Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-05-30
Bt RGLAR KILLED.
SHOT WHILE BREAKING INTO A
FRANKLIN STORE.
FATAL SHOT FIRED By CLERK JOSIAH
BUNKER BODY As YET IN
1DENTIFIED-sTo OF
THE SHOOTING

An unknown man, evidently not pro-
fessional burglar, was shot and killed by
Josiah Bunker, clerk in tbe store of John
Paul Gordon, at Franklin, while forcing
an entrance to the store Mt . o'clock last
Friday morning. The bullet entered the
forehead just over the right eye. and
penetrated the brain. The man lived six
hours, but did not regain consciousness,
and never spoke. There was nothing in
/ his pockets to identify him.
MIR. Bunker has been in the employ of
MIR. Gordon for the past eight years,
serving in the double capacity of clerk
and night Waterman. He occupied a
room above the store Mr.. Bunker's
story OF the shooting is as follows:
He was awakened at about 2 O'Clock in
the morning by noise as of some one
trying to open the front door At first
he thought it was Mr. Gordon, but the
noise of breaking glass a moment later
aroused him to action. Getting up he
took his revolver from the stand beside
him, and went down a back stairway to
the rear OF the store.
Walking toward the front OF the store,
screening himself behind boxes of mer-
chandsc piled high in the store, Mr..
Bunker reached a place where he could
command a view of the double front
doors. In the dim light he could see
man standing just outside the door. The
glass in the left door had been broken.
AS Mr. Bunker caught sight OF him, the
man raised his right arm. In his hand
was what Mr.. Bunker thought to be a
revolver, but which was afterward found
to be Ratchet. Thinking the burglar
had seen and was about to shoot him,
Mr. Bunker fired quickly and at random
in the direction of the burglar. The man
fell to the stoop, and Mr.. Bunker knew
the bullet had taken effect.
As soon as possible Mr.. Bunker aroused
the neighbors, and an examination OF the
man was made. He lay where he fell in
front OF the door. He was still alive, but
unconscious. A small round hole, from
which the blood oozed slowly, showed
where the bullet had entered.
1t Is probable that the man did not see
Mr.. Bunker, nor hear him approaching
in he store, and WAS in the act of break
ing the sash with the Ratchet when the
shot was fired.
Everyt hing possible was done for the
wounded man. but he MAS beyond help.
He fingered until O'Clock in the morn
ing when he died without having re-
gained consciousness or uttered word
The story To effect that he said he was
member of gang of professional burg
lars Is a myth.
Coroner y. l.. Fields, of Ellsworth, was
summoned and made careful examine
tion OF the body The man was evidently
tramp, or mechanic, though the appear
ance OF his hands, which We're small and
soft, would indicate that he was not
accustomed to hard work. But for his
dress, and the fact that he carried no
] burglars tools, he might well be taken
/ for professional burglar.
/ He was five feet nine inches in height,
weighed about 80 pounds, and was APP
parently about thrtytve years of age.
Hi. face was not unattractiye in appear
ance, the features being small and regu-
lar. His hair WAS black, and he wore a
heavy, dark brown moustache, well kept.
He looked like a foreigner.
The clothing strengthens the tramp
theory. He wore coat and vest OF
coarse material, a shabby pair of trousers,
and a wooden shirt The underwear was
ragged and had evidently not been washed