Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-13

pellGr Tragedy from tue Nunlpeiici f"t'"
nam and Journal:
THE FIRST SHOOTING.
About three clock in the afternoon, Ply
Clifford, joel Nichols, and l.. II. Gun
ningham, with George W Short, a boy
about sixteen years Of age, woTc sitting in
NOrcross' girst- when Hiram Arbuckle
appeared at the Gu,r, aud. without word
| or warning, raised Il large navy revolver
| and fired at Young Short. The bail struck
Shorts arm. and he sprang from his seat.
exclaiming " am shot - lie moved
toward door for the purpose Of escaping,
when Arbuckle fired again, the ball inter-
ing Shorts body in the vicinity OF his lungs.
lie tell upon the floor. but rose Immediately.
hitched up his team and drove to his home.
THE SECOND AND FATAL SHOOTING.
Arbuckle then proceeded to the black
smith shop of &. W. Bancroft, near the
mill, where. without uttering word, he
raised his revolver and fired at Mr.. Bancroft,
the ball striking him in the arm. The
wounded man ran toward the mill. Arbuckle
followed him. and Just as Bancroft neared
the door Arbuckle fired second time. the
ball penetrating jus; under the ear OF his
victim, who stumbled at the threshold of
the mill. and fell to the floor. He lived only
a few moments The murderer then went
on up the hill towards the residence OF Mr..
L. ii. Cunningham. Approaching Mrs.
Cunning ham, he told her not to be afraid.
for be would not shoot her. lie owed her
no grudge.
TIE MURDERER BOAST.
lie said to her, That's the kind of man
| am | have been thinking of this long
time, and made my will and got all ready TO
do this thing three months ago. lie had
made up his mind not to be taken alive. lie
was not going to live till shutdown, Tor he
had revolver with six balls in it, and
meant to use it. He then went to his home.
TIE SUICIDE.
When Constable George Rowland. who
had been sent for, arrived, he went at once
to the home of Arbuckle to arrest him. The
latter heard him coming. and ran out OF the
house toward the barn. When he got about
half way from the back door to the barn he
stopped, and, placing the revolver TO his
breast, fired. He dropped instantly. and
when found by the constable was dead. lie
had kept his word, and made fit ending
for his hellish deeds by putting an end TO
his own lie.
THE MURDERER.
Hiram Arbuckle, was about thirty years
old, unmarried, and son of Phllander Ar
buckle, of East Montpelier. In the family
were three sons and enc daughter, and they
had long been residents of that place. The
murdcrer's father was always drinking
and Quarreisome man. Several years ago
he was indicted for an attempt to kill his son
Hiram, and forced to leave the State. lie
went to Kansas and remained there until
about two years ago. Mrs. Arbucke is a
sister of Howard Bennett, of East Montpe
lier, and is spoken OF by those who know
her as fine woman. The boys are said to
have kept the family together, and havo
done well as general rule. Hiram never
was addicted to drinking. lie has lived
here in Montpelier most of the time, and
recently worked for Mr.. Fales, at the hotel.
Ills disposition is said to have been bad
one. and he was an ugly man to get along
with There had been some trouble IN the
family for long time. Previous to the
shooting. he had borrowed revolver OF NJ.
A. N. Norcross; when the revolver was
looked for at the close of the tragedy, it was
nowhere to be found.
TIKI VICTIMS.
The murderer s first victim, Young Short
is the sen OF o. W. Short, of East Montpe-
lier. lie is about sixteen years of age, and
never Intentionally provoking or quarrel
some. Ills injuries are very severe indeed,
and at last accounts he was in critical
condition. The ball entered his right nip
pie, and striking against his left breast,
glanced inwardly and has not been found.
George W. Bancroft, the second victim,
was about fifty years of age, and son of
Aaron Bancroft. The family comprised
three sons-D. w, Aaron and George; and
they, also were long residents of East Mont
pelier. George went to Massachusetts
when twenty-five years old. and remained
some twenty years. lie has been back
about five years. He bought blacksmith
shop at East Montpelier village, and mar
ried--as his second wife-the sister of his
murderer, about two years ago. His dis
position is reported to have been none of the
best, the bad blood shown on both sides be-
ing the cause of the family troubles. He
had at one time considerable property, but
had disposed OF most of it. His father was
the son Of Boston man W no made provision
for the support of his family at East Mont
pelier.