Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery

by Ron Chase

On November 12, 1971, Bernard Patterson, a much decorated Vietnam War hero turned real-life version of Don Quixote, Butch Cassidy, and Robin Hood all rolled into one, 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 Brother’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 “pot farm,” until he died at age 56 in 2003. When asked by a friend why he had robbed the bank, he responded, “The VA wouldn’t give me a loan, so I decided to take one out on my own.”

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2016

Reviews

[Elise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. A book about a crazy, true crime bank robbery in small town Maine in the 1970s?? I should have LOVED this book.

The sad truth is I loathed everything about it. The first disappointment was realizing that minimal research went into the book. Apparently there were no primary sources left to talk to about the crime, so there is no interesting new perspective here. Just a recitation of events, one after the other, in a manner that would be monotonous if it weren't for the absolutely horrible writing involved. A level of awfulness which almost made the book entertaining.

The writing might be the laziest I've ever encountered. Most irritatingly, the author never met a modifier he couldn't misplace. Every page is strewn with modifiers that he was simply too lazy to match up with their subjects, like a pile of singleton socks on laundry day. Here's just one paragraph to give you a sense of what you'd have to slog through should you decide to read this book. Bernard (the master criminal) and his friend are off in the Alps with their ill-gotten gains, and the following ensues:

"While riding the gondola to Roc d'Orsay on their third day of skiing, they shared the ascent with the most beguiling skier Bernard had yet to meet.... Scandinavian in appearance, he attempted to charm her with compliments but she either didn't speak English or was feigning the same. Struggling to find someone in the gondola who could act as his translator, preoccupied with the spectacular views, no one volunteered. Resorting to embarrassing, futile attempts at sign language, the gondola strained to a halt at the top and she quickly exited."

Seriously. I dare you to decode those sentences and match up the modifiers with the subjects. Who was Scandinavian? Who was struggling to find a translator? Who was preoccupied with the views? Who was using sign language? Who exited? WHAT THE F IS GOING ON???

The ENTIRE book is written like that. It honestly seems like Chase cranked out a first draft about this stupid bank robbery, then decided to bag the project because he wasn't able to find any interesting details about any of it, but then went ahead and published it anyway, skipping any editing or re-writing.

If you have any deep feelings for the English language, this book will set your teeth on edge.

[Debbie Ladd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this one down! I lived in Mars Hill for five years and had NEVER heard of this event. It was a fun, though sometimes repetitive. read about a Mars Hill native who robs the local bank and lives it up until the money is nearly gone. Give it a try, if you're from "The County."

[Billy Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The detail of a actual bank robbery can be most interesting as this one was. Now, the main character- first and foremost credit to is most honorable gallant service in Vietnam. A soldier called upon for dedicated duty despite the outcome and reasoning for this war. He served his country well.
Yet he was a hellion going in and a huge hellion coming out! I could never say "I like this guy" as he never had a real job other than stealing and selling dope. The jobs he did have, he stole from his employer. Understood, very challenged childhood (no consistent parent, no place to call home) and many stresses from serving in such a violent war (where he also stole property and re-sold).

His life squandering thousands of dollars partying, smoking pot, and drinking is not one to have for a role-model or date your daughter (from the book!). Good story of how things can go wrong, yet no lessons learned!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. I admired the sheer gall of the bank robber and what he was able to pull off. I grew up in a similar area and at a similar time in although it was in Vermont rather than Maine. I also know the Mars Hill area. I know people who were very similar to the robber. Yes, he was a criminal and he did bad things. Nonetheless it was a remarkable story of a different time and place.

As for the writing style, it did not bother me as much as it did some of the other reviewers. Everyone has their pet peeves. I thought the story outweighed the problems with the quality of the writing.

It is a short book. I read it on a trip. It reads fast and is an interesting tale. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good true crime story and is not looking for a masterpiece of literature.

[Butts McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was able to read it in about twelve hours. I agree with other reviews that the book could have benefitted from some editing and a handful of rewrites. However, the story and main character are compelling enough that I was not only able to finish the book but would still recommend it to others to read.

[Nomar Slevik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story that falters through the middle. The author attempted a compelling retelling of Bernard's reckless adventures but it end up coming off as retreaded material from an average spy or adventure pulp.

Certainly interesting if you're from Maine, not sure it can hold a reader's attention outside of the state. I do recommend it for Maine readers who enjoy an odd Maine tale.

[Lauren Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 3.5 it was very interesting topic however the writing was bland and read like an extended wiki article that seemed to glamorize a life of crime and how to flaunt it and get away with more crime...

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story without much depth and poorly written.

[Steve Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read...not written incredibly well...but cool to hear the story that stemmed from a little town!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating story and man. The writing is not all that great ... but the story is!

[Heidie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and an easy read. But I'd agree with what others are saying that it could have been better written.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is incredible. A man with an impoverished upbringing in small-town Maine goes on to perform heroic atrocities in Vietnam, only to come home and commit the state's largest bank robbery and go on the run across three continents for six months. What happened? And why? This book does a great job explaining it.

But the writing is full of grammatical errors. I'm shocked it was actually printed this way. It seemed like there were errors on every page. The most common errors had to do with subject confusion, where the author would use an introductory clause to talk about one person, but then the subject of the sentence would be someone or something else. These errors made the book very hard to read at times. Fortunately, the story was compelling enough for me to push through.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a crime book as much as a character study, it tells the fascinating story of a Vietnam War vet who returns to his Maine hometown and proceeds to rob the local bank. What happens next is summed up briefly in this quote from the book: '(he travels) almost 20,000 miles through seven countries on three continents by airplane, automobile, boat, and motorcycle in just a little under seven months.'

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good!! What a life!!

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tired of reading "he was a good guy". He robbed a bank. He frightened an elderly woman who had a heart condition, etc. I didn't find it entertaining at all.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the fascinating story. The writing, however, could have benefited from a good editor. But the story was worth cringing at the writing here and there!