fellow came
back and started to pick up the mail
sacks. The big fellow said Stay where
YOU are He helped the little fellow.
The little fellow said That's it, and
pointed to pouch.
'The little fellow took the sack and
went to the open side door The big
fellow pointed the gun at me. He
stood there until we almost reached
the second crossing this side of Sails
bury. The big fellow then threw the
sack out This sack was small. 1t was
Il locked pouch. The big fellow backed
to the side door and jumped. l started
to go ahead and heard a shot just as
the big fellow jumped.
Il ran into the smoking car and told
Brakeman Thomas about the holdup.
Jordan had in the meantime be to Sal
isbury Station