Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-01
Attempt TO Shoot q Conductor.
The offender Arrested and bound Up.


On Saturday night last, as the night express
train left Waterbury going South, FRASK sHKR.
MAN, a native Of Waterbury, but who had been
stopping for while in Montpelier or vicinity,
took the train for Montpelier. Having but thirty
cents the conductor took only twenty, the fare to
Middlescx, where he told him he must leave the
train. Upon reaching the Stowel place, a short
distance this side of Middesex, the conductor
found that Sherman was riding upon the rear end
of the car whereupon he stopped the train, and
with the help Of the employees Of the road, put
him off As the train moved of, Sherman fol-
lowed with the evident intention Of still attempt
ing to ride but the speed Of the train increas-
ed, rendering it impossible for him TO overtake il,
and when some twenty or thirty feet away, the
conductor, who still remained at the rear Of the
train watching the proceeding, saw the pursuing
man draw pistol and discharge it in that direc-
ton, evidently with the design to take murderous
revenge upon him. Thereupon the train was
stopped and backed up to the spot, when the con-
ductor and his assistants, passengers and all, en-
deayored to find the reckless offender. But all
search was in vain. Doubtless the culprit took
refuge in some Of the outbuldngs on the Stowel
place. After running back to the village, and
searching for nearly an hour, the train came off,
Joseph W. llowes, ESD, being passenger on
the train was determined " not to give it up 80.
On reaching Montpelier, and not succeeding in
starting an officer in immediate pursuit, he mott
fed the clerk at the Pavilion, that he might be
on the lookout for such traveller during the
night. And sure enough, not long thereafter,
Mr.. Sbley, Of the Pavilion, saw a man pass an
swering the description, and following upon his
track, traced him directly to the residence of Mr..
j. Perrin, on Barre street, who is a brother-in-
law Of Sherman On Sunday morning, officer !.
W Brown started in pursuit, but found Sherman
had left PERKINS,, and started for Berlin, where
he had recently worked. Following on he over
took and arrested him near William Cummings
Being charged with the offence, he owned up,
and, returning with the officer, produced the pis-
toll, carefully secreted in the shed at Mr. PERKINS,
1t was an ordinary FIVE shooter, with one Of the
cartridges discharged.
On Monday, Sherman was brought before Nell
son Robinson, Esq, for examination. Randall
& Durant appeared for the State and Heaton &
Reed for the defence. The respondent himself
was the princi pal witness. lie freely acknowl.
edged that he fred the shot, but denied all muir
derous intent. lie said he had been spending the
day at Waterbury, and had been drinking freely
thus reducing his funds so low as not to be able
to pay hi. fare to Montpelier lie obtained the
pistol, he said, Of certain gentleman Of color at
Waterbury with whom he had been drinking
The result was that he was held for trial in the
sum Of $500 and committed to Jail for want
Of bail
Young Sherman is nineteen or twenty years of
age, and served a term in the Reform School at
Waterbury some years ago. No other cause for
the rash act-if indeed murder was intended
can be assigned, than liquor and momentary pas
sion