Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-21

Narrow Escape of u Passenger Train from
PlupglDg into the winooski River.

AS the train due i'm this city from
Essex Junction at 1910 a. m. S pit 10
was passing by Westons lime kiln
1t ran off on to the side track,
but fortunately no damage resulted, AZ
the engineer had his engine under thor
ough control. The brakes were put on so
hard that fire flew from every wheel. An
Investigation showed that an attempt had
been made to wreck the train by turning
the switch, with the expectation that the
train would shoot over the bank into the
river. Early in the morning the matter
was placed in the hands of Deputy Sheriff
Wheeler, who at once went to the
depot, and in looking over the
crowd there congregated on the
arrival Of the local passenger train for
Essex Junction, he noticed suspicious
looking man ct on the train. The officer
started to board the same car when the
suspected man ran through two carr
jumped Off the platform aud tried to hids
behind freight car. Tue officer found
him, however, and upon seal ching his
pockets found asn itch key Of the Central
Vermont railroad, which he had stolen,
a revolver and u pint bottle continuing
whiskey, and S30Sl in money The man
gave his name as Joseph Mcdonald, of
White River junction, and luther iuves-
tigation showed that he had been seen in
he vicinity of the accident. As the track
walker was going his req u'ar rounds about
three quarters of au hour before the tram
was due, he saw Mcdonald lying be
side the track, and, surprising that
the man was intoxicated, he tod him to
yet away from the track rs the train on
its way from Burlington was soon due
and might run over him, but Mcdonald
replied that he was all right. The train
walker passed along and left him
The engineer on the arrival OF the train
saw Mcdonald standing beside n telegraph
pole short distance from the switch, but
did not suspect any danger.
Mcdonald was lodged in jail and the
track walker sub-e quently identified him
among several other prisot ers as the man
whom he saw lying by the track. Nc
DOnald's motive is supposed to have been
robbery, although he is SAID to have had
some words with the conductor of the
440 train Wednesday afternoon in relation
to his ticket from Howard Park.
The Train wrecker Held for the Grand
Jury-Liquor Cases.
Joseph Mcdonald, the would be train
wrecker was arraigned in the City Court
Saturday for attempting to wreck a train
by turning switch near Winooski early
Thursday morning He waived examii a.
ton and WAS bound over to the Cuuu v
Court. Bail was fixed at $500, in default
of which he was committed to jail
Edward Willis OF this city pleaded
guilty in the City Court to the charge Of
intoXication, and disclosed on Michael
Murphy. bar keeper Tor Moore and Mail N
at the fair Murphy pleaded not guilty
and on trial was acquitted. Willis's case
will he completed to dav.
Fred Allen of St. Adams, arrested for
intoXicatiop, pleaded guilty and was fined
Sll OF including Gusts.
Peter Phillips of south Burlington, was
arraigued on the charge of breach of the
peace Tor assauiling Joseph Pelkey of
Plattsburgh, at Jockey yard," near The fair
ground and was fined 800, including
costs Pelkey pleaded guilty to the charge
of intoXication and was flued $ll.0l, in
Guiding costs.