The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-05-08
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.


Arturo Bernac1o, the Italian who was
recently convicted in county court OF au
assault, with intent to kill, upon Chief of
Police Patrick Brow of Barre, attempted
TO commit suicide about seven o'clock
Thursday evening in his cell in the county
I'll by stabbing himself with a ,ck-knife
In the right temple and in the. throat.
The pronouncing OF sentence upon Ber-
nacco has been deferred, but from his con-
versation since his conviction it was evil
dent that he has expected to get a life sem
tence to the State prison. This thought
has made him despon lent, and he has az.
serted that he would never be taken TO
Windsor alive. For "a time on Thursday
evening 1t looked as though he would m AXE
good his assertion.
Bernacco has been confined in the east
corridor OF the all with four other Italians
mixed up in the Chief Brown shooting af-
fair At Barre last winter, one OF whom Is
Primo Bernacco, brother of Arturo.
Thursday morning Bernacco complained
to Tailor Tracy that his companions had u
large razor concealed with which they in
tended 10 kill him, and asked that he might
be transferred to the west corridor, which
was occupied by two American prisoners.
He also asked for permission to take bath
Tailor Tracy soon satisii I'D himself that
Bernacco's fears az to intended murder
were groundless, bat, In order to humor
hi n, granted his requests as he appeared
more Respondent than usual. Bernacco
also requested that his best clothes be given
him but he dill not put them on.
He remained in the west corridor during
the day, returning to his own for supper.
Again he asked to go back to the west
corridor, and he WAS allowed to go and
would have been allowed to remain all
night but after he had been there few
moments he asked to DO returned to his own
corridor again.
No ooner had this been done than Ber
naccO rushed into his cell, slamming the
door behind him The cell can be locked
in this way, but can only be unlocked by
using the levers in the combination box
outside the cage.
Fearing something was not right, Tailor
Tracy ran to the door of Bernacco's cell
and at the same time called to an assistant
| to unlock the cell with the levers. On
looking into the cell he was Mortified At
seeing Bernacco, who was standing in the
furthermost corner, stab himself in the
right temple and could hear the swish a.
| he blade OF the knife struck the skull.
BY this time the door OF the cell had been
| opened, but not soon enough 70 prevent
| Bernacco from plunging the knife into his
throat, and when the jailor rushed up to
him Bernacco WAS pressing the blade deep
| or to the flesh.
As soon ~ the officer knocked the knife
from Bernacco's hands, h. fell unconscious
and bleeding upon the fl lor. The jalor
grssped him and dragged him into the cor
ridor and Drs. McGUire and Chandler
were hastily summoned.
Upon examination, the surgeons found
that the wounds had been made with the
small blade OF knife and did not believe
they would prove fatal, for while Bernscco
was covered with blood, he had not lost
enough to reDderhis condition critical. The
wounds were in the nature of direct stabS.
The jugular vein escaped, but 1t could not
be known at the time whether or not the
knife-thrust against the forehead had pene-
| trated the brain.
AS Bernacco's wounds were dressed he
| regained consciousness, but was sullen and
would not talk. He was transferred to the
hospital ward on the second floor, where he
| will be guarded night and day until he Is
removed to the State prison.
The prisoners have been allowed the
use Of pocket knives to cut their tobacco.
Bernacco used the knife belonging to
Primo, his brother. When the sffair oc-
CURED Mrs Tracy showed great presence
of mind in going at once to the lever box,
and, after throwing the cell door open, sum
moning the physicians
Judge Huntley and Sheriff Graves were
also summoned, and, with Deputies Tenn
pleton and Gates, assisted in caring for the
wounded man. Sheriff Graves was at the
Central Verm mt station waiting TO take the
| belated train for his home in Waterbu y,
and the first news he had Of the affair We
when he telephoned TO his home about
| some matter and his people asked him the
particulars OF the stabbing. 1t had been
supposed he was on his way home, and a
| telephone message had been sent from the
| Jail to Waterbury.
Bernacco was weak this morning from
| loss OF blood and his throat panied him SO.
verely while that side of his head on which
| the wound was inf cted was badly swollen.
He appeared to be cast down in spirits and
had no disposition to take food, but he was
induced to take glass OF milk. 1t is ex-
| pected he will recover.