Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-09

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF WHOLE FAMILY
SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER.

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF WHOLE FAMILY
SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER.
A shocking tragedy occurred at West Ran
dolph, Saturday, involving the murderous
assault of husband upon his wife and
child and the suicide of the would-be muir
dercr. The circumstances of the affair arc
as follows:
A small farmer, named Michael VIM, on
Saturday morning, got up and partially
dressed himself took his revolver and shot
his sleeping child. "a babe of ten menths,
and then shot his wife. The report OF the
first shot awakened her, but before she
could move or realize what was taking place
the second shot was fired, the ball taking
effect in her left side just bslow the first
floating rib land forward one hali-ineh
from the median line.
His eldest child. a boy OF about eleven
years, hearing the noise. hastily dressed and
went down stairs, when his father tried to
kill him, but he escaped and gave the
alarm. The murderer then left the house
anu TUE Wius wv 'N'NS
beside the river road for about forty rods,
then crossing the river and making iJr the
railroad, which he followed for some rods
until near the railroad bridge, when he leit
it and hid in the bushes. Immediately
upon the alarm being given. couple OF
neighbors FASTENED with the boy to the
house, but not finding the murderer, they
sent for medical aid and gave genera
alarm. Search was at once commenced,
and tho murder tracked to the railroad, and
finally to his hiding place. When he saw
that his pursuers were close upon him he
shot himself, and was found dead. lie was
about Is year. old. and of Irish parentage.
lie has been called pcaceable man. and
was not of u qusrrcsome disposition. lis
vii, was about IS years old, and they had
been married abou. IL years. They had
four chIlireu, the boy above referred to,
ani three girls younger. They never had
a word Of trouble. and the only remark
that would lead one to think thar ne con
tomrlated this horrible murder was made
three days ago when he said The wished
they were all out Of their misery lie had
been lrooiing over some business troubles
ior 4ame tue, and evidently planned the
murder OF his whole family. lie purchased
the lot Of land on which his house stands
last spring, and erected the house and barn.
Tho house stands on the outskirts. OF the
village, about half mile from the depot.
Besides Thu land on which the hou-e stands,
he bought lot containing about eighty
acres in the edge of Braintree, which he
designed to cultivate as farm, but this
proved very poor and his crops are en- a.
most complete failure. Lately he had tried
several times to sell, but without success.
Some three weeks ago he was taken sick
with slow fever. and DR.. Stewart pre-
scribed for him, but he refused to take
medicine or to keep his bed. lie appear
ed to be very nervous and Kept moving
around. For the past few days he had APP
peared much better The last two days he
had been in the village and Friday he pur
C hased the revolver with which he shot his
wife and child.
At last accounts his vile was still alive,
bat the bali has not been recovered and
there is no hope of her recovery. The
child will probably live.