Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-24
vOLUNTowN,s TRAGEDY.

shot and Killed Ills Fathers Coach- man-Just1Aable Homicide the The. ory-Brixgs Released Under s5,ooO Bonds Furnished by His Father. By Connecticut Associated Preas.1 VoLUNTowN, Conn.,, March 23.-This little town was thrown into great consternation yesterday afternoon by the news that Ira E. Briggs, son of the wealthiest man in the place, had shot and killed Samuel Greene, his fathers coachman.
 The news spread rapidly, but the first step taken in legal way was to notify Coroner Park of Norwich that tragedy had taken place. The coroner and medical examiner Lewis 3. Paddock drove out last night and an inquest was held immediately. The cor oner viewed the remains and then heard Briggs' statement. The inquest was held in the town hall, which was crowded with an eager mob of townspeopls, and while Coroner Park held an investigation up stairs, Medical Examiner Paddock performed an autopsy on the body.
 Briggs' story was to the effect that Greene came into the furnace room to his fathers house, whither he had stepped to warm him. self. He said that he noticed something peculiar in Greene's appearance. His eyes glared and he looked like 8 maniac. With out 6 word of warning, Briggs testified, Greene pulled out @ jack-knife and sprang at him, saying he would cut his throat. This terrified Briggs, and he whipped out a revolver and fired. He fired three shots in rapid succession and Greene fell to the floor.
 Briggs protested at the inquest that the
 shooting was entirely accidental. There were no other witnesses who could testify to anything directly connected with the murder as no one but Briggs was present at the shoot ing. Coroner Park then charged Briggs with homicide and he was liberated under bonds of $5,000, which were furnished by his father, Ira G. Briggs. The coroner's opinion was that the homicide was justifable. Young Briggs is about 31 years of age and IS gener- ally liked in the village. His father is at the head of the Briggs Manufacturing company, concern that owns several big cloth mills | here, while his uncle, Lucius Briggs, is also another heavy mill owner and proprietor of the Glasgow mills.
 There are several stories afoat about the shooting. It is stated that Greene, the
 coachman, and young Briggs were the best of friends and that the two were together on
 Saturday until shortly before noon. Several people saw Greene in the morning, but no one noticed any traces of insanity in him then. It was trife singular that Briggs was l released on bail at once, but Coroner Park was satisfied that the affair was purely &C., l cidental.
 NORWICH, March 23.-Medical Examiner
 Lewis s. Paddock, who performed the 1 autopsy, said tonight that he thought Greene l must have been instantly killed. He found
 that the first bullet entered the left eye and I penetrated the base of the skull. The sec- l ond shot took effect in the neck, the ball l coming out half inch below the right ear. The third bullet entered the right side near l the eleventh or twelfth rib. Dr. Paddock l could form no opinion as to whether Greene | could have been insane.
 Another account says that Green entered
 Briggs office and with an oath said: "I have
 you just where I want you. Now, I'll cut your throat" As Green left for his knife
 young Briggs drew 32-calibre self-cocking pistol and shot Green.
 | Young Briggs was student at General
 Russells military academy in New Haven in
 1884. He was quiet in his manner, well
 behaved, gentlemanly and not at all bolster
 ous. He was the last one whom person
 would suppose might commit such an act, except in self. defense. He stood in the first
 rank in scholarship at the school. His father
 is leading republican of his section and waf
 a delegate to the Chicago republican conven'
 tion which nominated James G. Blaine for
 the presidency. Young Briggs left Genera
 Russell's school to accompany his father or