Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-05-16

edge of the town of Sudbury. lie hat
gone in that direction on an GRAND for hi!
employer, G NJ. Winslow, and had taker
with him Mr.. Winslow's gun for the pur
pose of shooting woodchucks. This was
in the morning The body was not dis
covered till afternoon The body was
taken to Brandon and an examination by
Drs. Woodward and Peck revealed IL bule
hole in the right side, and corresponding
one in the left, the bullet having passed
through the body. Another bullet was
found imbedded in the right lung, which
had entered the body from behind. Both
had been fired from revolver.
The excitement became intense as soon
as the physicians reported that it was the
work of an assassin, and officers were dis
patched in several directions and suspect
cd places and individuals Swallowed. The
mystery was not explained until late in
the evening, when section man on the
Rutland and Burlington Railroad, named
Pendergrass, arrived in the village. lie
had u queer story to tell About half-past
seven as he was walking along his section
IL man coming up the railroad bank sud-
lenly met him and evidently startled Mt
coming upon Pendergrass asked what in
he was there for, bringing up his arms in
which be held rifle rs he asked the ques-
ton. The section man was alarmed and
angry at the impudent question and re-
piled by striking the questioner blow be-
tween the eyes which Knocked him down
the bank, the rifle flying over the fence as
he fell. Pendergrass at once jumped upon
the tramp and choked him until he begged
him to let him alone.
The section man started along the track
toward the village taking the rifle with
him, After he had gone little distance,
he heard a shot fired, but did not know
whether the fellow fired at him or not,
but from what was afterwards discovered
there is no doubt the murderer did fire at
Pendergrass. The latter did not know
until he met fellow-workman, of the
murder OF Brassor or that he had the MUIR
dered mans rifle.
A party was ut once made up, and tax
ing hand car, they started down the track.
About forty rods from the scene of the
encounter with Pendergrass they found
the body of his assailant with a bullet hole
in the right temple. The body was lying
between the rails, and life was entirely
extinct. The express train had passed
meantime, so it was plain the tramp had
not killed himself by the shot Pendergrass
heard. The body was taken 10 Brandon,
and an examination made by Drs. Dyer
and Page, who took from the wound ball
precisely similar in weight and appear
ancc to the one found in the body Of Bras
sor. Other balls of similar character
were found in the Colts revolver which
lay by his side, leaving no doubt that he
shot Brassor and himself.
He BACKED his face between the time of
the murder and his assault on Pendergrass,
as he was seen between those hours cross
ing field by two persons, who did not
then know of the murder. His face was
blackened when he assaulted Pendergrass.
He was about 25 years old, IL little over
five feet high, and weighed about $40
pounds. lie was well dressed in suit of
blue, with felt hat and checked shirt. He
has dark, curly hair, clean shavcn face,
delicate hands, which were evidently I'M
accustomed to manual labor. His clothes
were of fair quality and not badly worn.
On his person were found bundle of
cartridges, face mask made from u light
felt hat, some burnt cork, pocket mirror,
Il German silver penholdcr and pencil case,
II silk necktie, Il small locket with silver
cross attached slate memorandum book
with traces of illegible writing, five dol
lars and sixty-three cents in money and a
pocket knife which was identified us be-
longing to Brassor. The body WAS placed
in plain coffin in the Town Hall for iden-
tiication. Hundreds viewed the body
Sunday but no one could identify it. 1t
is thought he was a tramp who was lodged
in the lookup the night previous to the
murder. An inquest was held on the bod
les Monday.