The Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery

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The Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery

On November 12, 1971, Bernard Patterson, a much decorated Vietnam War hero, turned a real-life version of Don Quixote, Butch Cassidy, and Robin Hood all rolled into one package, robbed the Northern National Bank in Mars Hill, Maine. He escaped with $110,000; at the time, the largest bank robbery in the history of the state. A tunnel rat and paratrooper in Vietnam who rose to the rank of Sergeant, he was awarded four bronze stars and recommended for a silver star for valor. He returned home to northern Maine broke and disillusioned. Wearing dark glasses, dressed in a Marx Brotherâ€™s ankle length coat and wearing a blue wig, he robbed the bank, even though he was recognized by the elderly teller. He initially escaped by paddling a rubber raft down the Prestile Stream. This was the beginning of a comic, outrageous, implausible journey that took him across the United States, then to Europe and North Africa before finally surrendering to authorities in Scotland Yard after he had spent most of the money. Along the way, he lived a raucous life of wine and women while hobnobbing in aristocratic hangouts and giving money to those he perceived to be in need; all the time staying just a heartbeat ahead of law enforcement officials. He motor biked across Europe, hoodwinked border officials, bought a camel and got lost in the North African desert. Returned to the United States for prosecution, he was convicted and imprisoned. Released several years later, he moved back to northern Maine, where he continued to lead a reckless life that included running a â€œpot farm,â€ until he died at age 56 in 2003. When asked by a friend why he had robbed the bank, he responded, â€œthe VA wouldnâ€™t give me a loan, so I decided to take one out on my own.â€

Country	USA
Author	Ronald Chase
Binding	Kindle Edition
EISBN	9781608933624
Format	Kindle eBook
Label	Down East Books
Manufacturer	Down East Books
NumberOfPages	161
PublicationDate	2016-02-10
Publisher	Down East Books
ReleaseDate	2016-02-10
Studio	Down East Books

The Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery

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