Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-06
THE KNIFE!
RESULT OF A DRUNKEN ROW
Frank MCCULLOUGH Fatally Stabbed.


THE HABITS OF sight BIRDS -DRINKING IN
BATTERY STREET GRoCERY-rnE AZ
FEAY
II was after IL o'clock on Saturday night
when vague rumors floated through the
cloudy night that a deed of violence had
been done in the purleus Of Battery Street,
long famous for murders and assassinations,
and that man lay dying there An investi-
CATION disclosed the truth of the report.
Frank Mccullough Was found lying on
doorstep in the cold night air, dreadful
cash in his side and his garments soaked in
his own h!oul l. is difficult 10 obtain an
accurate account Of all the circumstances OF
the aifray which grew from violence to
homicide, so contradictory are the various
statements Of the people concerned ard 80
well wpy. liz. ineidrnis covered with the
darkness Of night. 1t would appear, how
ever, that for an hour or two previous to /
O'Clock, Frank Mccullough, Dennis Nash,
Daniel Sullivan; Fardee Cloi.n, Thomas
fasscii and Charles Farmer, had been in
grocery on Battery street kept by one La
vignc. They hal sent oat and procured
some liquor, and one man, AT least-the vic
tim of the homicide, was considerably in
toAicaIrd. Prank MERCER and his sixteen
grocery at about 10 o'clock and shortly after
retired, no difficulty having arisen. At
about II o'clock they again entered the store,
accompanied by one PAUL tiens. After re-
naming for some little time Lavigne handed
the key to young Mcrciei and asked him to
get the Whole party out aud lock the door.
10 comply with. At that moment the entire
party attacked the two Merccrs first striking
the younger one, and Viens Cor at least so
albert Siercier says, and, tumbling out on
the Sidewalk,
\ GENERAL FIGHT EN5UED.
AS Aic,oer tells the story, II was OF short
duration, for his brother and Vicns were I'M
mcdiatcly knocked down and he himself
took TO his heels Mccullough claimed that
the Mcrciers struck the first blow, and that
the elder Mercicr first struck him 1nd then
threw a s,olc at Inn, striking hIm on the
back-he having faced about and crouched
in order to avoid it, However that may be,
Albert MERCER ran and Mccullough, throw
ing or his coat, FASTENED after him, closely
| followed b.. l.is fl.qnd ahomas isisse,i with
the rest of the gang still further behind.
| TIE FLIGHT.
Albert MERCER, leaving his brother and
Viens TO their fate, ran down Cherry street
to the roth .ide Ct nc 1ilspa,i " Morse
| Lumber Company's retail sheds through the
depot and up College street. lie claims that
he did not stop for moment save to look
back so as 10 avoid the stones Mccullough
] and Fassett threw ct him or t, sea whether
or not lie was gaining on his pursuers Sud
denly they ceased the pursuit; ard as Mer-
cier came up College street he heard that
some one had heen hurt in the fight. Fear
! inc it mi@ht he his b-othe--a NEE 10y IN
stature Is well az In years-he returned to
the scene Of the original alteration, but
| found his brother safe at his mothers-heI
residence being directly across the street
from I.avignc's establishment, mercier then
went 10 his own house. on Front street, and
went to bed.
| THE titTlIs SfATE.IESt-.iE Aeetehs hEI-
CIER.
such is Ncrcicr's story Entirely differen
| is that of Mccullough. and in the contradic-
ton is involved the responsibility for the
rrime. After being struck; as he claims. hi
pursued the flying Nerclcr, Fassett being
somcwh hat in the rear. As Mereier attained
the foot of the hill, near the retail sheds men,
toned, he turned as if to run toward the
! Pioneer shops. 1t was onlv q fei1t. He
suddenly laced .,Doul ami, as Mccullough
leapcd upon him, with quick sharp, under
handed blow, he
Drove KNIFE INTO HIS PUEsUEK's vITALs,
and fed into the depot. Mccullough sank
upon ihc g,onEi. liz q second rassett came
up and cCullough exclaimed, Hes stuck
me-; 90 for him ~ Fassctt, however, found
that Mccullough was badly hurt and he
therefore led him back up the hill and laid
him down upon the doorstep OF house
near the corner of Battery and Bank streets
the tenant refusing to permit the wounded
L.. til ~ H., pi,uba,,, hoe ilu