St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-20
The East Montpelier Tragedy.

We gave last week the first tele-
graphic report of the murder and sui
eide at East Montpelier. A correspon-
dent of the Boston Journal gives these
particulars:
About three o'clock in the afternoon
a party of men consisting of Ply Cliff
ford, Joel Nichols and L. H. Cunning
ham, with George w. Short, boy about
sixteen years of age, were sitting about
the stove in Norcross's grist mill, which
is situated just at the foot of the hill at
the entrance to the village, on the road
from the Wells River Railroad station.
As they sat there indulging in social
chat, suddenly one Hiram Arbuckle, Il
resident of the place, appeared at the
door of the mill, and, without Il word of
of warning, raised Il large navy revolver
and fired at young Short. The bail
struck the arm of the latter and he at
once sprang from his seat, eXclaiming,
81 am shot !" As he moved toward IA
door i'll another part of the room for the
purpose of escaping from his assailant,
Arbnckle fired again, the ball this time
entering Shorts body in the vicinity of
his lungs. He fell upon the floor, but
rose Immediately, hitched up his team
and drove to his home. The by-standers
made no attempt to secure the would
be murderer, for the reason that he had
done his work so quickly, and was gone
ere they could collect their shattered
senses. After firing the second shot,
Arbuckle proceeded to the blacksmith
Shop of G. w. Bancroft, which stands "a
short distance from the mill, on the
other side of the road. Here, not con-
tent with his previous murderOus as
sault,
HE SEEKS ANOTHER VICTIM.
Mr.. Bancroft was engaged in shoeing
a horse when Arbuckle approached the
shop, and so did not notice his coming.
Here, too, without uttering Il word, Ar
buckle raised his revolver and fired ut
Mr.. Bancroft, the ball striking him also
in the arm. With sudden cry fol
help, the wounded man ran toward the
mill. Arbuckle followed him intent on
making sure of his work, and just as
Bancroft neared the door Arbuckle fired
ii second time, the ball penetrating Just
under the ear of his victim, who Stun
hed ut the threshold of the mill, and
fell to the floor. He lived only few
moments. Immediately after firing the
second shot, and while the men at the
mill were caring for BancrOft's body
the murderer went on up the hill toward
the residence of Mr.. l.. II. Cunningham
not a great way from the mill. APP
preaching Mrs. Cunningham, and oh,
serving that she showed signs of fear
for she had ere this learned of what he
had dOne-he told her not to be afraid
for he would not shoot her. He owet
her no grudge. He showed no regre
for what he had done, but rather boast
ed of it, aud said to Mr.. and Mrs. Gun
ningham that
HE MEANT TO DO IT.
He said, ''That's the kind of man
am. have been thinking of this Ion!
time, and made my will and got al
ready to do this thing three months
ago" He told them that he had mad,
up his mind not to be taken alive-tha
no constable could take him. He wasn'
going to live till sundown, for he had
revolver with six balls i'll it, and mean
to use it. He then went to his home
In the meantime, somebody had driver
off after Constable George Howland
and telegraphed to Montpelier Tor med
ical assistance. DR.. Laselle was ais
summoned from Plainfeld. When tn
constable arrived he went at once to th
home of Arbucklc to arrest him. Tn
latter heard him coming and ran out Il
the house toward the barn. When h
got about half way from the back doc
to the barn he stopped, and placing til
! revolver to his breast fired. He drOp
ped Instantly, and when found by tn
constable was dead He had kept M
word, and made a fit ending for hi
hellish deeds by putting an end to hi
own life.