Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-08

As a MARINE" hospital the building has
not been Of any service. But it is now a
military hospital, and pronounced by the In
specting Surgeon one Of the best in the De-
partment. 1t is any thing but worthless to
the Government, or "decaying for want of
care.
THK SHOOTING ArTAIR.-The inv -stigation
in the matter of the shooting of John Burns,
a soldier of the Invalid Corps, on Water
street, sunday night, was had Thursday NOR Z
before Justice Hollenbcck, j. B. Wheeler
appearing for the State and D. Roberts and
J French for the respondent Gautier
y. II. LEAENED testified AS to the condition in
which he found Burns, the appearance and po-
sitiou Of the wound bullet hole IN the LETT
breast, near the fifth rib, and his present con-
iitiou.
EpwARu MuRruY testified TO the facts of
Burns appearance at the Champlain Hotel
MONDAY morning; that he (Murphy) was wax
eued bv shot somewhere about > 4. VI. and
looked out Of his window for some time; saw
some one al the door Of Gautier's grocery in the
Robinson building opposite, and saw several
shots fired rapidly, but heart no CRY or loud
words. except some one said q Come on, We
got some more LETT thinks from the fash the
pistol was pointed towards the lake Saw a
man pass up King street. anil some one came
from the grocery and look NJ the street after
him. recognized no one; heard no one cry as if
hurt. The lantern on the corner is pierced
by a hall, entering on the north side,
and going out at the upper Southwest corner,
think the man that fired II must have stood on
my sidewalk
DR. 5 W THAYER testified as 10 the character
and position Of the wound. The ball has not
yet been found The wound runs downwsrds
and oHtwards little, the person firing must
have been on a higher level. Burns was evident
" heavily intoxicated, was recovering from in
toxication when first saw him Monday morn
ing. He was not under medical treatment at
the Hospital but belonged to the Invalid Corps.
Burns didn't seem to know much about the az
fair tut said he was shot while walking in the
street towards the Rutland depot
loHS KELLY detailed the circumstances Of
hening pistol shots fired as he passed down
King st and across Water st. 10 the Lake House
about II O'Clock Sunday night Saw man
dolging round the posts under the porch Of the
Champlain Hotel. to whom he spoke but got no
er Saw no one FIRE the pistol. but after
ing Water ST. looked back and saw the
fash Of a pistol shot from Murphy's corner,
thinks all the shots he heard came from that
corner under the stoOp. Saw q man shaking 8
door in the Robinson building as | came down
King St it, was not Gautier's door
Mas. BAr1ERs (knOwn as Black Lucy testii-
ed to witnessing pistol-6rng, from her window.
Some one came and pounded on Gautier's door
he came out and threatened to shoot. There were
two men They came again; Gautier came ont
again, and threatened to Shoot and did shoot
saw the pistol distinctly. The men were then
across the street Gautier spoke in both French
and English; his wife begged him not to shoot.
The ren went away and came back several times.
They tried to get in at Mrs, Carson's door. The
last time they went away they were gone good
while; came up and again pounded on Gautier 5
, door; he came out in his shirt-sleeves and hred
towards Murphy's house twice; the men were
across Water street, the other way. heard the
clock strike four soon after. One Of the men had
on soldiers blanket; they wore caps.
JOIN CoArrs testified that Gautier invited in
Burns and himself, and another man named
Roach, and gave them LIQUOR; showed them a
revolver which he had bough; to protect his
property, and loaded Il. When | went away
Burn. and Roach we're both in the grocery.
| There we're no hard words between them.
EDWARD Roach, testified to being with Burns
/ and Coates in the grocery all drunk. Heard a
/ pistol shot as We came down Water St. to King
/ St. While we were in the grocery Gautier fired
the pistol in the air to show it of. After Burns
/ and / left we stood on the corner opposite soms
one came to the grocery door and fired. Burn:
started across the street, thought he went W
King St and went after him, but saw him no
where, and then went back to the Hospital
Heard no shots as went up King ST. heard nc
cry as Of one hurt
S. HuxrISGroS, testified to the arrest Of eau
tier, and the finding the pistol under his pillow
He and his wife denied having any fire arms
The pistol was produced and identified ; neither
Coates nor Roach were able to ssyit was tbs
one Gautier showed them Gautier says h
cannot talk English. asked him II he recog
nized Burns, he said yes, but Afterwards deniec
all knowledge Of him.
1t was claimed by the defence that the ev
idence failed to fix the shooting of Burns up
on the respondent, and that if it had, th'
shooting was justi6able ss being in defenc'
OF his house from assault
The Justice considered the proof of eau
tiers connection with the assault on Burn
insufficient, and thereupon ordered his dis
charge.