Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-28
A COWARDLY DEED.
Chief Of Police Pstr.ck Brown
of Barre, VT,
Shot Down by italians, After QueIIng
Row at Dance.
lie Recognizes Thrce--Tw, Arc Arrc,tc.- IN
Critical State. Other Arrests.

Barre, VT, Dec. "a clique of It2l-
ian stone cutters, whose birth place
was in that famous marble district of
Carrara, tried to assassinate Chief of
Police Patrick Brown, this morning.
and although they failed, and six of
them ran into the clutches of the law.
the officer, tonight, was alive but i'll
a critical condition.
The grudgc of the men, all or at
least most of whom are known as dis
turberS in the large Italian colony
here, against Chief Brown, grew out of
his quelling an early morning disturb
ance at a dance. He elected the dis
turbers from the hall, by request of
the more orderly element, and in SO
doing, relieved quite number of men
of firearms. The incident closed then
and there, apparently, but latter, as
Chief Brown was returning home
alone, he was shot at and thrice
wounded, but the chief recognized
three of the assailants.
Six men now under arrest appear to
know about the trouble and on one was
found Il revolver that probably spit out
a bullet in Chief Browns direction.
The six men were locked up in Mont
Wednesday, on charge Yet to be
formulated.
Last night a local society Of Italian
Socialists gave a party. At about mid
night several persons who were known
to be Anarchists appeared at the nall
and almost Immediately there was
trouble. The row increased until fists,
sIyt
and the police were summoned to put
a stop to the disturbance.
chief Brown responded to the call
with his men. With considerable diff
ficu!ty they separated the combat2nts
and took away several weapons. on
learning OF the true cause OF the fight
they expelled the Anarchists from the
place This seemed to settle the diff
Guilty and the police Withdrew. AS
Chief Brown was making his way
along lonely street. lie heard shot
as 4 bullet Whistled tn his head. This
seemed i signal for fusilade from
different directions ana the chief start
ed to run, at the same time trying to
open his coat to get his own revolver.
Just then two bullets struck him ANA
he fell a third found Judgment in his
body.
In their excitement after the first
shot three men appeared and the chict
recognized them all When they saw
his fall the three mon disappeared.
Then the chief become unconscious.
ana for an hour he lay where he had
fallen in the snow and exposed To bit
ter cold. At the end Of that time a
p2ssed-by saw the man and assistance
was soon At hand.
The chief was taken to his home and
under the care Of physicians he recov-
cred consciousness and was able TO
tell who his assailants were.
The police Immediately dispatched
word in all directions for the purpose
Of intercept.ns the three Italians
named by the chief, VINO were known
to the police On account of the many
disturbances in which they have been
engaged.
After some search in the Italian
quarter the police found Otto Bcrnac-
clio and Luigi Sassi, and in spite of
some resistance placed the men under
arrest.
News of the capture spread quickly,
and soon the officers with their pris-
Who in spite Of all the policemen could
do. threatened to get hold of the Ital-
ians and carry out the cry for venge-
ancc which was heard on all sides.
The efforts Of the police and of some
of the more sedate citizens We're sue
cessful in keeping down the demon
stration of the crowd and the prison.
erS We're taken before the wounded |
chief without having suffered at the |
hands of the throng.
Chief Brown identified both mon as
two Of those he had seen at the time !
he was shot. Then the prisoners were |
taken to the station, the police again |
facing the difficulty of stemming the |
storm of shouts and jeerS and threat |
caing demonstrations until the station |
house was reached and the prisoners |
We're safely locked up. Then search |
was renewed for the third man, but up |
to noontime he had not been caught. |
The physicians who took charge of the |
case of Chief Brown found That he was |
woIndcd. Two bulIets entered |
the abdomen. inficting dangerous |
wounds The third lodged in one foot. |
This injury is not considered serious. |
The doctors express doubt as to the out |
come of the case. and the Italians who |
Eave been arrested will not be given a |
hearing until later. in view of the doubt
ful condition Of their alleged victim.
rs the day advanced other arrests were |
made aud six Italians are now III custody, |
MO more having been captured in Mont
}elier. enc in Barre and the other at Ber
in.
At . o'clock. Chief Brown was resting
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