Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-03
Grafton.
THE MURDER OF FRANK wooLEY.

THE MURDER OF FRANK wooLEY.
The particulars Of the murder Of Frank
lin A. Wooley of this town by his brother,
last Wednesday, 25th ult., as given in the
dispatches TO the daily papers are as fol-
lows For some time past there have been
business misunderstanding and troubles
between the two broihers-Solon s.
WoUley, farmer who resides about two
miles beyond Grafton Village, on the road
TO Townshend, and Frank Wooley, a mer-
chant and Spectator who resided in Grafton
Village over his store which he erected last
season. On the 9th ult., Frank went 10
see his brother about the matter in dispute,
but they could not agree, and the interview
resulted in Solon's ordering Frank TO quit
his premises, and assuring him that he
would shoot him If he ever came
there again. On the 18th an uncle
aud aunt of the brothers visited Frank
with the view of getting the brothers to-
gether and making peace, but Frank hesi-
lated about going TO Solon's with them,
mentioning the threat by Scion as his rea-
son. He finally consented, and accompan.
led his uncle 10 Solon's. On their arrival
at the house Scion came out and ordered
Frank not 10 come in, and then ran up
stairs and fired revolver at him from the
door or window Of a chamber. The ball
took effect in the pit of the stomach and
passed obliquely downward. Amer the fir
ing Scion came down and out of the house,
when Frank fed, pursued by Scion, who
pelted him with stones. At the distance of
-. l., a., 1aI TalI 4
was picked up and taken 10 his home in
the village, where he died Saturday morn
ing. Tho murderer was arrested on
Wednesday evening.
The funeral of the murder ed man was at
tended Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
This dreadful affair has occasioned the
greatest excitement in Grafton. Fuel was
added to the flames by the burning of Scion
Wooley's house Friday evening. The fire
was first seen about six O'Clock, and at a lit
tie past seven the house was entirely con-
sumed. Solon's wife was in the house alone
with her two children. The fire was start
in the wood-shed. Mrs. wooley says she
she was asleep, and the fire awoke her.
The fire was undoubtedly incendiary but
no decided clue has been obtained in the
matter.
FURTHER PARTICULARs-THE LEGAL Ex-
AMINATIoN.
The examination OF Scion s. Wooley, for
the murder of FRANKLIN a. Wooley, was
held at the town hall in Grafton, Saturday
afternoon, before Justice a. II. Burgess as
sisted by Messrs. Justices Samuel Phelps
| and w. G. Wyman. The complaint of
Grand Juror Lyman French was presented
| by. j. D. Bridgeman, of Bellows Falls,
counsel Tor the Stale, and respondent was
represented by his counsel, Hon. Abishai
Sloddard, OF Townshend, aud Lewis S.
| Walker, of Grafton. The particulars ofthe
shooting as given by Sarah Blood, the aunt
above referred 20, on her exam nation, are
as follows:
"We drove up 10 the bars, and Frank got
out, and Oliver drove up to the door. L
| went TO the door and raped. Solon's wife
| opened the door and slammed it together,
and says, Frank has come 10 an in
| slant Scion was out with pistol in his
hand, aud his vito came out with him, and
Scion went right back mp stairs and came
10 a door and pointed his pistol. said,
'Solon, don't fire that and he said,
| Frank has no business TO come on 10 my
lot told him he had no business 10 fire,
| and he said he bad, as he had been TO law
yer. told him there was law for it, and
the gun went of, and the stones ratified,
and went to Frank, and no sooner than
| got there Scion came, and Frank started,
| and Scion afler him, and l ran aftar them.
| Very soon Scion came back, and Frank
| ran along. Scion was running after Frank,
with pistol in his hand, aud threw stones
az him."
Scion Wooley returned TO Grafton, his ma
tive place, last March, from Kansas, where
he married his wife. At that time, Frank
lin exchanged the Sloddard farm with his
mother for the old homestead, and she
with Solon's family went 10 the Stoddard
farm to live. There has been more or less
trouble between these brothers all summer
In the spring, they had law suit about
some hay. After that, when the brothers
met, they quarreled. During the summer
Scion threatened to shoot Frank, if he came
TO his house, and bought a revolver for thai
purpose. Mrs Wooley, their mother, says
that Scion built the platform over the door
from which he fired the fatal shot, and
placed some pieces of old iron on it, one
Sunday, for the purpose for which he used
it. She also says that when they saw Frank.
lin coming TO the house with the Boods
Solon's wife loaded the revolvers, and told
Scion that, if he did not use them, she
should.
Franklin Wooley was about 43 years old
Scion is about SO. Franklin has always
lived in Grafton. He has been generally
esteemed as a citizen and a nelghbor al
though he was somewhat peculiar in hi.
ways. He. leaves a wife and two or three
children.
The investigation was adjourned from
Saturday 10 Tuesday 10 give the physician!
an opportunity to make further examina
ton of the body for the purpose of finding
the bullet; but they testified ON Tuesday
their inability 10 do so, as the revolver use(
was the smallest size manufactured, anC
the bullet so small tley were unable to fine
it. The investigation closed with the com
mitment of the prisoner TO the county jai
TO await the action of the graz nd jury at tn
April term of court. The body of the muir
dered man was buried Tuesday afternoon
| INTERPRETATION.