Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-06
Shocking Fratricide in Burlington.

The following particulars of the murder
in Burlington, Sunday, we find in the Free
Press:
The accustomed quiet of the Sabbath in
our city was disturbed early yesterday af-
ternoon by the report that shocking MUIR
der had occurred in the Fourth ward, in
the building owned by Daniel Sullivan, on
the corner of Cherry and Battery streets.
On repairing to the spot it was soon ascer-
tanned that about one o'clock. William Blu
chanan. in an alteration with his brother
George. had been stabbed by him, and died
from his wounds in about three quarters
of IN hour. Drs. Atwater and Lund We're
summoned to the aid of the unfortunate
man, IT'S soon as possible after the deed
was committed, and Sheriff Drew arrested
the murderer, who acknowledged the act,
and ut once took him to Jail. The brothers
occupied apartments in the tenement
house, where the fatal deed was committed,
William occupying the lower story and
George the upper, and it is said that neither
of the two or their wives agreed well to-
gether Both had had children, but they
died in infancy.
This is the first murder which has oc-
Cured since that of Freeman by Carlo,
dI DtI1lDotOU Ill tic Sulilli1Cl III ICf L, ana
being Il very unusual circumstance, and a
fratricide too, naturally causes great ex-
element among our citizens. Buchanan
undoubtedly committed the fatal act while
in a fit of ungovernablc rage.
Upon learning of the murder, Mayor
Blodgett ordered an inquest to be held
over the body of Buchanan. 1t took place
in the rooms occupied by the deceased be-
I n IEbao1,,.
ney Burnap conducted the examination Of
the witnesses. From the testimony it aD-
peared that they and their wives had diff
ference in the forenoon, and the wife of
George Buchanan applied an opprobrious
epithet to William in the presence of other
parties, calling him bastard, &c, which
he resolved to resent, and went to his
| brothers room, whom he found asleep.
On waking up, George ordered William
out of his room. William refused to 90
when a scutlie took place in which William
was stabbed in seven places by George
with sharp Jack knife. The fatal wound
was four inches in depth and went through
the front wall and the division between
the ventricles of the heart.
| The Coroner then found upon the testi-
mony that the deceased, William Buchan-
| tti. " Ills httlll Nv St'tDS lt'
knife in the hands of George Buchanan.
The inquest was then concluded. and the
crowd which had hung about the house
began to disperse. 1t is estimated that
over | 300 persons viewed the body of the
murdered man.
The prisoner is about five feet six inches
in height we'll built, has dark complexion
and weighs about 40 pounds. He is quite
boyish looking in his appearance. The
deceased was little taller than his brother
and was about twenty pounds heavier
They do not look ut all alike. William
having light hair and sandy complexion
He was Il powerful man, and was in per
feet health at the time of stabbing. Boti
brothers had fair reputation for men o
their class and rank in society, though
William who WAS the younger of the two
was much more liked than his brother
who had the reputation of being very quick
tempered. The deceased was Il machinis
and wood worker. and WAS an employee O
W S. Mayo and Co., Pioneer Buildings
Just before lie expired he was conditional
" baptized by Rev. Father Lynch, of tn,
Cathedral. His age was -. The knife
used by Buchanan has not vet been found
He claims to have given it to Gr0gan, bu
he claims to know nothing about it. IL
waived examination Monday and wa
committed to jul to await his trial.