The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-02-22
MurderOus Assault,


the residence of Julius Il. Pixley in Water |
bury, not far from the Bolton Falls electric |
light plant, and that Doherty was headed |
toward Montpelier.
Officers Wood and Demeritt at once |
started out to look for the man, and in less |
than half an hour had him In custody. Dis
guising themselves 80 that their police uni |
forms would not be noticed in the moon |
light they started down the railroad track
towards Montpelier Junction. just after
passing through Dog river bridge they met
their man walking hurriedly towards Mont
pelier. He was evidently very much agi-
tated and In response to the request Of Off
Ger Demeritt to stop minute he started to
run. Both officers pursued him. Demeritt
caught his foot in a guard rail and was
thrown. In looking around to see what
had happened to the officer, Doherty missed
bis footing and fell on the track. Before he
could rise Officer Wood was upon him.
Doherty was at first inclined to resist, but
at sight of the officers badges he submitted
to arrest He was taken to Montpelier
junction and searched. A revolver, with
two empty chambers, and small sum OF
money was found on bis person he was
detained at the Junction until the arrival
OF the midnight train, on which Sheriff
Graves came up. Doherty was then taken
to jail at Montpelier.
Doherty came from Waterbury to Mont
pelier Junction on q freight train. Before
on the operator at the Junction and was
very anxious to know when he could get
train going north. On being told that no
train north bound would pass the Junction
until three o'clock in the morning he start
ed up the track towards Montpelier.
The cause of the crime was jealousy, and
the facts leading up to 1t are as follows:
Doherty, whose home is in South Berwick,
Maine, was foreman on the stone work at
the Bolton Falls dam, now in process OF
construction. Both he and his victim were
working for Contractor w. II. Ward. Muir
phys home is in the northern part OF the
State, and, previous to commencing work
for Contractor Ward last October he
had been employed at the State Hospital
for the Insane at Waterbury.
Doherty formerly worked in Morrisville
and Stowe where he became acquainted
with girl named Julia Rock to whom he
afterwards became engaged. Through Dc
herty's fundamentally Miss Rock came,
about month ago, to work at Mr.. Pixley's
where Doherty and Murphy boarded. She
left there last Thursday, going to Colby
vile. While she was at Pixley's Doherty
became madly jealous OF her, because OF
the favor with which she looked upon Muir
ply.
Both men quit work shortly after five
o'clock Saturday evening. When they
reached the Pixley boarding house they had
an alteration over the Rock girl which
eliminated in Doherty drawing revolver
and shooting Murphy. The ball entered
taken out of his right side. Murphy was
alive this noon, but DR.. Henry James, his
attending physician, gives no hopes OF his
recovery. Doherty will be held to await
the result OF Murphy's injuries. A prelim-
nary hearing will probably follow, which
will undoubtedly result in binding him
over to await the action Of the grand jury
next September.
Doherty is thirty-three years old. He has
two brothers and sister in Berwick, Me.
He is unmarried. When seen at the Jail
Sunday morning he was not inclined to
talk, but corroborated substantially these
facts as stated He has retained e. ii.
Deavitt as counsel.
Murphy is twenty-five years old He has
a brother working on the same job with
him.
Sheriff Graves came toMontpelier Monday
morning to meet States Attorney Hoar.
These officials went on the 1915 train to
the scene of the tragedy.
The latest report from Murphy is that he
is sinking.
The report that Doherty attempted to
commit suicide in Jail Monday morning is
wholly without foundation.
j. K. Pixley, in whose yard the shooting
occurred was one OF the jurors in the trial
OF the case of State against Mildred Brews-
ter.
Fred Murphy, who was shot at Water
bury Saturday evening by Charles Doherty,
is still alive, although there is really little
hope OF his ultimate recovery. Julia Rock,
the girl who is the alleged cause of the
shooting, is at the Pixley boarding house
nursing Murphy.
John Doherty of Salmon Falls, N. H.,
brother Of the prisoner. arrived in Mont
pelier Monday evening, and since that time
has been in consultation with the accused,
and with e. H. Deavitt, his counsel. Mr.
Deavitt, Mr.. Doherty and e. N. Sanctuary
went on Monday to the scene Of the trsg-
edy to summon witnesses for the defence
The prisoner takes the matter very calm
ly. He was much affected on meeting his
brother. He had a long private interview
with him Monday evening. The accused
very properly refuses to talk for publica-
ton. 1t is intimated that there are extern
uating circumstances for the defence that
have not been made public.
To Free Press correspondent Julia Rock
made the following statement on Monday:
II am eighteen years Of age and my home
is lin Morristown. / came to Mr.. Pixley's
from Montreal, where had been working
l have known Fred Murphy about two
years and have been engaged to him over q
year. / never knew Doherty before he
came to j. E. Pixley's to board. I never
spoke to him three words in my life. He
never made any advances to me or tried to.
deny all the newspaper accounts which
nave Docu W Juo COubTdIy.
Reports from Murphy Tuesdyy afternoon in
dictate that he is more comfortable, his tenn
perature has decreased several degrees and
unless unforeseen complications set in he has
a fighting chance of recovery.
States Attorney Hoar returned from
Waterbury Tuesday. He has summoned
witnesses for preliminary hearing to be
held Thursday morning at Waterbury be-
fore Justice j. A. Burleigh, provided a
suitable hall can be secured; IL not the
hearing will be at Montpelier.
Two important witnesses for the State
were subp1ned by the states attorney
Monday evening just as they were taking q
train to leave Waterbury.
While the Rock girl undoubtedly had
more or less to do with the tragedy, it is
fact that a feud existed between Doherty
and Murphy long before either of them
knew the girl. This ugly feeling has been
helped along by their fellow workmen for
the sport they could get out of it, although
no such tragic end was anticipated.
II Murphy lives until Thursday morning
Doherty will be arraigned by the states at |
torney on the charge Of assault with intent |
10 commit murder. |
Congressional Proceedings,