The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-24
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
An Extraordinary and Mysterious Case of
Murder and Suicide In Vermont
rErySo,n che Rufland Globe1


from the Rutland Globe.l
Mr.. Frank Brassor, a young man 10
years of age, son of Frank Brassor, of
Brandon, in the morning hired out to
c. NJ. Winslow, ESQ.,, to work upon his
farm for the summer, and was to COM
mence his labors on Monday. Desiring
a holiday for himself, he started on a
cunning expedition, borrowing of Mr..
Winslow fine Springfield rife. He
passed on toward the 20 swamp" as it is
there called, and nothing further was
heard or seen of him until about IL
O'Clock, when a Mr.. Atwood, of Sud-
bury, discovered body lying face
downward by the roadside. The body
was recognized as that of young Bras
sor. An autopsy was made by DR.. A.
T. Woodward and DR.. F. w. Page,
which revealed the fact that he had
probably been shot by revolver from
behind, ball going through the back,
lodging in the outer skin, and another
through the side.
Nothing further was known until IN
formation came from John Pendegrast,
the foreman of the railroad section be-
tween Pittsford and Brandon, that he
had been assaulted and had an encoun-
ter with the supposed assailant OF young
Brassor. A representative OF the GLOBE
who visited the scene of the tragedy
gathers the following account OF his
tussle with the fellow, and how he came
in possession of the missing rifle of Mr..
Winslow. He had started out on the
usual night examination of his section
before the passage of the New York eX-
press south, a little after p. m. A lit
tie south of the covered railroad bridge
north of Pittsford he met man of slim
stature, who looked to him like a color
ed man, who accosted him thus:
"Boss, what are you doing here this
time of night?''
Pendegrast replied, 81 am about my
business"
The stranger stepped off about two or
three feet and asked Pendegrast if he
was a good shot, at the same time aim
ing the rife at him, when Pendegrast,
large, strong, athletic man, immedi-
ately sprang toward him and with
blow struck him down and caught him
by the throat. The stranger cried, 81
give up; don't choke me any more; do
any thing; take me to the guard-house
if YOU want to, but don't choke me-"
During the struggle the two men roll
ed down the embankmept, and the rifle
went out of the strangers hands through
fence. Pendegrast got the rifle, light
ed his lantern, which mad gone out in
the melee, and started on north and the
stranger went south. A few moments
after Pendergrast heard the report OF
pistol, which he had reason to suppose
the stranger intended for him. On
reaching the bridge he stopped and
waited few moments before entering
it, not knowing but that he might be
followed, and then proceeded on his way
until he met the trackman of the Bran
| don section, who said to him, seeing the
rifle: "You seem to be well armed to-
night: what is the trouble?h He then
narrated the incident of his encounter
with the tramp, when the Brandon man
remarked, "That is the man they are
looking for at Brandon" and then told
of the murder and the stealing of the III
fe, of which Mr.. Pendegrast had not
heard up to this time. He persuaded
! Mr.. Pendegrast to accompany him to
Brandon that he might tell his story.
On their arrival at Brandon, between IL
and II o'clock p. M, his story was mar
rated to j. O. Hawkins, Esq, the town
Grand Juror, and other citizens. 1t was
not deemed best that Mr.. Pendegrast
should return alone, and, as there was
hope of overtaking the fellow, three
men accompanied him on hand car to
the scene of the encounter.
The party proceeded carefully until
they passed the bridge and reached the
scene of the encounter between the Sec
ton man and the stranger. Finding
nothing unusual, they proceeded until
they were about five miles south OF
Brandon, when they passed over an OBJ
iect living on the track between the rails
The car was Immediately stopped, when
the stranger was found lying on his face
with revolver under Tim, evidently
having met death by his own hand.
He had shot himself through the head
the ball entering on the righi side. A
confusion was found upon his righ
) temple, which had evidently been made
by falling upon his face, and another
upon his forehead, probably where hi
was struck by Mr.. Pendergrast when h
knocked him down. The lifeless re
mans were taken up and placedupon th'
hand-car and taken to Brandon, arriving
about 3 a. m.
Drs. O. G. Dyer and F. w. Peck mad
an examination of the body and extract
Ell llOll lllC uCdu DtttNNhCo oohCe Va VI
; same size, weight and form of thos
taken frem the body of young Brassor
= thus indicating most clear that tn
dead man was the murderer. The bod,
was apparently that of an Italian,
: beardless youth about 20 years of age
of dark complexion, dark hair, abou
five and half feet in height, with a wei
v formed nose, but firm mouth, the gen
$ eral appearance indicating person G
+ firmness and courage. His hand
n were soft, indicating that h
e had never seen hard labor, an
e the feet were extraordinarily small. H
L was dressed in a substantial suit, til
y coat but little worn, and good pants an
: vest; what may he called far bushes
y suit, with checked shirt. Perhaps til
/ articles found upon his person may !
e of interest and lead to his identification
: A locket, in which was enclosed sma