The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-26
A SHOT IN THE DARK.
Strange Assault on a
North Woodstock
Citizen.
THREE BULLETS WHIzzED PAST.
One Made a Hole in His
Goat, but None En-
tered His Body.

Webster, Sept 25.-Benjamin Bur-
rows of North Woodstock figured in a
thrilling episode as he was going home
last night. He was the victim of an at
tempted assault, but Burrows escaped
as it was by almost a miracle. He was
the target of three bullets, but only
one struck him, and that only pierced
his clothing and burned his skin a little
bit.
Burrows came to town Sunday. and
spent the day here seeing the sights
and having a good time in general. AS
he knows one or two friends mere, the
day passed pleasantly enough.
AS the twilight deepened last night
he started to walk home. The road to
North Woodstock is a long and dam
gerous one. It runs through a locality
= that is just suited to bold hold-urs
Most of the way lies through a wooded
country, and the limbs project down
over the road, making it dark and dis
NAL to lonely pedestrian.
BdrFoWs had got two or threee miles
out of town, when a closed buggy az
preached him. He stepped to one side
of The road to allow the vehicle to pass
him. AS it passed he observed the out
lines OF man and a woman in it, but
1t was too dark for him to recognize
either Of the occupants.
The carriage drove past him a shot
distance, but he did not follow its move
ments more than to take a parting
glance as 1t passed him. 1t only went
little ways when 1t stoppepd, and the
driver jumped out and planted himself
in the road by its side.
Pulling a loaded revolver from his
pocket. he aimed and fired three shots
in quick succession at Burrows.
The first two shots went wild, but the
third was of better aim. The leaden
missile pierced his coat with a buzz. and
spent itself in the road farther on. The
oullet did not enter his flesh, but only
tore his coat and burned the flesh d
trifle as it grazed his body.
Burrows did not wait for more shots.
and, taking to his heels, he plunged into
the woods by the side of the road and
made his escape. He did not care to
be the target for all of The
champers in the pistol, and PROBABLY
would have been dangerously, if no. Ia
tally wounded had the assassin more
time in aiming his pistol.
Ihe man did not attempt to follow
Burrows through the woods. but as
soon as he had seen his intended victim
take to his heels he jumped back in his
ouggy and galloped his horse off in the
direction of Webster 1t is doubtful,
however, if he came to town, but prob
aply took one of the side roads leading
elsewhere
Burrows cannot account for the at
tempt on his life unless it is the out
come Of quarrel he had with another
felloW over certain young lady with
Whom both were acquainted. He says
the quarrel was not very vehement
one, but at the same time he knew that
what his opponent said in regard to the
matter he meant by the tone and ex-
preston he used at the time.
Burrows is of the opinion that the
young lady that was with the unknown
man who attempted his life is the one
that the quarrel was over, and he also
thinks her companion is the man he
had the trouble with, although he says
he does not make any charges and will
not until he can conclusively prove what
he is talking about.
Burrows says he intends to investi-
gate the matter and find out If the par
ties he refers to were at home when the
attempt to end his existence was made
He says he knows a way by which he
can ascertain the evidence he needs.
Burrows does not intend that who
ever 1t was will get away so easily the
next time. When he comes to Webster
again he intends to be armed himself,
and if any one wants to enter into a
shooting match with him he says he
will return few just for the sport of
1t. He is of the opinion that he can
shoot as well in the dark as the next
Burrows does not claim to have any
extra amount of grit or courage, but
at the same time he does not intend to
stand still and watch himself be made
target of. He admits that when he
heard the buzz of the leaden missiles
as they sped by him, and especially
when the third bullet pierced his coat,
he felt the cold shivers run down his
spinal column, but adds that he will be
prepared the next time.
George p. Warren, a venerable gem
tleman of Key West for twelve years
deputy and United States marshal
there, paid visit to his cousin, Officer
Henry j. King. today. He left town
later in the day for Hubbardston, where
he will visit his cousin, Mrs. Annie, wife
of Lawyer Gould of Worcester. and will
attend the musical festival soon to be
held in that city. Mr. Warren has been
in Key West for the past 80 years. His
former home was in North Adams,
where he mas a sister and two sons. He
has not been to this country for sew
eral years, and the big changes that
have been wrought since his last visit
here surprised him a good deal. He set
tied in Key West before the civil war
He went into the Undertaking business
and then the furniture business. He has
since retired from each with quite a
share Of the worlds goods in money
and stocks.
His son Thomas, who is the telegraph
operator at the Key West station, was
the first person In the United States to
know that the battleship Maine had
been blown up by Spanish torpedo on
that eventful day of Feb. 10, 1897 Mr.. |
Warren himself knew of the affair one