Year: 1879

was easy to replace the cap. Then
opened except from the outside. and then only by
one who knew the combination. Barron had had
that cap OF frequently in order to change the com
bination and knew all about the lock. The officers
that he did it this occasion. working by the
light of Kerosene lamp above referred to. The de-
tectves claim that all this was done. dose of poison
taken, and that Barron died OF the drug.


PROCURED THE HASDcUFFs-


1t is also known that few weeks before the occur
renee police officer friend OF Barron. visited
him. and the subject of handouts dis
cussei. The cashier was shown pair.
which he examined minutely, aud learned
where they could be procured in Boston.
The ones found on his hands were exactly like the
ones exhibited At the time of his death Barron was
carrying an insurance his life of $4,000 which
would cost him in premiums about S275 annually.
The interest on the mortgage on his house
500 and s5oa total of 5000 per year. He
at the time receiving salary OF 81 900 from the
year substracting from this amount the 5000 would
leave only $3.50 with which to support family OF
seven children.


After his death a memorandum found, contain
ing what appeared TO be inventory OF his indebt-
edness, which read as follows;-


january IIave in hand of Pierce against A. X p.
Smart collection which there is due about s3 80


D. l. Reed owes me $50 interest money on his farm
which have sherif deed owe him ~ 80 received of
The owes me for services as treasurer since March
J. 1877 SD per year. and also fifty cents for recording
The st Of April the bank will for services





Ihave a life insurance policy becoming due March l3
and another April Al have money ON hand to pay first


Harvey chanders note, payable May l, for $40,
with interest at five per cent.


The bank officials have ascertaned that on the 1st
day of January, 1877 Mr. Barron discharged a mort
gage his house OF $4,000. They also find that he
1876 or 1877, by "doctoring" his hooks. On that
date appears an entry of $4,000 charged OF to no
especial account. that sum being necessary to bal


BARaoN LEAVES EVIDENCE OF GUILT


In the safe envelope found containing
paper on which Barron makes an assignment OF
surance Company of Pittsfeld. Mass. This was in
Mr.. Barron's handwriting, and was somewhat
lengthy The substance of it was that in case OF his
death an examination of the affairs Of the bank
should show that q loss had been sustained on
account of his carelessness the proceeds of said
signments should be applied indemnify the bank.
In this document request was made that the money
realized should be accepted by the bank as his
contribution toward loss sustained by loan to an
estate in Cambridge which loan he at the time
had advised but which he did not consider
himself any more responsible for than the
other bank officers When this action his part
was discovered the bank officials expressed their sur
prise. saying that Barron had had nothing whatever
to do with said loan, had not been consulted, and
was in no way responsible. They claim that after
the loss amounting to $500 was made in 1875 it
was charged OIL to PROFIT and loss" and that
Mr. Barron had never spoken the matter to either
the president cashier any OF the directors. Ac-
companying this statement was note bearing date
July e 1875 for 900 in favor of the Dexter Savings
Bank, on the back OF which was indorsed Interest
$40" No entry of that amount for interest
found upon the books The bank officers knew moth
ing of this note until after the tragedy.


REHEARsING A TRAGEDY.


In the drawer in Barron's desk WAS also found
COPY of the trial of Scott and Dunlap, the Northamp
ton Bank robbers. 1t will be remembered that when
that bank robbed the cashier was taken from his
house. gagged. handcuffe1 and partially choked by
rope around his neck in order to compel him to open
the doors of the bank. The supposition is that Bar
initiated closely as he could the n'ods oerdnd
of those desperadoes. BY his cash book 1t appears
that there ought to have been $500 in cash on
hand, when in reality there was money
in the bank, has already been stated.
In reference to the five hundred dollar bond entered
on the books. the bank has advertised very exten-
sively for information to who if any one, sold
such bond to Mr.. Barron, or any one repre-
senting him, on about that time, but
have not been successful The presumption now
is that no $500 bond was purchased by him, and
that the entry made to account in part for the
ST. COO which should have been hand at that time
In addition to the value Of the bond he charged off
$5G7 to Cash." which, together with the
bond, make an aggregate Of $1,057 unaccounted tor
on the other books. This to be the true his
tory of very dark crime, and it throws of the veil
from what would now seem to be q deep mystery.
Barron a very ardent church member. and stood
in