The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-10-11
4 ROUGH CASE AT ARLINGTON.
Two Brothers of BrattlcbOrO Woman
Jailed for MurderOus Assault
Stnbbing with i'itchfOrk-Claim that
Reports Arc Exaggerated.

Michael and John Powers of Airing
ton aged 40 and 81, unmarried, ana
brothers of Mrs. w. II. Welcome of
this place. are under arrest and in Jail
at Bennington on a charge of murder
Gus assault on James Sullivan some
times called Red Jim of Arlington.
which may result fatally,
The affair occurred last week Monday
what is known as Murray Hill in the
west part of Arlington, but the facts did
not become public until the last Of the
week when States Attorney Bates was
called to Arlington to take Sullivan s
ante mortem statement. II was to the
effect that on his return from Cam
bridge. \. Y. where he had been that
day he found the two Powers brothers
standing on either side of the road
near their house and without warning
they set upon him, struck savage
blow ON the right arm with Il heavy
pitchfork. then another knocking him
from his seat, and then dragged him
to the ground, kicking, pounding and
stabbing him repeatedly with the
pitchfork After completing their
murderous task, one of the assailants
went to Sullivan's home and informed
his wife that she would find her hus-
band down the road in a drunken con
dition. Hurrying to the scene. she
found him lying insensiblc in the road.
She requested help from the Powers
in getting her husband home, but
they would extend no aid whatever
She was compelled to 60 to another
neighbours, where assistance was oh
tanned and the wounded man conveyed
to his home He was in a bad condi I
ton. according to the reports, his face !
badly battered, his right arm broken !
and body much bruised. In the leg |
and groin and in the back of the neck /
are deep wounds caused by the stabs /
from the pitchfork. This instrument |
was heavy and the tines long and
stout. Nevertheless, one of the tines |
was broken and the handle cracked.
His condition became SO serious that a
council of doctors was called on Wed
nesday and they considered it doubtful .
if he could recover. The affray was
the result of a long standing feud be
tween the parties. There are two
suits, now pending in the courts,
one brought by Sullivan and the other
by the Powers. and other suits have in
times past been fought Sullivan
says the Powers have threatened to
break every bone IN his body.
The claim Of the Powers is that Sui
Ivan was drunk and began the fight.
having several stones in his wagon and
attempting to use them. Stones were
'ound in the vicinity, but neighbors
who assisted in moving him to his
home say he showed no signs of intoxi
.ation, Sullivan says he drank four
glasses of whiskey at Cambridge. but
hey were four hours apart and he was
lot the worse for it.
Mr.. Welcome has retained Water !
nan. Martin e. Hit and Senator O.
VI. Barber of Arlington for the defense. :
The latter says that the statements
hat have been sent out to the press
bout the case are greatly exaggerated, :
hat the Powers brothers are good
itizens and highly esteemed residents Z
+ Arlington. while Sullivan is a bad !
haracter and that the evidence will :,
how that Sullivan was the assailant !
nd there was no stabbing. II
The hearing is to be held tomor
Ow and the two Powers were placed 7
nder $1,000 bail to await it and in de
,ult lodged in Jail.