Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-07-26
A STRANGE TRAGEDY,
BRATTlEEBoRo BOY SHOOTS COL
/LEGE CHUM THROUGH MISTAKE.

Darkness Ends in Killing of somnam-
bulist with Revolver.
Morton Starr Cressy of Hartford, Conn,
shot and killed his friend and classmate
at Yale and Harvard law school, Sidney
Bristol of Battle Creek, Mich, last Fri
day morning in bedroom at Cressys
grandmother's, Mrs. p. STAIRS, In
Brattleboro.
Bristol, who reached Brattleboro
Thursday as a canvasser, was invited by
Cressy to stay over night at his grand
mothers. Early next morning Cressy
was suddenly awakened to find himself
in the grasp of man. He struggled
free, however, and. snatching a revolver
from the bureau, fired four shots at his
assailant. On lighting lamp he was
horror struck to find that he had shot
his friend.
It IL believed that Bristol, while In a
nightmare, took hold of Cressy. ACressy
said that he thought he was being
attacked by burglar and fired as soon
as he was free. The young men were
each about "a years of age. They were
graduated from Yale in 1900 and entered
Harvard law school last fall.
Although Cressy refused to be Inter-
. viewed, his lawyer, G. G. Fits, said that
. the Young man awoke to find his left
arm in the grasp of man, who at the
same time seemed to be endeavoring to
secure the other.
Cressy struggled to get away and
managed to reach his irevolver. which
lay on bureau at the side of his bed.
The first shot went upward into the
ceiling and then the two men fell on the
floor. They struggled back and forth
over space of several feet until Cressy
succeeded in getting his right arm free,
when the three other shots were fired.
After the last shot Bristol exclaimed, 81
am shot" Greasy said Immediately, us
that you Sid" realizing for the first
time that his friend was wounded
Cressy expressed. great sorrow and
Bristol said it was too bad that such a
mistake had been made. Greasy man
aged TO get his friend on the bed, and
then called his grandmother and the
housekeeper. When Mrs. Starr reached
the room Bristol was unconscious and
died within half an hour.
So far as known, the only person out
side the house who heard the shots was
j. Earl Mason, who lives opposite. He
said he was awakened by what was
probably the first shot and Immediately
after heard a scream and some one eX-
claim, 81 am gone" After that three
more shots followed and then came
shouts for help.
The Starr family is very well-known
in Brattleboro, being both wealthy and
prominent. Mr.. Starr died some years
ago and his widow with her servants has
occupied the large house ever since.
Cressy for some hours after the aft Air
seemed to have himself under control,
but later in the day appeared to be
breaking down.
Justice L. j. B. Cudworth, as coroner,
viewed the body Friday. An autopsy
was performed. 1t showed two bullet
wounds in the body; one was in the
shoulder and was superficial, involving
only the skin and the tissues Immediately
Underneath. The other wound was In
The bowels and severed an artery, caus-
ing death by hemorrhage. The bullet
which caused this wound was found i'm
bedded IN the tissues.
On Saturday an investigation was held
before Justice T. j. B. Cudworth as
coroner, States Attorney George A.
Weston of Bellows Falls having charge
bf the examination. The session was
held at the home of Mrs. p. Starr.
Morton S. Cressey told in detail the
events of the day before he and Bristol
went to bed, and also related what oc.
cured when he awoke, thinking q
burglar was attacking him, His story
)f the firing of the four shots was sub
tantially as previously given, except
hat he told of more conversation be-
ween himself and Bristol after the last
shot was fired before Bristol became
unconscious. This conversation was
argely in relation to the mutual sorrow
md regret of the two young men. Mrs.
?. Starr. the grandmother, and Mildred
Crown, domestic, who were in the
house when the shots were fired, also
rave their testimony. The hearing was
adjourned until Monday. DR.. and Mrs.
Cressy were with their son. William +.
Bristol of Battle Creek, Mich, father of
he victim, arrived Saturday; also
edward C. Root of Greenwich, Conn,
Elassmate and roommate of young
Bristol at ale. NO one was aumltteu
o the hearing except the authorities.
Services in memory of Bristol were
held Sunday afternoon in the chapel of
he Centre church, Rev. Mr.. Miles
fficiating. In recognition of Bristol's
ervices in the Spanish-American war,
men who belonged to the First
ermont Regiment in 1898 attended the
uneral headed by Capt. W. T. Haigh.
At Mondays hearing no important
etails other than first reported were
rought out. Room-mates of the dead
nan told of his being a sleep-walker.
Iorton Cressy repeated his story of the
hootlng, which was substantially as
Elven above. Neighbors who heard the
hots and cries testified. The testimony
vas taken down by stenographer and